By an instantaneous impulse Don Emanuel opened his arms without speaking, for he was deeply affected, and Sir Anthony, impelled by the same feeling, exchanged an embrace with him, which plighted their faith to each other in the same cause. After this, De Castro opened himself without reserve to the confidence inspired by Shirley. Astonishment, pity, and admiration, kept the latter suspended during the course of this recital: never in his life had he been so moved; and when he heard that one faith, as one love, united the two hearts he prized so much, some tears trickled down his cheek. Shirley’s evidence respecting the perilous situation of Persia, tended to heighten Queen Elizabeth’s respect for the character of Sebastian, and by his advice De Castro no longer delayed acquainting her with his intention of dispatching a pressing letter to Brazil, which he doubted not would produce the effect they wished. In this letter De Castro had suggested every thing necessary for the safe conduct of Blanche to Europe: he advised placing her under the protection of Gaspar, whose love for her was almost paternal; with him she might proceed to Sicily, where the Duchess of Medina Sidonia had just gone to take possession of an estate left her by an Italian relation. This favourite sister of De Castro’s, already warm in their cause, would joy to receive the legitimate heiress of her native country, and Don Emanuel engaged to be at Messina, as her escort into England. Cautious himself, De Castro did not chuse that his young charge should make direct for any British port; since it was impossible to foresee what changes might have taken place in the period that must elapse between the writing of the present letter, and the arrival of Blanche. Such were the momentous details contained in the packet from Don Emanuel, which he had warily transmitted through a neutral vessel to Messina, and thence to Brazil: the perusal of them caused a conflict in the heart of Caspar. He would have exulted had he not seen the friend and master whom he idolized, a prey to extreme grief. Sebastian was indeed suffering in idea, all the pangs of parting from an only and beloved child; and while he fancied the tears and cries of her yet dearer mother, his hardly-earned philosophy deserted him at once. It was necessary that Caspar should now forget that he was his King, and think of him merely as a man struck and enfeebled by sorrow, he ventured to enter fully on the important inducements to the separation they dreaded; and explaining every motive more distinctly than De Castro could take time to do, he succeeded in recalling Sebastian to a sense of his daughter’s interest, and his people’s claims. After a long discussion, the sad father exhorted Gaspar to a temporary silence on the subject of their discourse, and requesting to be left alone, shut himself into his apartment to ruminate on the arguments to which he had been listening.