It is revealed that Francisca has fallen in love over the summer with a young man named Félix, in spite of living in a convent with her aunt. Later, Francisca, almost in sobs, expresses to Rita her displeasure at the prospect of marrying Don Diego. He exits as Rita goes to tell Francisca the good news. Irene assures him that it would be improper for a girl to express such feelings in front of a man, and that Francisca tells Irene all the time about how wonderful Diego is.Ī servant named Calamocha arrives at the house (which also rents rooms to travelers) to tell Rita, Francisca's servant, that he and his master have ridden all the way from Zaragoza to stop the wedding. However, he expresses concern over the fact that Francisca never says she loves him and has never explicitly consented to the marriage. Simón is dubious, but Diego pays him no mind. He doesn't want anyone to know about it until the marriage is finalized, because he isn't sure how his friends and relatives will view his marrying such a young girl. This certainly heats up the affair situation. But, he is attracted to Francisca's youth and innocence, and plans to marry her as soon as they arrive in Madrid the next morning. Diego has been looking for a wife with whom he can share friendship and mutual respect he says that impassioned love is too emotional to be well thought out. He has never met the girl before, but her mother, Irene, has assured him, mostly through letters, that the girl is delighted to be marrying him. While there, Diego tells Simón that he is engaged to Francisca.

They stop in the town of Alcalá de Henares to stay for the night.

A rich, elderly, bachelor (Diego) from Madrid and his servant, Simón, have traveled to the city of Guadalajara to escort a poor 16-year-old girl (Francisca) and her mother back to the capital.

Judicial consent plot summary