what I have said."
His wife rose, trembling with agitation, to make a last appeal, andlaying her hand upon his arm, she exclaimed, "Let me solemnly imploreyou to desist from this purpose; it cannot thrive--even should the Kingfall, you cannot succeed to his throne; the nobles and people would riseup in one body against you, and hurl you, with your few friends, todestruction. Many who now, for their own interests, are cordial, woulddesert you, and, instead of a throne, you would mount a scaffold."
The Duke turned a scornful smile on her as she spoke, but she continuedboldly,--"Last night I dreamed of this, and that I saw you, mangled andbloody, upon the ground, while a rude mob stood around, gazing at youwith scoffs and jeers."
"Silence, foolish woman!" suddenly exclaimed the Duke, shaking her off,though turning pale at the thought of what she described. "I remain notto hear such mad nonsense as this. Go, and learn more wisdom;" and,with an angry frown on his brow, he rushed from the room.
The Duchess gave vent to her feelings in a flood of tears, while her sonthrew himself into her arms with fond solicitude, endeavouring to sootheher agitation, but in vain. She saw too clearly the dreadful future.
Volume 3, Chapter VII.
If the country inns of Portugal are bad, those of the cities are verylittle better. So thought Luis d'Almeida, as, towards the evening of aday at the very end of autumn, accompanied by his faithful Pedro, herode into the capital. So think, also, most travellers of the presenttime, except when they are fortunate enough to secure rooms at the oneor two tolerable hotels which Lisbon now affords.
Luis had never before been compelled to seek lodgings, having always hadhis father's palace to which to resort; so that now he was at a losswhither to direct his steps; for so unfitted did he feel himself forsociety, that he was very unwilling to seek for the hospitality ofseveral friends, who he knew, however, would be very willing to affordit.
At last Pedro, who was very anxious to get housed in some place orother, intimated to his master that he had the honour of claiming as arelation an old lady who lived in a small house in the suburbs; that shewas of the highest respectability, for her husband had held an officeunder government; and, indeed, she was apt rather to look down upon thenumber of poor relations who insisted on her acknowledging them asnephews, nieces, and cousins, to the sixth degree. Pedro, however, feltconfident that, notwithstanding her high pretensions, she would be happyto receive, as a lodger in her house, a young nobleman so highlyesteemed as his master; and he undertook, if Don Luis would ride as far,to assure him of a cordial reception, provided she had not, by anychance since he heard of her, departed this life, or from any otherreason changed her residence. Luis very gladly acceded to Pedro'sproposal, for he was fatigued both in body and mind, and he thoughtthat, in so remote a part of the city, he should be better able to avoidthe annoyances to which he must be subject in a more public situation.
As they reached the house Pedro had indicated, he looked up, and, to hisgreat delight, beheld an old lady busily employed in knitting at theopen window.
"There she is, Senhor Conde," exclaimed Pedro. "That is my good aunt,and as kind an old lady as ever lived, when nothing puts her out of herway."
The old lady, hearing horses stopping at her door, put her head out ofthe window to see what it could possibly mean, when Pedro, bowing mostrespectfully, exclaimed, "Ah! my good aunt, my master and I have come along way to see you; now do not come down, I will run upstairs toexplain matters;" and, leaping from his horse, he begged the Count toexcuse him, while he performed his promise.
As may be supposed, he had no great difficulty in persuading the oldlady to receive a gallant cavalier like Luis for her guest, and sheforthwith hurried down to pay him due honour. Pedro, assisting hismaster to dismount, the hostess conducted him upstairs, when, begginghim to be seated, after various little complimentary speeches, she setabout preparing a repast for him: with the aid of Pedro, and a littledamsel, her maid-servant, a room also was made ready for his reception.
By the time these arrangements were completed, it was too late to thinkof going out in search of his friends, and he was glad when he was atlength able to retire to his room. He threw himself on his bed, but notto sleep; the images of the past haunted him, and sad forebodings forthe future. He thought of the danger to which Theresa was exposed,indefinite, and therefore more to be dreaded, and of the aid which hehad pledged himself to afford, by means uncertain, perhaps criminal. Heknew full well the passionate and fierce disposition of the youngMarquis of Tavora, and that no fears for the consequences would make himhesitate in proposing any measures which might rescue his wife, or, atthe worst, vindicate his honour.
Early the following morning, Luis despatched Pedro to inform his youngfriend, Joze de Tavora, of his arrival; for, remembering the warnings ofthe Minister and of his mysterious friend, Senhor Mendez, he wasunwilling to become more intimate with the rest of the family than wasnecessary, and therefore refrained from visiting at their house excepton occasions when custom required it.
Luis had just taken his morning meal, when the young Tavora rushed intothe room, and embracing him with affectionate warmth, exclaimed, "I lostnot a moment, my dear Luis, in hastening hither, when I heard of yourarrival. Say, you have come to aid us; you have come to join the noblecause of justice and honour, arrayed against the overbearing tyranny ofthe plebeian Minister, and his profligate tool--the so-called King ofPortugal?"
"I came to offer my aid, if necessary, in rescuing my cousin Theresafrom the persecutions of the King," answered the young Count; "but in noother scheme ought I to engage, nor will I; for I feel assured, thatmaintaining the peace and happiness of the people at large is ofparamount importance, to avenging any slight, which we nobles, as abody, may conceive ourselves to have suffered. Beforehand, therefore, Iwarn you not to attempt to induce me to engage in any enterprise whichwill in any way cause disorder or bloodshed in the country."
"What! can you, one of the purest of our class, speak thus?" exclaimedthe young Tavora. "Is not our honour paramount to every otherconsideration? Surely we ought not for a moment to weigh it with theinterests of the base plebeians,--the scum of the earth,--wretchesbeneath our notice. In that creed have I been educated, and in thatwill I die."
"'Tis a creed, my young friend, which, put in practice, has alreadyinjured us, and will finally drag us all to destruction," answered Luis."Let us endeavour to maintain our position in the scale of society, asdid our noble ancestors, by being the foremost in every danger, the mostupright, and the most honourable; then no one will venture to molest orinsult us; but, by following any other course, we may, in a moment, findourselves hurled from our high posts, and trampled on in the dust dampwith our gore."
"In Heaven's name, my dear Luis, where did you gain these extraordinaryideas?" cried his visitor. "I did not suppose such could exist in thebrain of any fidalgo in Portugal."
"They are taught by the study of every history, from the earliest timesto the present day," answered Luis, smiling at his own vehemence. "Butwe will not now discuss the subject. Tell me, where are Donna Theresaand your brother?"
"She is at their palace; but he,--you know his temper,--is not there.He is offended at her conduct, and vows he will not return to her tillshe promises never again to exchange a word with the King. This she,being equally firm, will not do; so that they are not exactly on thebest terms for husband and wife; but I suppose that they will, beforelong, get tired of being separated, and so make up their quarrel, asother people do."
"Alas! I regret to hear this," said Luis. "She is thus left exposed tothe persecutions of the King."
"So I tell my brother," interrupted the young Tavora; "but do not speakof it--my heart burns when I think on the subject. Will you come withme to-night where you can meet him, and you may be able to persuade himwhat is right to be done? He knows, perfectly well, since his quarrelwith the King, that he hates him; so that he has thought it wiser not toappear anywhere in public, and is, at present, in a place
ofconcealment, whither I will conduct you. Will you go with me thisevening?"
Luis, without making further inquiries as to the spot where the youngMarquis was concealed, promised to visit him, in company with hisbrother. After some time more spent in conversation, the younger Tavoraagreed to call for Luis, with a horse for his use, desiring that Pedromight be in attendance, to take charge of it, while they approached hisbrother's abode on foot. These arrangements having been made, hisvisitor took his departure; leaving Luis, for the rest of the day, tohis own solitary meditations; for he felt utterly averse to moving fromthe house, and mixing with the noisy and careless crowd in the citybelow. He attempted to read, but in vain, so he threw his book aside,and paced the room for many hours, unable to concentrate his thoughts onone point. He