Kinghad not escaped his searching vigilance, from many facts which had cometo his knowledge.
As he contemplated the dreadful punishment which awaited the youngCount, he felt a regret for his fate, slight and transient though itwas, and one of the few, perhaps, which ever passed through his stern,unyielding heart; for Luis was akin to a dear friend, early lost, andlong mourned; but he banished the weakness, and resolved to perform hisduty.
"I shall see you soon again, Count, when his Majesty has recovered,which I trust will be in a few days, when we will arrange about the postyou are to fill," he observed, as Luis took his leave, and he, with abland smile, turned towards some of the other courtiers.
As the Count d'Almeida was quitting the palace, he encountered in thepassage his former and hated rival, the Count San Vincente. The twoyoung nobles regarded each other, as they advanced, with fierce glances,when the latter, casting a look of scornful triumph at Luis, passedonward, almost brushing him with his sword. Luis, recollecting that hewas within the precincts of the palace, was unable to take any notice ofthe intended insult, though he longed for a day of retribution, when hemight avenge himself for the deep injuries he had received at the handsof the treacherous noble. Brooding over the feelings which the meetingwith the Count had raised, he returned homeward, at the same time fullysatisfied that he was free from any danger on account of his unfortunateexcursion with Joze de Tavora.
Many days passed away, while many-tongued rumour was busy with spreadingtales of various colours in all directions, blasting the characters ofsome of the highest and noblest in the land. Few, at length, there werewho disbelieved that treason was on foot; the names of some wereascertained, it was said, without a doubt, and were whispered abroad inevery circle, except where the true conspirators moved; for, as oftenhappens, reports, whether true or scandalous, often reach last the earsof those most concerned. Thus, the Duke of Aveiro, whose wishes had, atall events, instigated the assassins to their deed of blood, appearedeverywhere in public with an untroubled brow, and continued to be themost assiduous in his inquiries at the palace after the health of hisMajesty.
The King, however, still kept himself closely confined to his chamber,to which even the Queen was not admitted; the Minister, as before,receiving all guests with the most affable courtesy, seeming to take adelight in paying them attentions, and holding them in lengthenedconversations. Many an eye sunk beneath his piercing glance, though asmile wreathed itself about his lips, and his voice was softlymodulated, and many a heart trembled lest he should read its inmostthoughts. Two or three nobles, from whom, not suspecting them, he hadless concealed his thoughts, passed their estates in trust into otherhands, being suddenly seized with a strong desire to visit other lands;not even waiting for permission to leave the country. Those who did so,had full reason, shortly afterwards, to congratulate themselves on theircaution. The flight of these gave security to others; the young Marquisof Tavora being advised to return to the city, and plead illness as anexcuse for his short absence,--while his father rejoiced that he himselfhad not acted according to the counsels of his wife, lest suspicionmight have fallen upon him.
Among the visitors at the palace was our friend Goncalo Christovao, whohad, a short time before, arrived in Lisbon. Senhor Carvalho welcomedhim with even more than his usual courtesy, regretting that the Kingcould not receive the petition, which he understood he had come topresent from the city of Oporto; but assuring him, that he would use hisutmost endeavours to abolish the grievances of which the inhabitantscomplained. He then took him aside.
"I have a subject, Senhor Christovao, which I have long wished to broachto you. It is to make a request, which I trust you will not deny me,for it will conduce to strengthen your family interests, and add honourto mine."
The high-born fidalgo gazed at the Minister with an air of surprise,wondering what he could possibly mean.
"You have a fair daughter, full worthy of her high name," continued thelatter, "whom my son beheld when Lisbon was honoured by her presence."The fidalgo started, and a frown gathered on his brow. "He has eversince pined to possess her; and, as I hear she is still not betrothed, Inow ask her hand in marriage for him."
If a leper, or one of the vilest of the children of earth, had made thesame request, the proud fidalgo could scarce have cast a look more fullof indignant scorn towards him than he now threw at the powerfulMinister, as, in a tone of mingled anger and disdain, he answered, "Youstrangely forget our relative positions, Senhor Carvalho; but know,senhor, that in my garden there is no room for oaks." Alluding to hishereditary estate called the "Fair Garden," and the name of Carvalho,which is the Portuguese for an oak.
The Minister bowed, and returned a smile, which could scarce be calledtreacherous, if the fidalgo had not been too much excited by hisindignation to observe the withering gleam which shot from the eyes ofthe man whose vengeance he had thus provoked, but the latter in no otherway committed himself.
"You indulge somewhat in pleasantry this morning, Senhor Christovao," hesaid, in a tranquil tone. "However, I conclude that you have goodreasons for refusing my son's suit, and I therefore withdraw it."
"You act wisely, senhor," answered the fidalgo, still in an offendedtone. "My daughter's hand is not to be bought and sold, and of her ownfree-will she has dedicated it to the Church."
"The young lady has not professed yet?" asked Carvalho.
"No, senhor; some months must yet elapse before she takes the finalvows," said the father.
"It were better she abandoned her project," observed the Minister. "Itis one few young ladies so lovely as she is follow willingly; andremember, Senhor Christovao, the King has determined to allow theinclinations of no lady of this realm to be forced in that respect--Imust see to it."
"I require no one to dictate to me how I am to dispose of my daughter,"answered the fidalgo, haughtily.
"Your pardon, my dear sir," returned the Minister.
"Present my duty to the King," said the fidalgo, taking his leave.
"I will not forget you, Senhor Christovao," said the Minister, bowinghim out.
"Haughty fool!" he muttered, as he returned to his seat. "Dearly shallyou rue your insolence. Sebastiao Joze de Carvalho never forgets hisfriends or his foes."
Several weeks passed tranquilly away, so tranquilly that men began tosuppose they had mistaken the character of the Prime Minister, and that,weary of bloodshed and severity, his government was to be henceforth oneof mildness and conciliation. The larger number were loud in theirpraise of the great man; favours which had long been sought for were nowgranted, promises were made to others, even his former enemies appearedforgiven; the Duke of Aveiro, among others, requested leave to retire tohis country seat at Azeitao, and permission was instantly given him todo so. Some few suspected, it is true, that this mild behaviour waslike the treacherous calm before the hurricane; but they were cautious,and uttered not their opinion.
Volume 3, Chapter XI.
"O who would wish to be a King?" said the gallant King James ofScotland, when the fantastic, fickle, fierce, and vain herd wereshouting the name of Douglas; and we ask, Who would wish to be a PrimeMinister? No one, surely, who has any regard for his own tranquillityor happiness; no one who cannot scorn the base revilings of thethankless crowd, in whose service he is exerting all the energies of anoble intellect, and wasting his health; no one who is not prepared toencounter the treachery of friends, and the hatred of enemies; who hasnot a heart of adamant and nerves of steel; unless he be a true patriot,and _then_ the consciousness of rectitude and nobility of purpose willsupport him through all.
A fair girl was leaning over a balcony in the residence of the PrimeMinister of Portugal, inhaling the sweet odours which rose from thegarden beneath. Her light hair, not yet brought under the slavishsubjection of fashion, fell in long ringlets over her fair neck, whileher laughing blue eye, and lips formed to smile, betokened her Germanextraction, for she was the daughter of Sebastiao Joze de Carvalho andthe Countess Daun; tho
ugh neither in her gentle disposition, or hersmall and beautifully rounded figure, did she partake of her father'squalities. She started, for a sigh was breathed near her, and shebeheld a handsome youth by her side, gazing at her with a look ofenraptured devotion. A blush mantled on her cheeks as she asked, "Whatbrings you here, Senhor Alfonzo? I thought you were with my father atthe palace."
"I am about to go thither, Donna Agnes," answered the youth, "but Isought first to see you."
"Pardon me, senhor, I must not delay you," said the young lady.
"Lady, in mercy save me from destruction!" exclaimed the youth, in atone which thrilled to her heart.
"What mean you, Senhor Alfonzo? In what way can I aid you?" said theMinister's daughter.
"In your hands is my fate,