His advancement had been gradual and sure: now it was likely to prove more rapid. In his quality of confessor to the Portuguese viceroy, he speedily heard of Sebastian’s re-appearance, and of the alarm which the success of his various agents spread through the Spanish court. Rodrigo acknowledged that it was Philip’s earnest wish to have the pretender at his mercy; and upon this acknowledgment Chrysostom suddenly conceived the bold plan of affecting zeal for the Portuguese monarch, insinuating himself into his confidence, learning who were his secret abettors, and in case the Venetians should not deliver him up to Spain, deceive him into her power by the means described. His affected renunciation of places and profits, together with a shew of hot persecution from the Spanish and papal court, warranted the friends of Sebastian in their fatal dependance on his superior talents: he obtained his victim; and secure of the Duke of Tuscany’s concurrence, apprized him of the day and hour at which they should enter the gates of Florence. Juan De Castro, and Don Christopher, who were already in the city, no sooner heard of their King’s second detention, than aware of the danger which menaced themselves, and conscious that by the captivity or death of his friends, Sebastian’s situation would only be rendered more hopeless, they fled hastily, severally betaking themselves to France and England with entreaties for effectual aid from both those powers. Meanwhile Sebastian was reconveyed, with the faithful partner of his afflictions, from the Florentine prison, to the nearest sea-port, where being embarked in a Spanish ship of war, and closely kept from the sight of the crew, they set sail for Naples. Sebastian rarely condescended to question the only person who was allowed to attend him, for the man was cold and savage, and seemed prepared to reply with insults; but on launching again upon that ocean which he had so often traversed under such variety of fortune, he one day broke silence, and asked whither they were going to take him. “To the prison Del Ovo, for life,”--was all the answer of his attendant, as he shut and bolted the cabin door. Sebastian and Kara Aziek turned their eyes on each other: they needed not speech to understand what was passing in each others hearts: their daughter’s fate alone occupied every feeling. “Ah, if I could be assured that her innocent life would be spared, her days pass in peace,” exclaimed Kara Aziek, “my soul would find rest: I could bound my little remnant of happiness with the walls of my Sebastian’s prison, or I could die with thee, my husband--die gladly.” She bent her face on his neck to hide her gushing tears, as she thought of their perishing together.