review which the King was to hold on the following day.
Satisfied with this answer, Luis drove down to the palace, in front ofwhich a large body of guards were drawn up, while carriages in greatnumbers were thronging to the spot. As he entered the hall of thepalace, his eyes were dazzled by the brilliant illumination which methis view from hundreds of lights suspended from the roof, and above thebroad staircase in front, glancing on the polished arms of the guards,who filled every part except a narrow passage for the guests betweenthem. A military band, stationed on each side, was playing some loudand martial airs, which drowned the voices of any who attempted tospeak. Luis passed on, and had reached the foot of the stairs, when twoofficers stepped forward.
"The Senhor Conde d'Almeida," said one, politely bowing.
"The same," answered Luis.
"You will please step this way, senhor, by the order of the King,"returned the officer, opening a door on one side, through which Luis wasobliged to pass, and which was closed directly after them. Hisattendants then conducted him down a long passage, which appeared trulygloomy after the blaze of light he had quitted, and to his inquiries asto where they were going, they held an ominous silence. He could notbut feel alarmed at the extraordinary circumstance, though he had butshort time for reflection, before he reached the opposite side of thepalace, when his former conductors delivered him into the custody of twoothers, who seemed prepared to expect him.
"What is the meaning of this, senhores?" he asked.
"You are our prisoner, Senhor Conde, by order of the King," answered oneof his new guards. "Please to accompany us, a carriage awaits you."
The men placing themselves one on each side of him, so that escape wasimpossible, led him down a flight of steps to a small door, on theoutside of which more soldiers were stationed, and where a coach was inwaiting. The soldiers then formed round the coach, keeping allspectators at a distance, while his guards desired him to enter it,seating themselves, with drawn weapons, opposite to him. The coach thendrove quickly away, while another appeared to take its place.
"Ah!" thought Luis, "I am, alas! not the only wretch who will this nightbe deprived of liberty."
He was anxious to learn of his attendants whither they were conductinghim, but the only answer he could draw from them was far fromsatisfactory.
"Silence, senhor," said one. "Our orders are to treat you with everyrespect but, if you attempt to speak, or to cry out for assistance, weare to run our swords into your body."
After this, he deemed it the more prudent plan to keep silence, lestthey might think it necessary to obey their orders to the letter.
As he was driven along through the dark and narrow streets, he knew notwhither, without the remotest chance of escape, his meditations weremelancholy in the extreme. He could not doubt that he was going to thatdismal bourne from which so many travellers never return--a dungeon, orfrom which, too probably, he might be led forth but to the scaffold.After driving for a considerable distance, he again ventured to ask hisdestination, but a gruff "Silence, senhor! remember!" was the onlyanswer he received. At length the carriage stopped. He heard the heavysound of bolts being withdrawn, and chains dropped, when the mules againmoved onwards a few paces. He could hear the gates, through which hehad passed, again close with a loud grating and clanging noise, whichstruck a chill to his heart, and he was presently afterwards desired toalight. As he stepped from the vehicle, he looked round him, toendeavour to discover to what place he had been conveyed, and, by theglare of a torch which one of the under-gaolers held, it seemed to himthat he was in a small court-yard, surrounded by lofty walls, and infront of a small door thickly studded with iron bolts. His attentionwas, however, quickly directed to other subjects, by the door opening,and the appearance of a personage who announced himself as the Governorof the prison, and to whom, with the most polite bows, his formerattendants now delivered him. He was a small man, habited in a completecostume of black, with a placid expression of countenance, and a mild,conciliating tone of voice, more suited to a physician than the keeperof a prison, it appeared, on the first glance, as many of thoseunfortunate persons who came under his government supposed; but, on afurther acquaintance, a most ominous gleam was observed to shoot fromhis cold grey eye, when the smile which usually played round his lipswould vanish, and a frown, in spite of himself, would gather on hisbrow, betokening too clearly his real character.
The Governor's first address was cordial in the extreme, though Luiswould willingly have dispensed with his hospitality.
"You are welcome, Senhor d'Almeida, to my abode, and all which itcontains is at your service," he began. "I see you still wear yoursword. I beg your pardon, but I must request you to deliver it up tome. None here wear arms but the guards, nor will you need it for yourprotection. We take very good care of our guests."
Luis, as he was desired, unbuckled his sword, and, without speaking,delivered it into the hands of the Governor.
"Thank you, Senhor Conde," continued the latter personage. "It is apretty weapon, and I will take the greatest care of it for you. I willnow, by your leave, conduct you to your apartment. It is rather small,and somewhat damp; but, to say the truth, we have but little room tospare, for we are likely to be crowded soon, and you will have plenty ofcompanions. However, I am of a hospitable disposition, and I like tosee my mansion full; yet I know not if you will be able to enjoy much ofeach other's society, for our rules are rather severe in that respect."
While the Governor was thus running on, he was conducting Luis throughseveral arched passages, a man preceding them with a lantern, while fourothers followed close after, armed with drawn swords, as a slight hintto the prisoner that his only course must be obedience to orders. Theythen descended a flight of stone steps to regions where, it seemed, thelight of day could never penetrate, so damp and chill struck the airthey breathed.
"We lodge you on the ground-floor, Senhor Conde," observed the facetiousGovernor. "It has its advantages and disadvantages. You will find someamusement in hunting the rats and toads, which are said to be rathernumerous, though I confess that, in winter, the climate does not agreewith some constitutions--perhaps it may with yours. Oh, here we are."
Producing a large bunch of keys, he ordered one of the men to unlock adoor, before which they stood.
"Enter, Senhor Conde. You will not find many luxuries, and, as forconveniences, I must supply those you require."
Luis felt it was useless striving against fate, so he unresistinglywalked into what was, in truth, a wretched dungeon, with little morethan sufficient height to stand upright, and about eight feet square.It contained a pallet, destitute of any bedding, a single chair, and arough deal table, with a pitcher to hold water. The only means ofventilation was through a narrow aperture, sloping upward, far too smallto allow a human body to pass, even had it not been closely barred bothinside and out.
"I have other guests to attend on, Senhor Conde, so I must beg you toexcuse my rudeness in quitting you so soon," said the Governor, as oneof the under-gaolers lighted a small lamp which stood on the table,while the others withdrew. "I will send you such bedding as I canprocure. However, for your consolation, I can assure you that some ofyour friends will be worse lodged to-night than you are. I wish youfarewell, senhor!"
And, before Luis had time to make any answer to these rather doubtfulexpressions, the polite Governor had disappeared, and, the door beingclosed, barred, and bolted, he found himself alone, and a stateprisoner. We need not describe how he felt. Most people, in a likesituation, would have felt the same--deprived of liberty, which, withthe greater number of men, next to life, is dearer than all else. Tosome, life, without it, is valueless, and eagerly do they look forwardto the moment when, released from all mortal bonds, their fetterlesssouls may range through the boundless regions of a happier world, inwondering admiration of the mighty works of their Creator. Such hasbeen the dream of many a hapless prisoner, for many years doomed to pineon in gloom and wretchedness, waiti
ng, in anxious expectation, for thetime of his emancipation, which, day after day, has been cruellydeferred, till hope and consciousness have together fled.
As the sound of the falling bolts struck his ear, Luis stood for someminutes gazing at the iron door, like one transfixed. He then tookseveral rapid steps the length of his narrow prison, and, at last,throwing himself on the chair, and drawing his cloak, which he hadfortunately retained, around him--for his gala costume was butill-suited to protect him against the cold and dampness of the season--he gave way to bitter and hopeless thought.
The predictions of the Governor were but too correct. During thegreater part of the night, Luis could plainly hear the arrival ofcarriage after carriage. Then came the sound of many feet, the barringand bolting of doors, the fall of chains, and all the accompanyingnoises to be expected
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