Her death-like paleness (over which a smile of grateful regard cast the brightness of immortal beauty) touched the romantic heart of Hyppolito, and as he earnestly regarded the lovely wreck before him, love and pity inspired him with the determination of attempting something to smooth at least, her departing hour. Having received a tender message for Don Sebastian, he hurried back to Blanche, whose duteous love did not wait for the disclosure of his wish ere it prompted her to exclaim. “So ill! so desolate!--O, Hyppolito, since my dear mother may not dwell here unsuspected, I will go to her habited less gaudily: confined to her sick chamber alone, in such an obscure quarter of the city, who will know the adopted child of the Duchess Medina Sidonia?--Some excuse may be invented for my absence, to prevent the curiosity of domestics--Ah! if she were to be torn from me, without my having the consolation of----” Tears choaked her utterance, and covering her face, she remained abandoned to sorrow, while Hyppolito was urging the Duchess to sanction their pious project. What mother could refuse such pleadings? Blanche was allowed to follow the impulse of filial tenderness; her dress was secretly exchanged for one of Paula’s, and gliding unseen through the garden, Hyppolito conducted her out of the private door, and led her safely to the arms of her expecting mother. The ardent young man had not time to do more than kiss the hand of Kara Aziek, ere he ran off to join his father, and the rest of the grandees. Accompanied by his wife, the Duke of Sidonia proceeded to the shore; his aspect was grave and thoughtful; for he was reflecting on the wondrous vicissitudes of our mortal life. That unfortunate Prince, upon whom all men might now gaze unchecked, all tongues move in reviling, was that same Sebastian whom Medina had last beheld, surrounded by power and majesty. It was that King whom Medina had himself served twenty years before, with submissive awe; whom he had feasted and entertained with tilt, and tournament, and ball, while he waited at Cadiz for the troops of Philip II. These reflections occupied the Duke till his company reached and mounted the chief galley. Hyppolito was the first to spring on deck: he looked eagerly round, and immediately singled out the august object of his search. Removed from the other slaves, in a lonely quarter of the ship, he saw a man seated, with his arms folded, and his head bent towards the ground; his single garment was coarse and dark; his head and limbs were without covering; but the large and noble proportions of those once powerful limbs, and the majestic air of that head, denoted him to be the King of Portugal.