 The De la Vegas, especially father, are eager to host the young widow Senora Francisca De La Pena who just arrived by stagecoach. She is not the lady on the cameo send to don Alejandro, who invited her as his potential fiancée based on correspondence, but explains she wanted to test his sincerity by sending him her aunt Consuela s portrait, which worries don Diego. When Felipe, who proves a good fencing pupil, reports Gomez  vaqueros (cowboys) cause trouble again in the tavern, Zorro rides to Victoria s aid, while sergeant Mendoza eats as if undisturbed; later Zorro sees Francisca sneaking into a man s window and kiss him, but how can Diego warn his father, who plans a wedding by Easter and a pre-nuptial contract? When he tells her to be seen by a friend, she claims it s her vicious former lover Ramirez, who drowned the real Francisca, but sends him a carrier pigeon, which Diego follows as Zorro and defeats him sword-fighting, to be kept pending proof of murder by Mendoza s men under Victoria s longing sight. The false Consuela leaves for good.