“We have sent for you, Stranger!” interrupted the Doge, as he saw Sebastian hastening to speak, “not to question others, but to answer for yourself, we are met here, without prejudice or partiality, to decide between you and the most Christian King Philip III. of Spain, Portugal, and the Indies. I charge you answer truly to the questions that shall be put to you.” “As an honest man desirous to have his truth apparent to all the world, I am ready to answer you,” replied Sebastian, “I will forget awhile that I am a King--aye Lords! a King: (he added, seeing them look strangely at each other,) there are some amongst you that know I am so. Woe unto them, sons of Judas! have they not betrayed me with the kiss of friendship?” Signor Morosini drew back at this expression, and averted his head; the Doge proceeded to speak. “How comes it, that you have thus long suffered the kingdom of Portugal to be enjoyed by the sovereigns of Spain, if confident that you were its lawful possessor?” “Because I had not any direct promise of support from other Princes, and abhorred the thought of plunging my people into war.” “Where have you passed the long period of twenty years which has elapsed since the battle of Alcazar? and how comes it that you are the husband of a Moorish woman?” “Part of that period has been spent in Barbary, part in Persia, the remainder in Brazil. You ask me how it comes that I am the husband of a Moorish woman, I answer, because I loved her, I owed her eternal gratitude, and she deserved both sentiments.” “What say you to the well-known fact of Don Sebastian’s body having been found in a suit of green armour on the field of Alcazar?” “I reply, that it was the body of some other person. Near the cave of Abensallah, a Moorish hermit, who dwelt among the mountains of Benzeroel, my armour will be found buried under a plane tree; the royal insignia are on it; since Spain and Morocco are at peace, I challenge you to have it sought for.” “How comes it, that having passed this long period, first in Mahometan countries, and lastly in a Catholic one, that you should profess doctrines known only to a few miserable European states?” “I was instructed in them by the Moorish proselyte of an English slave; I heard, and examined, and believed.” “Enough!” exclaimed the Doge, “now hear what you are said to be. A Calabrian impostor: we have inquired, and heard of a strange person bearing the name of Marco Tullo Cattizone, who abode some time at Messina, and him thou art. This woman is--I know not what;--thy lawful wife is the servant of the Duchess Medina Sidonia, and is now in this city ready to swear to thee as her husband.”