which one of the guards had loudly knocked.
After sundry careful interrogations from within, the door was unbarredand opened. "Who is that man, who seems of so much authority here?"eagerly demanded Don Luis of his friend, as they were admitted into thehall by old Lucas.
"No other than Sebastiao Joze de Carvalho," answered the Captain; one ofthe ministers of the king, "who does more work in a day than the othertwo in a month, and has more brains in his head and courage in his heartthan all the fidalgos in Portugal put together. You will do well tofollow his request; for he is not fond of having his wishes neglected."
"In one respect I will, in requesting you to take up your abode here,"said Don Luis, as they mounted the steps, preceded by the old steward."Of the rest we will consider; but I like not his authoritative tone."
"Well, I will set you the example of obedience, by accepting yourhospitality instead of returning on board my ship; and I trust you willfollow my advice for the rest."
Old Lucas now ushered them into a large apartment hung round withpaintings, and adorned with crimson hangings, much faded and moth-eaten,it must be confessed; indeed, all the furniture wore an air rather ofpast than present splendour, except on a table in the centre, where waslaid out a repast, which, considering it was intended for a singleperson, exhibited a profusion of eatables, affording considerablesatisfaction to the worthy captain, though, as may be supposed, poor DonLuis felt but little inclination for the good things set before him.Much to the chagrin of the old domestic, who stood near, pressing him totaste of the various dishes, and praising their qualities, he couldscarcely touch them. The old man, looking with a melancholy glance athis young master, shook his head, thinking that some serious illnessmust have attacked him. "Ah! this comes of going to sea, and wanderingin strange countries among heretics," he thought; "but his native airand proper food will soon restore him to health. Come, senhor, a littleof this marmalade will do you good; it is of your old nurse's making,and you used to be very fond of it once upon a time."
"Thank you, my good Lucas, I have already finished supper; but I hopeanother day to do more justice to Senhora Anna's cookery. For thepresent, leave us; for I have much to say to Captain Pinto."
The old man unwillingly quitted the room, with many a lingering glancebehind. "Ah! he is sadly changed from what he once was, poor younggentleman! Oh dear, oh dear!" he ejaculated, as he slowly retired.
The hardy sailor, however, made ample amends to the viands for hishost's want of appetite. "Come, Luis," he said, "tell me how fared youwith Donna Theresa? Ah! I had better not ask; your countenance tellsyour tale."
"Your warnings were but too just, and I have been miserably deceived,"answered the young man.
"Do not make yourself unhappy; you will recover sooner than you expect,"said the Captain. "Remember our voyage: dark clouds and storms for thegreater part of the time; and yet the sun burst out brightly, and wearrived safe in port at last. Take my word for it, everything happensfor the best, and you may some day rejoice that you have undergone whatyou now consider so great a misfortune."
"You have already prophesied too truly for me now to contradict you,"said Don Luis; "but it is difficult to persuade a man that a bitterdraught is pleasant to the taste."
"I do not say that it is pleasant, but, with returning health, he willbe glad he took it," said the Captain, laughing. "Come, come, this isour first evening on shore after a long voyage, and we must not be sad--so here's a health to the fair ladies of Portugal, and I am sure thereare plenty of them, so that, if one is not kind, there are others whowill be so. That is a sailor's maxim, and I should advise you to adoptit; 'twill save many a heart-ache."
"Oh! do not talk on the subject," exclaimed Don Luis, not relishing hisfriend's principles; "I am not of so callous a nature."
"Well, we'll change the subject; and, while I am giving advice, let mestrongly urge you to call to-morrow on the minister. He is a man not tobe trifled with; and though he is a firm friend to those who please him,he is a relentless enemy to any who venture to oppose his objects."
"But why should I fear him, I have no favours to ask, and he has nomeans of injuring me?" said Don Luis.
"Do not confide in that," answered the Captain. "If you displease him,he will find means of avenging himself when you least expect it. Henever yet forgave an offence. Though he is my patron and friend, and aman with many qualities I admire, I know his faults, and they areterrible ones. Pity is an utter stranger to his bosom, and the life ofman he looks upon as a thing of nought, to be disposed of at hispleasure. While other men tremble with fear, his nerves are only thebetter strung. I remember him when he married Donna Theresa Noronha,the niece of the Conde dos Arcos, and a relation of the proud Duke ofAveiro. Her relations all protested against the match, stigmatising himas a low-born profligate, unworthy of their alliance; but he laughed,and bore her off in spite of them, though they have vowed vengeance onhim ever since. But we shall see which will ultimately conquer; and,mark me, every step he takes to power is one nearer to theirdestruction."
"You describe a person whose friendship I would rather shun than seek,"said Don Luis.
"There you think wrong," said the Captain, laughing. "He is just theperson you ought to make your friend; for he can be of more Service toyou than any one else; while, if you fail to win his regard, and makehim your enemy, you will find him a most dangerous one. At all events,call on him with me to-morrow."
"Though fear of his enmity does not influence me, I will follow youradvice, my good friend, and accompany you, which I am also hound to doafter the service he rendered me to-night."
"It matters but little what your motives are, so that you follow hiswishes," returned the Captain.
We need not follow further the conversation of the two friends, whichlasted till a late hour, when at length, having arranged to call, earlythe following morning, on the minister, they separated to theirrespective rooms, Don Luis with his heart yet heavy, and his head in awhirl of confusion, from the various and important occurrences he hadmet with since his landing in the morning; indeed, it was withdifficulty he could persuade himself that he had passed only a few shorthours on the shores of Portugal, so great a change had taken place inall his thoughts and feelings. At the present period of his career,Carvalho made no attempt to vie in outward show with the rich andluxurious fidalgos of Lisbon, his mansion being small, and his domesticarrangements unostentatious; the guard at the door, who presented armsas Captain Pinto and his young friend entered the hall, being the onlysign that a person of consequence resided there.
On giving their names, a servant, without delay, ushered the twogentlemen up stairs into a small ante-room, where he left them for amoment, and immediately returned, saying that his master would receivethem, when, throwing open a side door, he made a sign to them to enter,and Don Luis found himself in the presence of his acquaintance of theprevious evening.
Carvalho, habited in his morning gown, was pacing the chamber, which heevidently used as his dressing-room, while a secretary, at a desk nearthe window, was busily occupied in writing according to his dictation;the last few sentences he spoke being heard by his guests before heappeared to remember their presence. He then suddenly turned, havingassured himself that his instructions were fully understood, andreceived them with that frank and courteous politeness for which thePortuguese are so justly esteemed, and in which he particularlyexcelled; placing them on seats opposite to the one into which he threwhimself, in such a position that he might every now and then turn andgive directions to his secretary.
"I am glad to find that your foreign travel has given you habits ofpunctuality and early rising," he observed; "customs I wish the youngmen of your rank would more generally follow."
"I was anxious to thank your Excellency for the aid you afforded me lastnight," returned Don Luis; "and I therefore seized the earliest momentto pay my respects."
"Ah! that reminds me that you need not be detained in Lisbon to appearas a witness
against the ruffians. They did not intend to take yourlife, it appears, but mistook you for another person; however, a fewweeks' imprisonment will benefit them; and I conclude that you do notintend to remain long away from Court. The king looks with a jealouseye on those who absent themselves, wishing to see himself, as he oughtto be, surrounded by his nobles, who seem often to forget that they buthold their rank from him, and that, at his pleasure, they may againbecome mere commoners."
"My movements will depend entirely on my father's will," answered DonLuis; "and, after my long absence, he will probably desire me to remainwith him."
"Your father is a man I much esteem," said the