The Prime Minister
Page 81
sun rose,by which he meant to hint, where you were present; but you may beassured he did not allow the Queen to hear him."
"His Majesty is very complimentary to my poor qualities," returned DonnaTheresa, coldly.
"He does not compliment--he speaks the truth, my sweet lady," said theDwarf. "He loves you far more than you can tell: if you were aware howmuch, you would acknowledge his is a heart worth winning."
Donna Theresa answered not, and endeavoured to conceal the pleasurewhich even this coarse style of flattery gave her. We need not describeit further. Such was the tenor of the words with which the well-trainednegress constantly assailed her, and, like water dropping on a rock,they had their effect.
On quitting the young Marchioness, Father Jacinto took his way to Belem,where the old Marquis of Tavora had a Quinta. Here Donna Leonora, hiswife, was now residing, since the destruction of their palace in thecity; and here she held her coteries of all who were inimical to theKing, and haters of his Prime Minister. Of these there were a verylarge class in the country, some angry at being deprived of the monopolyof legislating, which they had so long enjoyed, without one singlequalification for the purpose, except a very common one, the love ofplace; and others, justly incensed at the cruelty and unwarrantabletyranny of the Minister.
At these meetings the Jesuits were ever the most active members; for totheir care had the old Marchioness committed the entire spiritualguidance of her mind, when they, of course, took possession of thedirection of every other action of her life.
When the Jesuit reached the gate of the Quinta, he was admitted withwelcome, and conducted forthwith to the presence of the lady of themansion.
His manner was no longer that of the intimate and advising friend, witha slight, though unalarming, tinge of a warmer feeling, doubtful whetherthat of a parent or a lover, it might have been interpreted either way,as it had been towards Donna Theresa. He had now all the humility anddevotion of a subject towards the ex vice-regal lady; piety was his onlyostensible motive for action, the thoughts of heaven and religion theonly ones which filled his mind, except when occupied in following herwishes. Though humble, he was not cringing; to that his haughty spiritcould not bow, even for the sake of deceiving; he behaved more as aminister to his sovereign, offering advice with firm respect, determinedto gain his point, yet endeavouring to persuade, rather than to insiston his opinions being followed.
"Do you bring me any news, holy Father?" said the Marchioness, as theJesuit was ushered into the apartment in which she was seated; and herattendants, at a sign from her, had withdrawn. "Will the King revokethe sentence of banishment pronounced against that pious saint and holyfather, Malagrida; or must we still be deprived of his righteouscounsels and exhortations?"
"Alas, lady! the heart of the King is still hardened, I fear through theevil advice of that incarnation of the prince of sin," answered thePriest. "He has not only not revoked the sentence, but is planningfresh aggressions against our Church and holy religion. Before long, ifsuch unheard-of wickedness is not put a stop to, we shall become anation of atheists and heretics."
"The words of the sainted Malagrida will come too true," exclaimed theMarchioness: "our altars will be profaned, and our holy priests driveninto exile. His advice must be followed. This wicked King must beremoved."
"Heaven forbid that I should say so," said Father Jacinto. "He is theLord's anointed, and the heritage of this kingdom is his. My brotherMalagrida cannot counsel aught that is wrong; but I would first usemilder means. I would seek to turn his heart from wickedness, and leadhim to the path of righteousness."
"Has not that been tried, Father, and found to fail?" exclaimed theproud Marchioness, impatiently. "Has he not refused to listen to thewords of our religion, and banished from his presence those who arealone able to teach them to him? By what other means, then, can youhope to work his conversion?"
"By the gentle influence of your sex, lady, may that happy end beaccomplished. The King loves your daughter-in-law, Donna Theresa, withthe most ardent passion; but she is cold and indifferent to him, andfaithful to her husband. By her means might his heart be turned toreligion, if she would exert her power over him. This she will not dowhile she fears the censure of the world, who, misinterpreting herconduct, will deem her guilty of infidelity to her husband, while she isinnocent of any crime."
"What, Father, you would not ask my daughter-in-law to dishonour theproud name she bears!" exclaimed the Marchioness.
"Heaven forbid," interrupted the Jesuit. "I would ask her to do onlythat which is right. She possesses the means of gaining power toforward a holy cause, and I would counsel her to exert it. But, lady,of her own accord she will not do so; her youth and timidity, her fearof offending you and her husband, prevent her from encouraging theadvances of the King. Were you, on the contrary, to sanction her holyefforts to enchain him completely, her scruples would cease; and thecensorious world would then be convinced that she was guiltless ofdishonouring her noble husband, your son, and that she received thevisits of the King through that pure friendship which draws persons ofsimilarity of tastes and disposition together."
"I comprehend your reasons, Father, and pardon me that I should for amoment have misunderstood your expressions. I will see Theresa, andpersuade her no longer to treat the King so coldly. I was aware that hehad visited her; but my son is still ignorant of the fact, and it willbe better not to inform him of it yet; he is young and passionate, andmight not understand our motives."
"Your caution is advisable, lady," said the Jesuit. "It is a wise plannever to communicate our intentions to more persons than is necessary;and I would advise you to speak on this subject to no one else."
"I will follow your counsel, Father," answered the Marchioness. "Buttell me, should Theresa not succeed in turning the King from his evilcourse, and, should he still persist in persecuting the servants of theChurch, what means must we then pursue?"
"Any will be justifiable," responded the Priest. "Events are in thewomb of time, and, according as they appear, so must we guide theircourse."
The conversation continued for a considerable time longer, chiefly onthe same subject; the wily Priest, while pretending to combat, oftenencouraging the plans of the Marchioness, by advancing arguments againstthem which he allowed her easily to controvert. At length, havingassured himself that his own arrangements were in the proper train, he,with profound respect, took his leave; and, rejoicing at his success,went about many of the minor plots and intrigues in which he wasengaged, for the sole purpose of forwarding the great aim of his_Order_.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
Volume 3, Chapter I.
Being very anxious to proceed with our history, we would rather avoidany retrospection; but, that our readers may understand more clearly theoccurrences of the times we are now describing, it will be necessary togive a slight sketch of a few events that had already passed. The mostimportant was the revolt of the inhabitants of Oporto, and of theneighbouring provinces, against the authority of the Minister, inconsequence of the establishment of a Company, with almost unboundedprivileges, to superintend the sale of the wines produced on the banksof the river Douro. The proprietors of the vineyards, who had beenaccustomed to a free trade, by which they had grown wealthy, were highlyexasperated at a monopoly which would so completely curtail theirprofits, and of course the people whom they employed espoused theircause. They in tumultuous bodies flocked to the city, compelling thechief magistrate, known by the name of the Judge of the People, toespouse their cause, and pillaging the houses of all those theysuspected to be favourers of the measure.
No sooner did the Minister receive intelligence of these disturbances,than he despatched three regiments against the city. The inhabitantsyielded without striking a blow; but their submission availed them not;their city was given up to the unbounded license of the savage soldiery;and had it been taken by storm, scarcely
could more frightful excesseshave been committed. The soldiers were then distributed at freequarters on the inhabitants; the unfortunate Judge of the People wasdragged through the streets by the common hangman, with a halter roundhis neck, and then executed with every mark of ignominy. Eighteen ofthe principal citizens shared his fate, and three hundred persons, whowere accused of being concerned in the sedition, were imprisoned, orcondemned for life to the galleys.
The obnoxious and tyrannical Company, their charter sealed with blood,was established; for, after the dreadful examples of the Minister'sunswerving vengeance, fear prevented the people from making any furtherattempts to overthrow it. It has since been, if we may be allowed tojudge, one of the greatest banes to the country.
Though one of the most determined opponents to Carvalho, our