“Nobles!” he said, “it was through your importunities that I came hither to determine on the truth or falsehood of the illustrious person before us, when you intreated me, you all promised to bear witness to the faithful testimony I should give, whatever that might prove him. I now insist upon your performance of this promise, and require that you set off with me on the instant for the court of our royal master, in order that he may hear from us together, the singular circumstances of this morning. That done, the event remains in our sovereign’s breast; we shall have acquitted ourselves to God, to our conscience, and to this injured monarch.” Ashamed of opposing so equitable a demand, and trusting to private representations of their own unwillingness, the nobles were obliged to assent, and taking leave of Don Sebastian, they descended into the yacht which had brought them from St. Lucar. Don Hyppolito lingered behind: no one was near Sebastian; he approached, and hastily whispered, “Blanche is with her mother--fear not for them--I will watch over their safety: for that purpose I remain in St. Lucar.” Hyppolito hurried away, and joining his party, was conveyed to shore. In whispers to his father, he excused himself from attending him to Madrid, pleading the comparative insignificance of his youth, and the indecorum of leaving his mother alone. The Duke, little dreaming of the romantic scheme which his son was then revolving, made no hesitation of according to his wish, and the Duchess was too much gratified with such filial attention to receive it without pleasure. Having left his parents at their own house, Hyppolito hastened to detail the scene he had just witnessed to the expecting Blanche. In his progress across one of the squares, he was stopped by a knot of young lords, who knowing the visit that had been proposed, now stayed him with various questions. Hyppolito’s answers were full of his usual candour, and were mixed with so many passionate expressions and sympathy with the wrongs of Sebastian, and so many invectives against the inactive Portuguese, that he attracted and fixed the attention of a person, who clothed as a mendicant, remained without being noticed upon one spot close to the speakers. After uttering a few unthinking jests, the young lords went away, and Hyppolito was now proceeding alone, when the mendicant followed, and drew nigh to him: Hyppolito threw him a piece of money unasked; the man passed it with trepidation, and said in a low voice, “I am no beggar, noble Guzman! but a friend of him you compassionate; one, that you see, is willing to risk his life on any scheme that may serve Sebastian of Portugal.”