The Prince took loudly her part; and this, join’d to the Refusal he made of marrying the Princess of _Arragon_, caus’d Suspicions of the Truth in the King his Father. He was seconded by those that were too much interested, not to unriddle this Secret. _Don Alvaro_ and his Sister acted with so much care, gave so many Gifts, and made so many Promises, that they discover’d the secret Engagements of _Don Pedro_ and _Agnes_. The King wanted but little of breaking out into all the Rage and Fury so great a Disappointment could inspire him with, against the Princess. _Don Alvaro_, whose Love was changed into the most violent Hatred, appeased the first Transports of the King, by making him comprehend, that if they could break the Marriage of ’em, that would not be a sufficient Revenge; and so poison’d the Soul of the King, to consent to the Death of _Agnes_. The barbarous _Don Alvaro_ offered his Arm for this terrible Execution, and his Rage was Security for the Sacrifice. The King, who thought the Glory of his Family disgraced by this Alliance, and his own in particular in the Procedure of his Son, gave full Power to this Murderer, to make the innocent _Agnes_ a Victim to his Rage. It was not easy to execute this horrid Design: Tho’ the Prince saw _Agnes_ but in secret, yet all his Cares were still awake for her, and he was marry’d to her above a Year, before _Don Alvaro_ could find out an opportunity so long sought for. The Prince diverted himself but little, and very rarely went far from _Coimbra_; but on a Day, an unfortunate Day, and marked out by Heaven for an unheard-of and horrid Assassination, he made a Party to hunt at a fine House, which the King of _Portugal_ had near the City. _Agnes_ lov’d every thing that gave the Prince satisfaction; but a secret Trouble made her apprehend some Misfortune in this unhappy Journey. _Sir_, (said she to him, alarm’d, without knowing the Reason why) _I tremble, seeing you today as it were designed the last of my Life: Preserve your self, my dear Prince; and tho’ the Exercise you take be not very dangerous, beware of the least Hazards, and bring me back all that I trust with you. Don Pedro_, who had never found her so handsome and so charming before, embraced her several times, and went out of the Palace with his Followers, with a Design not to return till the next Day. He was no sooner gone, but the cruel _Don Alvaro_ prepared himself for the Execution he had resolv’d on; he thought it of that importance, that it required more Hands than his own, and so chose for his Companions _Don Lopez Pacheo_, and _Pedro Cuello_, two Monsters like himself, whose Cruelty he was assur’d of by the Presents he had made ’em.