Portugal -- History -- Joseph, 1750-1777 -- Fiction
"What noise is that?" exclaimed Don Luis, "Have you any sick person in
the house?"
"'Tis an unfortunate frade, a very holy man, who was taken ill here last
night," answered the damsel. Another growl interrupted her
observations. "I'll run and bring you up an omelette, senhor," she said
quickly, as she escaped out of the room.
Pedro gave his master a nod, as much as to say, "I do not exactly
believe her," when, running towards the curtains, he poked his head
between the in, and then took the liberty of drawing them aside, so as
to let the light fall into the recess, where a pair of ferrety eyes were
seen glaring forth, with no very amicable expression, on the intruder,
while a ruddy countenance, with a red rim of hair under a black skull
cap, appeared above the bed clothes.
"In the name of all the saints, let down the curtain, and allow a sick
man to rest in peace," exclaimed a gruff voice. "The light hurts my
eyes, and prevents me from sleeping."
"Your pardon, senhor," answered Don Luis, politely. "My servant's
curiosity has made him commit a solecism in good manners, for which pray
excuse him."
"Well, let him draw the curtain, and leave me to repose," returned the
voice, ending the sentence with what sounded very like an oath, too
profane to proceed from such reverend lips.
Pedro did as he was ordered; but not until he had taken another glance,
to assure himself that he had before seen that pair of eyes at no very
distant period, though he did not express his opinion aloud to his
master, nor could he venture to do so by signs; for he felt a moral
conviction, that they were still glaring on him through some opening in
the drapery, an idea which, as may be supposed, made him feel anything
but at his ease. He determined, however, to keep a narrow watch on the
inmate of the recess, and on the movements of several other
doubtful-looking personages whom he had seen about the inn; yet he was
puzzled how to prevent them from guessing that his suspicions were
aroused; for he knew that every word he uttered in the room would be
overheard; and, if he whispered to his master, it would make the matter
still worse; therefore, like a prudent statesman, he determined to wait
the course of events.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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