the house. He waited some further time, with eageranxiety to bear the important information, for which he had so longtoiled, to his employer, till the sound of voices and footsteps had diedaway. He listened attentively--not a sound was heard. He started fromhis lair towards the garden window, which afforded the easiest means ofescape; for, if found in the grounds after what had occurred, he wellknew he must expect nothing short of death from the conspirators. As hegained the front of the summer-house, what was his horror to perceivetwo men standing beneath the porch before it, so earnestly engaged in awhispered conversation, that they did not perceive him! He stepped backcautiously a couple of paces, so as to be out of their sight, but wasafraid to retreat further, lest he might attract their notice. Themovement was not, however, entirely unremarked.
"Did you not hear a noise, Senhor Policarpio?" said one of the persons.
"Stay! listen, Manoel. I hear nothing. Oh, it was but the windrustling the leaves," answered Senhor Policarpio, and they continued thesubject of their discussion, but in so low a tone that it was impossibleto distinguish what they said.
Antonio waited, intending to dodge round to the back of the summer-houseas soon as Policarpio and his companion moved, when the sound of theirfootsteps would conceal his own. He wished they would hasten, for helonged to be off, to give the information he had gained; but minuteafter minute passed by, and still they continued in the same place. Hisimpatience prompted him to make a bold push for the window, but hisprudence withheld him. At last they moved away, taking the walk leadingpast the window, and he slid behind the summer-house; but what was hisvexation to hear them stop at the only outlet for escape that he wasaware of, one of the men exclaiming, "Curses on this window, 'tis thesecond time it has blown open to-night; I will secure the bolts wellthis time;" then followed a noise as if the bolts were driven down by astone.
The footsteps of the men receding, he again advanced from hishiding-place, and, seeing no one, hurried to the window. It wassecurely closed. He tried to force up the bolts, but they resisted hisefforts. He then groped about for the stone which had served thepurpose of a hammer to the others, and, after some time, havingdiscovered it, he attempted to drive up the bolts. He knocked away tillone only remained to set him at liberty, when suddenly a gleam of lightfell on the shutter before him, and, turning his head, to his dismay, hebeheld the two persons who he thought had entered the house hurryingtowards him. Not a moment was to be lost, if he would escape with hislife. He knocked away at the bolt, but it had been driven deep down.
"Death to the cursed spy!" shouted the voice of Senhor Policarpio, as herushed forward, with his sword gleaming in his hand. The threat did notthe less cause Antonio to endeavour to loosen the obstinate bolt. Thepoint of the sword was within a few paces of him, when the bolt gaveway. He threw open the shutter, and leaped on the window-sill.Policarpio made a thrust with his rapier at him; but, jumping fearlesslydown, he alighted safely on the ground. Stopping not to see if anyfollowed, and diving among the narrow lanes in the neighbourhood, he wassoon safe from pursuit.
Volume 3, Chapter XIII.
The Prime Minister was seated in the private council chamber of theKing, to which we have frequently before introduced our readers. A lampstood on the table, throwing its light on numerous packets of papersstrewed around, and on the sheet on which he was earnestly employed inwriting.
Who would, we again ask, seek to occupy such a post as he filled? Whatcan make a man sacrifice his health, his strength, peace, happiness, andsafety,--to toil for hours while others sleep,--to bear the abuse of hisadversaries, the revilings of the mob, the obstinacy of coadjutors, andthe caprices of the Monarch,--but ambition? The ambition of some leadsthem to noble ends; for others, it wins but the hatred of mankind. Itis ambition which excites the warrior to deeds of heroism,--the merchantto gain wealth,--the poet, the painter, and the sculptor, to win fame;and it is ambition which causes us to spend day after day, secluded inour study, employed on this work--the ambition of gaining theapprobation of our countrymen.
Carvalho wrote on, unmindful of the lateness of the hour, when he hearda knock at the door, and, ordering the person who knocked to enter, apage appeared, informing him that one waited without who sought anaudience on some important matter, which would admit of no delay.
"Let him be admitted," said the Minister; and before a minute hadelapsed, Antonio stood before him. The attendants who had conducted himthither, to guard against treachery, were ordered forthwith to retire.
"What information do you bring me, my friend?" inquired the Minister.
"That which you have long sought, please your Excellency," answeredAntonio.
"Ah! let me hear it without delay," said Carvalho, eagerly.
"I have learned the whole of the plot against the lives of yourExcellency and his Majesty, and discovered many of those engaged in it;"and he gave an exact account of all which had taken place in thesummer-house, and the names of the persons assembled there, of which theMinister took notes as he proceeded in his description.
"Now, then, ye haughty nobles, I have ye within my power!" exclaimedCarvalho, exultingly. "Sooner will the vulture abandon his prey than Iwill allow you to escape my grasp! Friend, you have well won any rewardyou may please to ask,--the treasury shall supply you--"
"Stay, your Excellency," interrupted Antonio. "I before said, I serveyou not for money. I am, as you well know, of the race of Abraham; butI am not, therefore, of necessity, mercenary. Think you that any goldyou can bestow could repay me for all I have endured to serve you,--forthe degradation, the toil, the dangers I have undergone,--the deceit,the disguises, the watchfulness I have practised, for many years past,because you assured me you could find no other to do the work yourequired, in whom you could confide? Think you that it was for gold Iabandoned my home and my kindred, to mingle with the most base and vileon earth, to curb their passions, and to guide them according to yourwill?--that for this I introduced myself into the palaces of the richand powerful, to learn their secrets, and to act as a spy on theiractions? No! your Excellency has known me long, and knows me better.What I ask, you have power to grant. I demand freedom for my people!We have in all things conformed to the customs of those among whom wedwell; to their religion, in every outward observance, which is all youcan require; we pay tithes to your priests; we give alms to the poor;our manners, our language, have become the same; we obey the King andthe law; and yet have we not been allowed to enjoy the rights ofcitizenship in the land which we enrich by our industry and ourcommerce. A mark has been set upon us; and wherever we move, still isthe stigma of being New Christians attached to us. I demand, then, asmy reward, that you should abolish that invidious distinction, and that,from henceforth, if we conform to the worship of your Church, we maylikewise enjoy all the privileges of the other subjects of his Majesty."
"Your demands, my friend, are somewhat extravagant," returned theMinister, taken rather by surprise by Antonio's unexpected harangue;"but I will consult his Majesty on the subject, and be guided by hisdecision: if unfavourable to your wishes, you must make some otherrequest. You know well that, of myself, I have no power to grant thisone."
"Pardon me, your Excellency, I know well the power, both to will andact, rests with you, and you alone," answered Antonio, vehemently. "Andthis is the only reward which I seek, or will receive. If you grant itme not, my labour has indeed been labour in vain."
Carvalho was secretly pleased with the disinterested, and, more thanthat, the dauntless spirit of the speaker, so like his own, and perhapsalso with the confidence he placed in his power to fulfil his wishes.The measure was, indeed, one he had before contemplated, and which hewas anxious to bring about, though he was too good a diplomatist toacknowledge his intentions, or to commit himself by making any definitepromise to perform what he might afterwards have reason to wish leftundone; he therefore gave Antonio a vague answer to his petition.
"The matter you propose, my good friend, is one of vast importance,w
hich will require mature deliberation before I can give you any hopesfavourable to your wishes; but, believe me, I will do my utmost to gainthat justice for your people which has so long been denied them: in themean time, you may perform for me many more important services; for tocrush this vile conspiracy at present demands all my attention."
"I would willingly serve your Excellency and the state yet another year,to gain justice for my people," answered Antonio. "In your word have Itrusted, and in that do I still trust. Has your Excellency any furthercommands?"
"None, my friend; for this night you may retire. Call here to-morrowmorning, and I shall claim your services."
As the door closed upon Antonio, the Minister, securing most of hispapers in the bureau, took in his hand the notes he had made fromAntonio's information, and, late as was