The Prime Minister Part 58

Note. Dom Pedro, the father of her present Majesty of Portugal.

Volume 3, Chapter XX.

We left the Count d'Almeida an inmate of the Jungueira prison, from whence the stern policy of the Prime Minister allowed few captives to depart, except to the scaffold and to death. Many an unfortunate victim of this iron despotism remained there year after year, demanding to be brought to trial,--to be told of his crime,--to have the witness of his guilt produced, but his pet.i.tions were unheard or disregarded; he might, if free, become dangerous, so he was allowed to pine on in chains, till death, more kind than man, released him.

Luis sat disconsolate and sad in his narrow cell, with few happy remembrances of his past life to dwell on, and without a book to withdraw his mind from the melancholy present. For his own fate, come what might, he was prepared; but he thought of Clara, and there was bitter anguish. He could now prove himself innocent of her brother's death, but he was a prisoner, without a hope of escape, and within a week, at furthest, perhaps at that very time she might be p.r.o.nouncing the fatal vow which would tear her from him for ever! The thought almost drove him to madness--his feelings may be more easily pictured than described. He felt that he was shrieking, but his voice gave forth no sound,--that he could dash himself against the door, but yet he sat, his hands clasped before him, without moving,--a statue of manly grief.

His meditations were interrupted by the opening of his prison door, and his worthy friend, Fre Diogo Lopez, stood before him.

"Ah! my dear Count, you see I have not delayed long in fulfilling my promise," began the Friar.

"I saw your young friend, and offered him such consolation as was in my power, and now I have brought you a fresh bottle of wine, to keep up your spirits. I offered him a little, but he could scarcely drink a drop. I fear he is going, poor youth."

"I much fear so too," answered Luis. "But tell me, have you found the letter to his father, you spoke of? It has been so wonderfully preserved, that I fain would think it of importance."

"I have it here. Is not this it?" answered the Friar, producing a much soiled packet. "Read the superscription, for my eyes are dim, and cannot well decipher it."

"The same. Now will you undertake to forward this to Senhor Goncalo Christovao," said the Count.

"It will not have far to go, then, for he is a prisoner within these walls," answered the Friar.

"Merciful Heaven!" exclaimed Luis. "Then I may prove to him that I am not the murderer of his son. Does he know that the poor youth is here?"

"I have not myself spoken to him, though it is almost impossible he should discover it," replied the Friar.

"Then, in pity to all, contrive to let him see his dying son, and I, too, long to converse with him. It is the greatest favour you can afford me, next to one which I scarce dare hope for, to aid me in my escape."

The Friar shook his head--"Your last wish is impossible; the first I will endeavour to accomplish. You know not all the precautions taken to prevent escape. Were your life in danger, it might, perhaps, be done at the risk of both our lives, or of perpetual imprisonment in some loathsome dungeon, to which, in comparison, this is a palace."

"For the purpose I have in view, I would risk death, torments, and imprisonment!" exclaimed Luis, vehemently. "Unless I succeed, all I value in life is worthless. Within a few days from hence, Donna Clara de Christovao will be compelled to a.s.sume the veil, if I do not contrive to rescue her from the convent at Oporto, where she is confined. I vowed to her to attempt it, and if she hears not of me, she will deem me faithless, and yield without a struggle to her fate."

Fre Diogo smiled, as he shook his head. "You might as well attempt to rescue the lamb from the talons of the eagle, as to carry off a fair girl from the clutches of those who have her in their power," he answered. "In any possible plan I would, if in my power, aid you gladly. But consider a moment. If you could escape from hence, which is next to impossible, you manage to reach Oporto, though the chances are, that you are recaptured before you arrive there;--you demand the young lady;--you are refused even an interview. You then contrive to let her know you are in the neighbourhood;--she sends you word she is shut up, and cannot get out. Or suppose you have surmounted all difficulties, and you have managed to carry her off; whither would you fly? In each direction the Minister has his spies, who would soon restore you to your present abode, if not to a worse, and the lady to her convent. No, my dear Count, be advised by me, do not attempt an impossibility. You have but one course to pursue; practise your patience: when a man is at the bottom of a well, he cannot go lower."

"No, but he may be drowned, though, when the water flows in," said Luis, despondingly.

"Not if he knows how to swim," answered the Friar; "and then the water, which would destroy another, will be his preservation. Let that be your consolation."

"Alas! I fear your observations are too correct, and I must submit to my fate," said Luis. "Can you, however, contrive to let me see Goncalo Christovao?"

"There will be no great difficulty, for since the execution, in some parts of the prison, the captives are allowed to communicate with each other."

"Of what do you speak?" inquired Luis; and the Friar recounted to him the dreadful tragedy which had taken place. "Alas!" he exclaimed, "and has that gay and bold youth been a victim?" and while he shuddered, as he recollected the risk he had run of sharing their fate, he thought how n.o.bly young Joze de Tavora had behaved in not betraying him; for, as he heard, torture had been administered to extract confession.

"Come now with me," said the Friar, interrupting his thoughts. "The turnkey waits without, and will, under my responsibility, allow you to visit this old fidalgo, for his cell is close to this, I heard as I came hither."

"Then no delay!" exclaimed Luis, starting up; "I will this instant accompany you."

The turnkey, on the representations of the Friar, was easily persuaded to allow them to pa.s.s, and enter the fidalgo's cell.

The old man started with terror, as he beheld them, fancying that they were officers come to lead him to trial, or to death.

"Lead on, ye myrmidons of tyranny! I am prepared!" he exclaimed, rising.

"You are mistaken, senhor," said Luis. "I come as an old friend, a fellow-prisoner, to offer such consolation as is in my power."

"Thanks, senhor, for your courtesy, but your name has escaped my memory," said the Fidalgo, scanning him closely.

"Luis d'Almeida."

"What! the murderer of my son?--the destroyer of my daughter's peace?"

"Certainly not the murderer of your son, for he yet lives; and rather would I die a hundred deaths than cause one pang of grief to your fair daughter."

"My son lives, say you?" exclaimed the Fidalgo. "Bring him hither, then, that I may embrace him before I am led forth to death."

"He lies himself upon a bed of sickness; but I trust, Senhor, to be able to conduct you to him," answered Luis.

"In mercy then, without delay, let me hasten to my long-lost boy,"

exclaimed the Fidalgo. "Is he within these cruel walls--a prisoner like ourselves?"--"He is, senhor, alas! and this good Friar will arrange an interview, which will require some precaution," answered Luis; and turning to Fre Diogo, he requested him to learn from the gaoler, when they might visit the cell of the unfortunate youth.

"Pardon me, for the want of courtesy with which I received you, Senhor Conde," said the Fidalgo, as soon as they were left alone. "I owe you much for the news you bring me; and my poor boy, does he know I am near him? and what crime has he committed to be confined within these walls?"

Luis described, in as few words as possible, the dreadful treatment his son had suffered, and the fatal results he apprehended. We need not describe the father's grief, or his regrets for the manner in which he had treated his guest; but his emotion was far greater, when, on Luis presenting the long-lost packet, he tore it open, and his eye hurried over the contents.

"Great G.o.d! how have I been deceived in that man!" he cried, in a tone of agony. "My child, my sweet child! and thou hast been the sacrifice!

Oh, for freedom, that I might hasten to rescue her from the bondage she detests! A week hence, and her fate will have been sealed, when I, alas! shall have no power to release her. And I--oh, how cruelly have I treated her! Curses on the stern tyrant who thus detains me. He is a father, and did he know the cause, he would release me. No, the base upstart would but smile the more to see the high-born fidalgo's agony.

May Heaven's anger blast all the works in which he prides himself!

May--ah! I am raving--oh! G.o.d, support me!"

Luis stood amazed at this sudden outbreak of the usually sedate and dignified fidalgo, though scarcely himself less agitated in his eagerness to learn the contents of the letter, the purport of which the fidalgo's words appeared to intimate. The old man saw his inquiring gaze. "See," he continued, extending his hand with the paper. "Read that, and see how I have been deceived; and alas! my poor child has been sacrificed;" and he sunk into his chair, covering his eyes with his hands, while Luis read the letter. It was to the following effect:--

"Heaven has thought fit to summon me from this world, during your absence, my beloved husband, and already do I feel the near approach of death. Alas! I have no one to whom I can confide my dying wishes, and a secret which I would entrust but to your ears alone. I therefore write with faltering hand this paper, which I trust may be seen by our sweet Clara, and given to you. It is for her sake I am anxious; for I see perils surrounding her course through life, which will require all a mother's care to guard against.

"Do not, as you value her happiness or your own, confide in the Father Alfonzo. He is a wretched hypocrite; yet till lately I discovered it not. For many days past has he been endeavouring to persuade me to devote our Clara to the service of the Church; but I know too well the misery and wretchedness it will entail on her, and firmly have I refused to sanction his plan. While I spoke, he smiled scornfully in return, nor do I doubt his purpose. He has long hated me, for he knew I was not deceived in him. As you love me, as you prize our child's happiness, let her select her own lot in life; but warn her against the dangers of a convent. She will never insist on wedding one beneath her in family; but never insist on her marrying one she cannot learn to love. My eyes grow dim, my hand weak, yet do I exert myself, during the absence of Fre Alfonzo, to finish this, lest he should return before I have concealed it. Adieu! my beloved husband! ere you can reach your home, I shall have ceased to breathe; and, as you have loved me in life, forget not my dying prayer."

The last lines were faint and almost illegible. Luis returned the paper with a look of despair, and, for a minute, the father and the lover stood gazing at each other, without uttering a word.

"What hope is there?" at last exclaimed the Fidalgo.

"Alas, none!" was the dejected reply of Luis; then, suddenly rousing himself, he exclaimed, "Yes, there is hope! I will escape from hence, and save her, or die in the attempt! Give me but your written order to the Lady Abbess, to prevent your daughter's taking the veil, and I will bear it to her, and also a note to Donna Clara, to a.s.sure her of her mother's real prayer, and of your consent to her following her own inclinations."

"Alas, I fear such is but a hopeless chance," said the Fidalgo. "We must confide the order to some one who is at freedom."

"No one can be found who would hasten as I will; for no one has the same excitement," answered Luis.

"Remember you are still a captive," said the Fidalgo, mournfully.

"Alas! too true," e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Luis.