"Your Majesty's pleasure is my law," said the fidalgo, bowing and moving on, fearful of trusting his tongue with further words. Scarcely a person of any rank or note passed, to whom the King did not address some words; and nearly all had passed by, when a handsome cavalier approached, and, gracefully kneeling, kissed his hand. "We do not remember to have seen your countenance before, young sir," said the King, pleased with his appearance; "though we shall have much pleasure in seeing it in future. We did not catch your name." "Luis d'Almeida," answered the young fidalgo. "I have but a short time ago returned from abroad, or I should earlier have paid my respects to your Majesty." "We are happy to see you, Don Luis," answered the King. "Your father we have not seen for some time; we trust he is in health." "It is the want of it alone which prevents his paying his respects to your Majesty. Weighed down by years and heavy misfortunes, he scarcely hopes again to visit Lisbon." "He sends a worthy representative in his son," answered the King, graciously; "and if you feel inclined to remain, we may give you some office in our Court." "Your Majesty's kindness overpowers me; but my father's state of health claims all my attention, nor could I be long absent from him; therefore, if your Majesty will permit me, I must decline your goodness with the deepest respect," said Don Luis. "In that please yourself, and give our regards to your father, when you return," said the King, as Don Luis moved on to give place to those who were following him. At length the tedious ceremony, one of the many penalties royalty is obliged to pay in return for the obeisance of the crowd, was over, and the courtiers, except those in immediate attendance on the sovereigns, were at liberty to go whither they willed. Don Luis, although amid a glittering crowd of the young and gay, felt sad and dispirited; and he had already reached one of the outer rooms on his way to quit the palace, when a page overtook him, and informed him, that Senhor Carvalho requested to see him; and begging him to follow, led the way through various rooms, to a small closet, next to the King's private council chamber. Here he found the Minister, pacing up and down, with a bundle of papers in his hand, prepared to attend when the King should summon him: he stopped in his walk, as he saw Don Luis, and held out his hand kindly to him-- "Ah, my young friend," he said, "I am glad to find that you followed my advice, and returned to Court as soon as you were able to leave your father; and now I hope it is from no want of affection to our sovereign, that you rejected his proffered kindness, as I spoke to him in your favour some time ago, and he promised to befriend you; for I would always distinguish those who have enlightened their understanding by foreign travel, from the ignorant and profligate young fidalgos, who are alike useless to themselves, and dangerous to a state."