As it was the most earnest wish of the King to be seen by the Count of Lemos, he learnt with regret that Lemos was then lying ill of a dangerous disorder, which devolved his duties upon Sossa, the next nobleman to him in rank and civil honours. This information was indeed unwelcome; however, Stephano promised to inquire regularly after the Viceroy’s health, and to discover whenever his Excellency was in a state to hear of business. “I am heartily sorry,” he added, “to be forced to deal hardly with you and this sweet lady: whatever you be, King or poor Calabrian, you seem to love your wife, so I would fain make you both comfortable. But the Auditor-General (he that commands now) has charged me to keep you very strictly; and since your wife insists on sharing your prison, she is to be served with bread and water like yourself. I am heartily sorry for it, Sir, but I must do my duty.” Sebastian bowed in token of reply, for his emotion choaked him as he gazed on the heavenly smile which shone through the tears of Aziek; that smile said how little she regarded the pains and privations of the body--and at that moment he loved her dearer than ever, for never had her unrivalled attachment been so perfectly displayed. Stephano withdrew, leaving the husband and the wife to seek consolation in the possession of each other’s attachment. On the fifth morning, Sebastian was surprised by the appearance of the Auditor-General with his secretaries, who entering his cell, regarded him some time with severe scrutiny. “I am come hither,” said he, “to ask you for the first and last time, whether you persist in your imposture? if you abjure your crime, and consent to make public confession of it before all men, I am commissioned by our sovereign, Philip III. to promise you life and liberty: but if you continue thus to maintain a falsehood, you will either be left to linger out your days on bread and water, or perish at once by the hands of the executioner. What is your reply?” Sebastian turned on him a look of exceeding majesty: “I disclaim your authority with that of your master, for I am his equal and his kinsman: let him do with me as he will, I will still call God to witness that I am that self-same Sebastian King of Portugal, who in the year 1578, passed into Africa against the Moors; and the very same, who to augment the name and the power of the Christians, put his life to the hazard, together with that of twenty thousand brave men, whom his criminal obstinacy devoted to slaughter. I am that unfortunate Prince, who for the punishment of his sins lost the battle of Alcazar!--this is a truth which I may not deny without endangering my immortal soul. Deal with me as you are commanded, I will continue to utter the same words, in prison or at the stake.” Sebastian turned from him as he concluded, and awed by his royal manner, the auditor with his notaries (who had taken down the King’s words in writing) departed without further speech.