“O, aye, the dog--why you see the Donna Gonsalva took an aversion to it, and ordered her people to put it out of her sight--that you know was next hand to bidding it be killed--however nobody liked to do that, and yet they were afraid to give it a courtier in case she should see it again; so my cousin offers to take it to me, because, as he said, I had a wonderful knack at gaining dumb creatures’ hearts, and would be sure to make him stay with me; and sure enough, so it turned out; for Barémel laid himself down as soon as Garcias brought him in, and never seemed to want to go back again.” Sebastian looked at the animal with an expression of piercing pain, for he could not forbear thinking poor Barémel had had no caresses to regret when he left Xabregas. While such thoughts passed through his mind, he was tempted to ask himself whether he were awake; a groan of bitter conviction followed the question. “Do you remember Don Sebastian?” he said, abruptly. “Not I, Lord help you; I never saw him.--Some folks say he’s alive still, and that he’ll be amongst us when we don’t expect it; but for my part I wish he may be dead, for he’d find but a dismal welcome in Portugal. All his young nobles courting the prior of Crato because he makes one in their lewd courses; the old ones sticking to the cardinal on account of his peaceableness; the poor folks not knowing which side to take for fear of their betters; Donna Gonsalva turned into a common harlot,--mercy on us! I’d rather be a mouldering corpse in the shabbiest burying-ground that ever was, than the living Don Sebastian with such vexations to meet him.” Sebastian suddenly laid his icy hand on the arm of Lopez, with so convulsive a grasp, and such a ghastly smile, that the innkeeper turned mortal pale, and began to tremble; he thought himself in the power of a maniac, whom he pitied and yet feared: the wretched Sebastian seeing his terror withdrew some steps, saying in a softened tone, “forgive my strangeness, worthy Lopez: do not wonder that my own sufferings, and sympathy with those of an unfortunate prince should thus transport me. I will trouble you no longer, give me some food, for I must be gone.” Lopez hastened to obey; alarmed by the varying complexion and eyes of his companion, by his irregular steps and suffocated voice: he led him into the kitchen, where he placed before him some coarse food, though the best he possessed. Sebastian ate a few mouthfuls without sitting down, and with an averted face, for there were soldiers and servants in the place by whom he feared a discovery: having finished his scanty meal, he walked quickly out of the kitchen, motioning for Lopez to follow him.