This is going to be the most astounding thing you have ever heard of, sir, and I say that...

Kasper Gutman: This is going to be the most astounding thing you have ever heard of, sir, and I say that knowing that a man of your caliber, in your profession, must have known some astounding things in his time. What do you know, sir, about the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, later known as the Knights of Rhodes and other things? Sam Spade: Crusaders or something, weren't they? Kasper Gutman: Very good. In 1539, these crusading knights persuaded the Emperor Charles V to give them the island of Malta. He made them but one condition: They were to pay him, each year, the tribute of one falcon, in acknowledgment that Malta was still under Spain. Do you have any conception of the extreme, the immeasurable wealth of the Order at that time? Sam Spade: I imagine they were pretty well fixed Kasper Gutman: Pretty well is putting it mildly. They were rolling in wealth, sir. For years they had taken from the East, nobody knows what spoils of gems, of precious metals, silks, ivories, sir. We all know that the Holy Wars were to them largely a matter of loot. The Knights were profoundly grateful to the Emperor Charles for his generosity toward them. They hit upon the happy thought of sending him for the first year's tribute, not an insignificant live bird, but a glorious golden falcon, encrusted from head to feet with the finest jewels in their coffers. Well, sir, what do you think of that? Sam Spade: I don't know. Kasper Gutman: These are facts, sir. Not school book history, not Mr. Wells's history, but history nevertheless. They sent this foot-high jeweled bird to Charles, who was then in Spain. They sent it in a galley commanded by a member of the Order. It never reached Spain. A famous admiral of buccaneers took the Knight's galley and the bird. In 1713 it turned up in Sicily. In 1840 it appeared in Paris. It had by then acquired a coat of black enamel so that it looked like nothing more than a fairly interesting black statuette. In that disguise, sir, it was, you might say, kicked around Paris for more than three score years, by private owners too stupid to see what it was under the skin... Then in 1923, a Greek dealer named Charilaos Konstantinides found it in an obscure shop. No thickness of enamel could conceal value from his eyes. You begin to believe me a little?

I must talk to you. Now, look here, my girl. What do you mean by running away from the man to whom I've promised you in marriage? - You've done that without asking me? - Of course. What do you know about such things? And it's time that you understood that... - Who's that? - No one. Forgive me, my dear. I've been an old fool. You seem to know how to handle these matters much better than your Uncle Luis. You? Don't come in here. I have something important to say to you and I don't want to be interrupted. You, pretending to be Zorro. I don't care to hear anything you have to say. So unlock that door and go. I'm glad to see you took the advice I gave you in the chapel. About not hiding such beauty in a convent. What did you say? You're more lovely, more radiant than a morning in June. Surely I must be dreaming. - You are Zorro. - Yes, Lolita. In order to accomplish what I set out to do, I've had to deceive people, including you. Yes, I see. I understand. You don't have to explain. You came here to tell me that asking to marry me was just part of the game. Oh, no. That's the one real thing about this whole masquerade. - Go quickly. - Ride with me tomorrow. Yes, but go. Be careful. - Open the door. - Yes, I'm coming. You seem upset, my dear. Have you been crying? - Yes, I have. - I understand. This marriage was your uncle's idea. He's not your type, and far too sophisticated. - You really think so? - Beyond a question. I saw how he affected you tonight. My heart bled for you, my dear. When you tell Luis you'll have none of this marriage, you'll have my full support. I hardly know what to say. Uncle Luis has done so much for me. Nonsense. He has no right to expect you to spoil your life. Any marriage is better than none, I suppose. Perhaps I could learn to tolerate Diego. I do so want to please Uncle Luis. There's such a thing as carrying gratitude too far. We can't ask you to spend your life with a man you think repulsive. We'll talk of this again in the morning. Good night, my dear. Past midnight. He's not home yet. - How can you read? - It's the latest European styles. - Bustles are coming in, it seems. - Bustles! What is a bustle? It's something to build you up here. Our only son in the clutches of those polecats, and you sit there planning to decorate your... There you are. Why didn't you spend the entire night with your delightful friends? What have you done about that girl? Well, how did you get out of it? She's perfectly charming. A lovely, unspoiled child. - You'll be delighted with her, Father. - I will be delighted? What have you done? I've just taken the first steps toward making you a grandfather. What? What a son you bore me. An alliance with those terrible people. Why did you do it? - For the best reason in the world. - What is that? - Lolita Quintero. - She attracts you? - It's more than that. From the day I first saw... - I thought you hadn't met her until tonight. I did catch a glimpse of her some time ago, and... You're concealing something from us. I'm sure of it. - It's time you went to bed. - Very well. But, Diego, tell me as soon as you can. I will, Mother. - What's the meaning of that? - Gonzales was collecting taxes. A priest resisted. The fool gave him ten lashes. - Send Gonzales to me. - I wish I could. - What's to prevent it? - The total disappearance of Gonzales. - He's gone? Where? - To Hades, I hope. I'll collect the taxes myself from now on. That should teach them. What's that? You... - What's that? - Sergeant Gonzales. I think he's dead. Dead, you say? - He's alive. - He's got a Z on his chest. Jos�. How is the little one? She is well again. I brought this to give thanks to the church. Give thanks in your heart. Buy milk for the child with this. No. This is for the church.