Sebastian received her trembling frame in his arms, as weeping and faint she turned from Don Emanuel to him; she felt that his body shook with strong emotion: he spoke not to her, but he pressed her against his heart while his eyes impatiently searched those of De Castro. The unusual animation he saw there, deceived him; his rapid imagination shot away, and seized the utmost of his wishes: in breathless haste he could scarcely articulate; “You are recalled--a new viceroy is arrived!--Philip then is dead!”-- “Not dead, nor dying,”--replied De Castro, pained to observe the delusion his manner had excited. Sebastian’s cheek lost its flush, and he sunk down on the couch Aziek had quitted, with such a deep sigh of disappointment, that De Castro stopped. The King recovered himself after a short struggle, and while a blush recoloured his face, said faintly, “This is foolish in me--quite foolish De Castro!--you see how imperfectly I have quelled my character: after so many years of discipline, imagination and passion are as omnipotent as ever!--Well, tell me what you have to relate of our ill-fated Portugal.” Kara Aziek folded her arms closely round him, in silence; as if fearful that De Castro’s next words were to tear him from her: pale and speechless she hung upon his looks. “The situation of Europe, Sire!” resumed Don Emanuel, “affords for the first time a rational prospect of hope. The Low Countries still wage successful war against Philip; their young Prince Maurice proves himself worthy of his father; England has openly declared against Spain; the grand armada of Philip has been destroyed on her coast, and she threatens to attack his shores in return. Henry of France has been assassinated!--the Protestant King of Navarre is his successor. The Catholic league thus shaken, France, England, Holland, Sweden, and the petty states of Germany all professing the same faith with my sovereign, all hostile to the religious opinions and political views of the relentless bigot, may we not conclude, that to seat a protestant prince on the throne of Portugal will be considered by them as an act of sound policy?” Don Emanuel paused, and his temperate eyes met the fixed ones of Sebastian; how much was in them!--Animated by their kindling expression, he went on.