“Ignorant of his rank, the person to whose lot he had fallen would have sold him for a trifle, but thy friend refused to take advantage of this circumstance: he left with him seven purses of gold crowns.” “How like De Castro!” interrupted his once-intemperate rival, “nobleness and he were twin-born! Father, it is one of my sins to have used this man unworthily.” “What an unworthy passion must that have been which blinded thee!” exclaimed Abensallah, with an earnestness unusual to him. “Were I to paint Truth, the majestic portrait should have the lineaments of Emanuel de Castro.” “It was an unworthy passion;” returned the King, casting his eyes down, yet somewhat proudly still--“However, father, I believed the object of it, what she appeared, an angel!” This oblique defence produced some observations and admonitions from Abensallah which carried along with them infinite instruction; Sebastian listened with profound attention, and many of the exhortations he then heard, were remembered in after years with solid advantage. They parted near a village where the good dervise had some charitable visits to make. Reflective but happy, Sebastian returned homewards, too much occupied with Kara Aziek’s safety, and Abensallah’s friendship, to recollect that he was even now remote from enjoying them; fortunately for human nature, it is ever inclined to take one good as the earnest of another; and sweetly cheated by this self-delusion, the King of Portugal already looked confidently to the ultimate possession of all his wishes. Tefza welcomed him back with many an encomium upon the pious dervise, whose discourses he ventured to hope would not be thrown away: encouraged by the complacency with which his slave heard him, he renewed his own arguments in favor of Mahomet, promising to make the Christian his heir, provided he would embrace Islamism. At any other period such a proposal would have drawn down on him a storm of indignation, but the harmonized feelings of Sebastian were at present inclined to put the most amiable construction upon every thing, he therefore saw only zeal and affection in this weak attempt at bribing him to abandon his peculiar faith, and answered him temperately yet firmly. This unusual gentleness on a topic which had hitherto roused fiery opposition, gave the good Hadgé grounds for believing him not unmoved by the conversation of Abensallah. While he was indulging unreal satisfaction during the days which followed this, his royal slave was impatiently watching the re-appearance of that winged messenger whose speedy return Abensallah had led him to expect. The first glow of blissful surprise was now over, chilling fears began to succeed; and in proportion to the value he set on Liberty and Love, so increased his doubts of ever obtaining them.