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much in love with the ladies in question. Lisardo makes a 
very good first impression on Laura and has no need of tak- 
ing a defensive attitude, such as Carlos does, to pay Laura 
“in like coin”. The only time the two come together in any- 
thing like a clash is in the tourney where Laura wins over 
him, but, at the time, he does not know that it is she. Lisardo 
has no way of being sure, as Carlos does thru Polilla, that 
Laura is really in love with him. Even after she knows who 
he is, thru Otavio, and leads him on, he is not at all sure of 
her. Lisardo’s “method” of being disguised and in close con- 
tact with Laura works only because she happens to fall in love 
with him. And she does this for the simple reason that he 
pleases her and not because of any ingenuity on his part. 
The two have little in common because Lisardo’s task is much 
simpler than is Carlos’ and he has no need of so much resource- 
fulness. The “industria” which he expects to employ is not 
the same sort as that used by Carlos. It is used on Julio and 
on the other suitors, as his task is rather to clear the way of 
the latter, than to overcome Laura in open combat “at her own 
game”. 
Alejandro and Agusto have less to do in the play than 
Beanie and Fox and are willing to resort to means which the 
latter do not, in the attempt to win Laura. In the end, how- 
ever, they seem as well pleased with Diana and Lucela as 
Bearne and Fox are with Cintia and Laura. 
The one point in common, already noted, between Diana, of 
El desden con el desden, and Laura, in La vengadora de las 
mujeres, is that the conviction of both, that men are not to 
be believed in their amorous outpourings and should, there- 
fore, be scorned, comes from much reading and study on the 
subject. They are both perfectly willing to give their rea- 
sons and support them with arguments. With that, the real 
resemblance ceases between the two characters. Laura, in- 
tent on being the avenger of her sex, changes her mind on the 
subject, not because Lisardo “goes her one better” along the 
same line — which we find the case in El desden con el desden, 
but for the simple fact that she does fall in love with him. 
Her dignity and vanity are not in the least offended by Lisardo. 
Her task is much the same as Lisardo’s, altho they work in- 
dependently to clear the way of the other suitors. She enters 
the tourney, in the first place, to keep them from winning her. 
