 Diego s younger cousin Rafael is visiting the hacienda, about to marry Marguerita de Madeira. When Felipe reports the arrival of soldiers, Diego pretends to stay back reading and painting but rides a Zorro. The alcalde orders the sergeant to hang farmers who can t pay taxes because of the bad harvest, so Zorro springs the alcalde s office safe and offers the gold to pay all taxes, admired by everyone, including his father and the future couple as he ridicules the taxers and rides off. When Rafael invites Diego as best man, Marguerita calls off the wedding- she has fallen for Zorro, so Rafael wants to challenge him to a duel. Diego breaks off a cactus and sends Felipe out with it under his saddle, to create a diversion on the plaza, where Victoria fights her new rival. The alcalde orders the couple to leave within two hours, after paying an outraging traveler s tax; Rafael rather fights the lancers; when Zorro turns up to help, Rafeal insists to duel, loses out of Maguerita s sight but is allowed to pretend  winning and sparing the masked man  to impress his thus regained bride.