“I am but just come from Lisbon,” replied Sampayo, looking down and lowering his voice; “your kinsman the Duke of Braganza has sent me, on his representations, to ascertain your identity: denied admittance to you by the senate, I have procured admittance through the humanity of your gaoler; I go now, to re-urge the Duke’s request to the republic for your Majesty to be publicly compared with a written testimonial of your person, which I carry. Despair not, Sire! you still live in the hearts of the Portuguese, and you have zealous friends. England, France, Holland, openly demand of Venice, the satisfaction of bringing your truth or falsehood to the proof. I lament the sad change in your religion; but you are my dear lord and master still.” The old man shed tears as he spoke, and devoutly crossing himself, repeated an inward prayer for the soul of him he believed seduced into error. Sebastian’s countenance brightened: “All is not lost then!” he exclaimed, “the path is rugged and hard to climb, Sampayo! but I shall gain the summit at last. Yet talk to me of my friend! where is he? why stays he from me at the time of my extremest need?” Sampayo was silent: his care-worn countenance altered visibly, and appalled Sebastian: the latter fixed a look on him, as if he would have dived into his soul. “Why stays he?” he repeated hastily; still Sampayo replied not, and the frightful silence which followed, was first broken by the King. “In the name of God, father! answer my question.” Sampayo looked sorrowfully up, and said in a trembling voice, “Ours is a chequered life, dear master! grief and gladness, gain and loss are so woven together, that-- “No preparations father!” cried the King, grasping his arm with a wild sternness, “what have I to learn?--that some horrible misfortune has befallen my last friend?--that I am bereft of him also?” “Yours is the misfortune, Sire! his, the blessing:” returned Sampayo, “he is gone to everlasting joy.” The blow was too sudden to be borne: Sebastian uttered a dismal cry, and fell suddenly to the ground. At the sound of his voice, Kara Aziek awoke, and starting up, ran into the apartment: She beheld her husband seemingly lifeless, lying at the feet of a very aged man, whose shaking hands were feebly essaying to lift him up. She sprang towards them, she raised Sebastian in her arms, and slackening the collar of his doublet, sprinkled his face with water: her cares were all employed for him, but her mind was full of alarm for her daughter, and she incoherently questioned the stranger about her alone. Sampayo’s answers convinced her that he knew not of whom she spoke: and now her fears took a new direction, and she believed him a messenger of death to her husband. At this moment Sebastian opened his eyes; he turned them from her in search of Sampayo, with a look of unutterable grief; then raised and fixed them upon Heaven.