They were yet agitating the subject, when an express from Madrid demanding the appearance of Braganza before the expiration of six days under pain of forfeiting his estates, decided the debate, and rendered immediate action a deed of necessity. Pinto proceeded instantly to Lisbon, circulated the news through the city, and at midnight assembled the principal patriots, concerted with them fit measures for securing the persons of the Vice-Queen and her secretary. It was agreed that four resolute bands, of a hundred men each, should, at a given signal, seize upon the four avenues of the palace, while the Portuguese regiment of cavalry (then quartered in the city) should ride through the streets, proclaiming Juan the IVth, and calling on the other citizens to join their party. The archbishop undertook to appear at the head of all the religious orders, animating the people to take the side of justice and of national honour; and the artizans, headed by the most popular and intrepid of their order, were pledged to hold themselves in readiness to rush out completely armed, and follow the standard of Braganza. To every city, and every garrison, hurried some noble or some officer, all sworn to rise and proclaim Juan the IVth at the same hour. Braganza, under the pretext of paying his respects to the Vice-Queen, ere he set out for Spain, removed from Villa Viciosa to a hunting seat opposite Lisbon, where he waited the event with some perturbation of heart. Sebastian and Luisa were his companions: awful was the time to both!--Sebastian saw the fate of his country in the balance,--the lives and liberties of millions; Luisa beheld a crown and an axe suspended over the head of him she loved beyond all former love. Braganza was the most tranquil, and the most confident, for he knew his own disinterestedness, and trusted to receive the blessing which virtuous motives almost warrant man to expect from a just and approving Being. The night fixed upon by the confederate patriots now arrived; it was the sixth of December, an hour before that which was to decide the fortunes of Braganza. Pinto came to receive his master’s latest instructions, and to conjure him not to delay providing for his safety by means of a vessel which his careful friends had secured in case of failure, should Providence destine Spain to triumph. As he embraced his zealous adherent, Braganza whispered in a low, but firm voice, “I go to a throne, or to death: would you that I should outlive the brave friends that must have fallen, ere flight be my only refuge? No Pinto! my resolution was taken long since: I rise or fall with Portugal.”