unsuspicious of harm, he took as due to his extraordinary merits.Next came the Count of Atouquia, a young noble of unprepossessingappearance, and his countess, a lady much admired by the King.
Trembling with alarm at a scene so strange and dazzling, the fair DonnaClara was now led forward by the aged Marchioness de Corcunda, who hadrepaired to Court expressly to introduce her. As the beautiful anddelicate young being knelt before him, the King smiled with surprise andpleasure, and raising her, bade her take courage, inquiring her name ofthe old marchioness. "She is, indeed, a bright jewel to adorn ourCourt, where we hope constantly to see her; and we doubt not many of ourgallant fidalgos will enter the lists to win her smiles."
"Her hand is already sought by one of the first fidalgos, your Majesty;but the young lady has a strong desire to become the bride of our holyChurch," answered the Marchioness.
The King looked annoyed, and an expression in no way respectful to theChurch was on his lips; but he checked his anger, contenting himselfmerely with saying--
"The Church shows great discernment in choosing so fair a bride; but itis putting too great a temptation in the way of sinners to commitsacrilege, by making them seek to rob it of its prize."
Donna Clara heard these words of compliment, to which her ear was sounaccustomed, that it increased her blushes, adding to the lustre of herbeauty, nor knew she which way to turn her eyes, till the marchionesshaving paid her respects to the Queen, took her arm, and led her throughthe admiring crowd. The Queen frowned on the lovely girl, and coldlyreturned her salutation; for she feared, in each new beauty, anotherrival in her lord's affections. Goncalo Christovao followed directlyafter.
"We have much pleasure in seeing you at Lisbon, senhor," said the King;"but we shall find fault with you, if you allow your daughter to quitthe world. We hope you will cause her to alter her intention."
"Your Majesty's pleasure is my law," said the fidalgo, bowing and movingon, fearful of trusting his tongue with further words.
Scarcely a person of any rank or note passed, to whom the King did notaddress some words; and nearly all had passed by, when a handsomecavalier approached, and, gracefully kneeling, kissed his hand.
"We do not remember to have seen your countenance before, young sir,"said the King, pleased with his appearance; "though we shall have muchpleasure in seeing it in future. We did not catch your name."
"Luis d'Almeida," answered the young fidalgo. "I have but a short timeago returned from abroad, or I should earlier have paid my respects toyour Majesty."
"We are happy to see you, Don Luis," answered the King. "Your father wehave not seen for some time; we trust he is in health."
"It is the want of it alone which prevents his paying his respects toyour Majesty. Weighed down by years and heavy misfortunes, he scarcelyhopes again to visit Lisbon."
"He sends a worthy representative in his son," answered the King,graciously; "and if you feel inclined to remain, we may give you someoffice in our Court."
"Your Majesty's kindness overpowers me; but my father's state of healthclaims all my attention, nor could I be long absent from him; therefore,if your Majesty will permit me, I must decline your goodness with thedeepest respect," said Don Luis.
"In that please yourself, and give our regards to your father, when youreturn," said the King, as Don Luis moved on to give place to those whowere following him.
At length the tedious ceremony, one of the many penalties royalty isobliged to pay in return for the obeisance of the crowd, was over, andthe courtiers, except those in immediate attendance on the sovereigns,were at liberty to go whither they willed. Don Luis, although amid aglittering crowd of the young and gay, felt sad and dispirited; and hehad already reached one of the outer rooms on his way to quit thepalace, when a page overtook him, and informed him, that Senhor Carvalhorequested to see him; and begging him to follow, led the way throughvarious rooms, to a small closet, next to the King's private councilchamber. Here he found the Minister, pacing up and down, with a bundleof papers in his hand, prepared to attend when the King should summonhim: he stopped in his walk, as he saw Don Luis, and held out his handkindly to him--
"Ah, my young friend," he said, "I am glad to find that you followed myadvice, and returned to Court as soon as you were able to leave yourfather; and now I hope it is from no want of affection to our sovereign,that you rejected his proffered kindness, as I spoke to him in yourfavour some time ago, and he promised to befriend you; for I wouldalways distinguish those who have enlightened their understanding byforeign travel, from the ignorant and profligate young fidalgos, who arealike useless to themselves, and dangerous to a state."
"Your Excellency is flattering me at the expense of the Fidalguia ofPortugal," answered Luis, his sense of the respect due to his class hurtby the Ministers expressions.
"I speak but the truth of them, young sir," answered the Minister, "andam right in making you an exception; but in truth, I would, for anotherreason, be of service to any of your family, and regretted much, whenthe King made his gracious offer, that you did not accept it."
"I have again to thank your Excellency for the interest you take in mywelfare; but I should not even have returned to Lisbon so soon, were Inot obliged to attend the marriage of my cousin, Donna Theresa d'Alorna,with the young Marquis of Tavora."
"I forgot your connexion with that family; but beware of the Tavoras.They are haughty, ambitious, and proud; and though I fear them notmyself, I would not trust those I regard with their friendship."
A page now came to inform the Minister that the King was in readiness toreceive him.
"Farewell, Don Luis, and remember my offers and advice," he said, as heturned to follow the page to the presence of the King.
As Luis was leaving the palace, he felt his arm seized in no gentlegrasp, and turning round, to his great satisfaction he found his friendCaptain Pinto by his side.
"Ah, what! Don Luis turned courtier!" exclaimed the latter. "Well, itis one of the characters of life a gentleman ought to play, though Icannot say it is much to my taste. I cannot stand all the buckram andbowing a man has to go through, though I played my part pretty wellto-day, and received all sorts of compliments for sinking the Rover;besides which, I expect to get something about as substantial, in theshape of a cross of some order or other, which, the chances are, I seethe next day worn by the escudeiro of my Lord Marquis of Marialva orTavora. But no matter! it will be intended as an honour, and I mayboast how I won it, which few others can do: however, here have I beenrunning on about my own affairs, and quite forgetting to ask you aboutyours. Tell me first, when did you come to Lisbon, for I have beeninquiring for you, and heard that you were not even expected."
"I arrived only yesterday, and remain but till my cousin Theresa'smarriage takes place."
"Ah! a sore subject that, I fear; but if you are the man I take you for,you will soon recover from that trifling wound; but I will not talkabout it. I was wishing to see you, to deliver a message from SenhorMendez, who desires to have some conversation with you. He has not yetrecovered from his injuries, and begs you will visit him."
"I will gladly do so, if you tell me where I may find him," said Luis.
"I will take you with me to-night, for I do not venture to visit him byday, for reasons I will explain some time to you," answered CaptainPinto.
"I cannot go till late; for I have a visit to pay at the palace of theMarchioness of Corcunda, to deliver some jewels I recovered from somerobbers in an extraordinary way to a young lady, who will be anxious tohear of their safety," said Don Luis.
"What! another young lady in the case? I thought you had foreswornwomankind for ever," said Captain Pinto, laughing.
"I have seen Donna Clara but once, and am only performing an act ofcommon courtesy," said Don Luis.
"Is she very lovely?" asked his friend. "She is perfection," answeredDon Luis. "That fully accounts for it," said the Captain. "I thoughtit would be so. Eternal wretchedness--no comfort but in the grave! Ha!h
a!"
Volume 2, Chapter IV.
When Don Luis reached the palace of the Marchioness of Corcunda, wherehe had learned that Donna Clara and her father were residing, he sawlight streaming from all the windows, and sounds of revelry met his ear.He paused for a moment, doubtful whether he should enter the scene offestivity; but, being still habited in his full dress of the morning, hefelt that he was in a proper costume, having also a modest consciousnessthat he should not be unwelcome to the lady of the mansion, nor, hetrusted, to Donna Clara. He therefore boldly approached the door,working his way through a crowd of lackeys, chairmen, and linkboys, andascended a flight of steps leading to the habitable part of the mansion,following a gay and
The Prime Minister Page 50
