'Defunto' Summary

In 1474, in the city of Segovia, Spain, D. Rui de Cardenas, a devout man, falls in love with Dona Leonor, the wife of a jealous nobleman. The nobleman, upon discovering his wife's infidelity, challenges D. Rui to a duel. D. Rui accepts the challenge, but on the way to the duel, he is met by the ghost of a hanged man. The ghost tells D. Rui that he will help him win the duel, but only if D. Rui promises to give him his soul. D. Rui agrees, and the ghost helps him to defeat the nobleman. However, after the duel, the ghost comes to collect D. Rui's soul. D. Rui is horrified, but he knows that he cannot break his promise. He gives his soul to the ghost, and the ghost takes him to hell.