Harlan: Moreto’s “El desden” 
15 
He meets Juan as he goes out. Juan mentions having seen 
Alonso and that he seemed angry, whereupon Hernando, 
bringing in Juan’s gift, tells him that Alonso left when he 
saw the gift and was told that Juana had sent it. He covers 
his confusion by leaving with the excuse of overtaking Alonso. 
Pedro does not understand what Hernando is about, but he 
reassures him, saying, in answer to the question as to where it 
will all lead : 
En salir de todo bien, 
Si te confias de mi; 
Que quien te ha vengado aqui, 
Te sabra curar tambien . 33 
In the second act, Juana finds Leonor rather changed in her 
attitude toward the men, the change being brought about by 
Hernando’s scorn of herself, so that when Beatriz, Juana’s 
cousin, is brought by her father to Juana’s house for safe- 
keeping and good example in not being so susceptible to suit- 
ors, Leonor and Beatriz side together against Juana. The lat- 
ter, to show her cousin how suitors should be treated, has 
Leonor bring the latest notes written her and is about to burn 
that of Pedro, unopened, when the latter appears and reviles 
her soundly. He then departs, in spite of Juana’s telling him 
to wait, and Alonso and Juan then appear, each upbraiding 
her for having given away their presents to her. She, then, 
turns on Leonor, accusing her of having secretly received the 
gifts, and Hernando comes in just in time to say that she did 
not. He goes on to say that Pedro, now in love with another 
lady, is publicly saying horrid things about Juana’s personal 
appearance. This infuriates her and she takes the advice of 
Beatriz to write him a note requesting him to cease abusing 
her in this way. Hernando says that Pedro feels so violently 
on the subject that he is almost afraid to deliver the note, and 
Juana sends Leonor along. On the way, she does all she can 
to make Hernando less scornful toward her sex in general 
and her in particular, but he is unmoved. Arrived at Pedro’s 
house, Hernando learns that his former master has been chal- 
lenged to duel by Alonso and Juan, and that he feels quite des- 
perate. Hernando tells him there is nothing to worry about, 
that Juana will be, before long, in the same position as Leonor. 
To show Pedro what this is, he makes him draw his dagger in 
33 Los milagros. Act I, scene xix. 
