# Don Diego Vega — The Mark of Zorro character guide > Don Diego Vega in The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Don Diego, Vega, Don Vega, Diego **First appearance:** 0001-ii-on-the-heels-of-the-storm ## Snapshot A wealthy young caballero so languid and indifferent that suitors and soldiers alike dismiss him as harmless, which is precisely the disguise he needs. ## Who they are Don Diego drifts through drawing rooms complaining of turbulent times and aching heads, courting Lolita with such listless courtesy that she can barely tolerate him. Yet his seeming apathy shields a secret life, and every dull remark he makes is a performance calibrated to throw off suspicion. His double existence forces the story's central question: which man is real, the fop or the fox? ## Relationships ### [Don Carlos Pulido](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters/don_carlos_pulido) _social_ Don Carlos views Don Diego as a harmless, wealthy neighbor and a potential suitor for his daughter, unaware of his secret. ### [Captain Ramón](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters/captain_ramon) _social_ Captain Ramón dismisses Don Diego as a weak, effeminate aristocrat, never suspecting he is Zorro. ### [Sergeant Pedro Gonzales](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters/sergeant_pedro_gonzales) _social_ Don Diego treats Sergeant Gonzales with condescending politeness, subtly mocking him while hiding his true identity. ### [Doña Catalina Pulido](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters/dona_catalina_pulido) _social_ Don Diego is a polite acquaintance of Doña Catalina, who sees him as a suitable but unexciting match for her daughter. ### [Fray Felipe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters/fray_felipe) _friendship_ Don Diego confides in Fray Felipe, who knows his secret and supports his double life as Zorro. ### [Sergeant Pedro Gonzales](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters/sergeant_pedro_gonzales) _social_ Don Diego treats Sergeant Gonzales with condescending politeness, subtly mocking him while hiding his true identity. ### [Don Carlos Pulido](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters/don_carlos_pulido) _social_ Don Carlos views Don Diego as a harmless, wealthy neighbor and a potential suitor for his daughter, unaware of his secret. ### [Captain Ramón](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters/captain_ramon) _social_ Captain Ramón dismisses Don Diego as a weak, effeminate aristocrat, never suspecting he is Zorro. ### [Don Carlos Pulido](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters/don_carlos_pulido) _social_ Don Carlos views Don Diego as a harmless, wealthy neighbor and a potential suitor for his daughter, unaware of his secret. ### [Captain Ramón](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters/captain_ramon) _social_ Captain Ramón dismisses Don Diego as a weak, effeminate aristocrat, never suspecting he is Zorro. ### [Sergeant Pedro Gonzales](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters/sergeant_pedro_gonzales) _social_ Don Diego treats Sergeant Gonzales with condescending politeness, subtly mocking him while hiding his true identity. ### [Fray Felipe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters/fray_felipe) _friendship_ Don Diego confides in Fray Felipe, who knows his secret and supports his double life as Zorro. ## In the story ### [On the Heels of the Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/ii-on-the-heels-of-the-storm) Enters the tavern during a storm, feigns disinterest in violence and Zorro, leaves to fetch honey, and later returns. ### [IV: Swords Clash and Pedro Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/iv-swords-clash-and-pedro-explains) Arrives at the tavern after the fight and playfully asks Gonzales for a heroic account, knowing the truth. ### [A Ride in the Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/v-a-ride-in-the-morning) Rides to the Pulido hacienda, dressed in fine garments, and discusses the recent Zorro incident with Don Carlos. ### [Diego Seeks a Bride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/vi-diego-seeks-a-bride) Visits Don Carlos to ask for Lolita's hand in marriage, treating courtship as a duty rather than a romantic endeavor. ### [VII: A Different Sort of Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/vii-a-different-sort-of-man) Makes a lackluster proposal to Lolita and is rejected; leaves the hacienda embarrassed. ### [X: A Hint at Jealousy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/x-a-hint-at-jealousy) Arrives at the hacienda feigning fatigue and concern; taunts Captain Ramón about his wound and engages in a flirtatious yet dismissive conversation with Lolita. ### [XI: Three Suitors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xi-three-suitors) Feigns weakness and disinterest, but subtly mocks both the captain and sergeant while requesting to be kept informed of Zorro's pursuit. ### [A Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xii-a-visit) Writes to Don Carlos, inviting the Pulidos to stay at his house; departs for his hacienda after seeing the soldiers off. ### [XIII: Love Comes Swiftly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xiii-love-comes-swiftly) Mentioned as being away at his hacienda; his house is the setting for the chapter's events. ### [Captain Ramón Writes a Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xiv-captain-ram-n-writes-a-letter) Mentioned as the wealthy family Ramón hints at in his letter, implying wavering loyalty to the governor. ### [Sergeant Gonzales Meets a Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xvii-sergeant-gonzales-meets-a-friend) Appears as a guest at Fray Felipe's hacienda, feigns disinterest in Zorro, and subtly mocks Sergeant Gonzales while maintaining his foppish persona. ### [XIX: Captain Ramón Apologizes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xix-captain-ram-n-apologizes) Feigns concern over Captain Ramón's accusations and accepts his apology; continues his awkward courtship of Lolita, who rejects him. ### [Don Diego Shows Interest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xx-don-diego-shows-interest) Shows interest in Fray Felipe's plight, intervenes at the trial, and previously hosted the Pulidos. ### [The Whipping](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xxi-the-whipping) Witnesses the whipping of Fray Felipe, feels moved to action but is restrained by the magistrado; later confides in Bernardo and speaks with Fray Felipe on the road. ### [Swift Punishment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xxii-swift-punishment) Present at the tavern, he is described as a harmless gentleman who does not wear a blade and is considered no threat. ### [XXIV: At the Hacienda of Don Alejandro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xxiv-at-the-hacienda-of-don-alejandro) Returns to his father's hacienda, complaining of the violence and turmoil in the pueblo, and reveals that Lolita has rejected his suit. ### [A League Is Formed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xxv-a-league-is-formed) Enters the room late, yawning and feigning ignorance of the events, while his father wishes he were more spirited. ### [An Understanding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xxvi-an-understanding) Visits the Pulido hacienda to woo Lolita; learns of her love for Zorro and agrees to a deceptive courtship; uses the pretense of disappointment in love to explain his future inaction. ### [Orders for Arrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xxvii-orders-for-arrest) Mentioned as having ridden to the Pulido hacienda; his absence from the plaza is noted by the governor. ### [The Outrage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xxviii-the-outrage) Arrives home as troopers ride past; feigns regret at missing the governor's visit, but his sincerity is doubted. ### [Don Diego Feels Ill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xxix-don-diego-feels-ill) Visits the governor at the presidio, feigning illness and disinterest while subtly advocating for the Pulidos and gathering information. ### [The Sign of the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xxx-the-sign-of-the-fox) Absent from the meeting due to a claimed fever, which the caballeros suspect is feigned cowardice. ### [The Man Unmasked](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xxxviii-the-man-unmasked) Revealed as Zorro, drops his languid persona and is embraced by his father. ### [Meal Mush and Goat's Milk!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/chapters/xxxix-meal-mush-and-goat-s-milk) Reveals his dual identity as Señor Zorro, explaining his ten-year deception and his love for Lolita. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters/don_diego_vega - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mark_of_zorro_se/characters