“I am not a deep reasoner, my honoured cousin,” added the prior, with his usual good-humoured levity--“but depend on it I see actions as they are; and never am out in men’s motives,--shall I tell you what I would do in your majesty’s place?--I would flatly refuse this insidious offer, and send the proposer of it back to the Indies: give him the viceroyalty by way of consolation.” “Not to get him quietly out of the way:” replied the King, “do not injure yourself so in my thoughts Antonio, by urging such unworthy conduct!--no, he shall be heard at the tribunal to which I appeal. I am not going to _rob_ him.” “Your majesty’s apprehension is so quick, and so erring sometimes!” cried the smiling prior, “I simply meant him to be complimented with the government of India, _after_ the cause had gone against him.” “No, nor that either,” answered Sebastian, “I will not purchase the silence of an enemy at the expense of my people. If I am to believe De Castro insincere and unworthy, he is not to be trusted with the destinies of thousands.” “Well, you must pardon my zeal, sire!--I would perform a ten year’s penance for your sake, (and your majesty knows how ill long fasts and sleepless nights suit my taste,) and it chafes me into uncharitableness, perhaps, to find a fellow cheating your generous nature with mere breath.” “I know your affectionate heart!” said the King, with one of his benign smiles: then turning to Gonsalva, who had been all this time resting her fair cheek on his shoulder, and moistening it with tears, he besought her to pronounce her will, and it should be obeyed. “Renew your solicitations at Rome!” she exclaimed, pleasure sparkling in her eyes--“suffer me still to remain at Xabregas with my kind aunt here--and from this hour till the blessed one which makes me yours, refuse to see or hear from Don Emanuel.--Never, never again let me be tortured with his presence.” The King kissed her hand in token of assent; and De Castro’s proposal was rejected. A second embassy was now dispatched under the Count Vimiosa into Italy; while Don Emanuel, wearied with fruitless efforts to see the King again, and secretly supported by many of the nobility, who envied the elevation of the Vimiosas, went himself to Rome to ask for justice at the feet of the pope. His cause was strengthened by the French court, exasperated at the refusal of their alliance with Portugal; and strenuously promoted by the influence of a high Italian family with whom he was connected by blood.--But Sebastian felt secure of success, and intoxicated by the delight of love, could not conceive the possibility of disappointment.