The ruins of the convent being on the outskirts of the conflagration, he was able, by making a long circuit, to approach it with less risk than he had before encountered; but, when he arrived there, it was some time before he could discover the object of his search, now utterly unable to assist himself. The two servants, therefore, supporting the fidalgo between them, and the old nurse being somewhat revived by some of the food the Captain had brought, which she contrived to eat between her sobs and exclamations of grief, he led the way towards the palace of the Marchioness of Corcunda, which was in the uninjured part of the city. As the party were leaving the fatal spot, a man, with a drawn sword in his hand, rushed up to them with frantic gestures, and the noble sailor's satisfaction may be conceived when he discovered his friend Luis. Pedro, in his joy and hurry to embrace his master, almost let the fidalgo fall to the ground; although Luis offered, it must be confessed, but a poor subject for congratulation. From the broken exclamations of Senhora Gertrudes, the Captain had understood that she fancied she had seen her young mistress, but he was unprepared for the excited vehemence of Luis. "Fly with me to overtake the monster!" he exclaimed, without waiting to receive his friend's congratulations on his safety. "Which way did he bear her? Have none of you seen her? speak!" "Of whom do you speak, my friend?" asked Captain Pinto; "for I have but just arrived here." "Of Clara, of my own Clara!" ejaculated the unhappy lover; "she has been torn from me in the moment of preservation, and conveyed I know not whither; but, as you love me, aid me to recover her. Does no one know which way she was carried?" The old nurse now recognised Luis. "Does the senhor ask for my young mistress?" she exclaimed. "I knew it was her, I knew it was her, and a savage has carried her away." "Speak, woman, speak!" exclaimed Luis, with agitation. "Which way did he go?" "Alack! senhor, I scarcely know; we have moved since then--but let me see: yes, it was there--that was the way;" and she pointed in the direction of a street, on each side of which the houses were burning furiously, the walls every instant falling with loud crashes, and throwing showers of sparks into the air.