you."
"I allow no one to question me, so stand aside, senhor," said thestranger, endeavouring to put aside his antagonist's sword; but theMarquis, parrying the thrust, attacked him furiously, without deigning afurther reply.
The stranger was now obliged to defend himself in earnest, for afterseveral passes given and taken, he discovered that the young noble wasthe better swordsman.
"Hold!" he cried. "Beware what you do; I am the King!"
"I believe it not!" responded the Marquis, in a loud tone; "and Iacknowledge no King who would thus treacherously intrude into thehabitation of a subject."
As he uttered these words, he whirled the King's sword from his grasp,and the point of his own weapon was at his sovereign's throat; for, asmay be supposed, the stranger was no other than the King.
In a moment the life of Joseph would have been terminated, when theyoung Marchioness, attracted by the sound of angry voices, and the clashof swords, hastened from her apartment. She uttered a cry of horror,when, at a glance, she discovered by the light which Donna Florinda, whofollowed, carried, all that had occurred.
"Hold, Luis, hold! 'tis the King, indeed," she exclaimed, throwingherself, without hesitating, before her husband; but, putting heraside--though the action saved him from being guilty of regicide--heexclaimed, "'Tis false! You would, by such a subterfuge, guilty woman,attempt to save the worthless life of your seducer; but it shall notavail you or him: he shall die."
"I am guiltless of any crime towards you," responded Donna Theresa, withenergy, again throwing herself before her husband. "It is, it is oursovereign you have so guiltily attacked. Hear me swear to the truth ofmy assertion."
While this colloquy was going forward the King had recovered his sword,and now stood holding it with the point to the ground, the light fallingmore strongly on his features than before, as he said, "Hear me, DonLuis de Tavora. Your wife utters naught but the truth. She has in noway betrayed your honour. Had not your first fierce attack preventedme, I would at once have informed you that I was your sovereign; butyour anger is excusable, and you are forgiven."
As the King spoke, he held out his hand for the young Marquis to kiss;but the latter, with a glance of proud disdain, pretended not to observethe action.
"Your Majesty must suppose me, forsooth, a most complaisant husband,that I should discover a stranger in my palace at this hour, and notseek to question his purpose; but your Majesty has, doubtless, fullpower to command all us, your humble servants, and I have now no furtherright to complain. I retain but the privilege of settling the affairwith my lady, and in that point I shall exert a husband's power as Ithink fit. By your Majesty's leave, I will order your carriage, whichwaits at a short distance, to the door, and humbly conduct you thither."
"This language sounds somewhat like the insolence of treason, youngsir," said Joseph; "though, as you might have cause to be exasperated, Iwill, for this time, overlook it; but let me hear no more such words."
"Your Majesty shall be humbly obeyed," returned the young husband, in anironical tone; "and Donna Theresa will, doubtless, explain all mattersentirely to my satisfaction. Has your Majesty any further commands?"
"No, sir! no!" said the King, turning to the Marchioness. "Lovely lady,adieu! We trust you will be able fully to pacify your lord's irritatedfeelings. Now, my lord Marquis, we will beg you to lead the way to thehall; some of your servants can light us thither."
By this time all the household had collected round the spot, eager tosee the termination of the affair; the circumstance of the King's visitsbeing known among them all; but, supposing the Marquis was privy to it,they did not venture to speak to him on the subject.
Again bowing to the Marchioness, Joseph was conducted to the door of thepalace with every outward ceremony, the Marquis leading the way, and theservants on each side holding waxen flambeaux; but could he have lookeddeeper into the young noble's heart, he might have learned to tremblefor the consequences of his own conduct. As it was, he had been taughtto look upon his subjects as his slaves, and was astounded at the ideaof their having a will of their own. He felt, however, that he hadplayed but a poor figure in the drama, and had lowered himselfmaterially in the opinion of the spectators, so that he was wellcontented to find himself once more safe in his carriage with Texeira,to whom he detailed all his adventures.
The young Marchioness stood gazing with looks of despair on her husbandand the King, as they descended the stair; but, alas! she trembled morefor the safety of the latter than for that of the man she ought to haveloved. She knew her husband's fierce and vindictive disposition, andshe felt assured that he would hesitate at no means to accomplish hispurposes of revenge.
Having escorted the King to his carriage, the Marquis returned; a darkfrown on his brow marking his inward feelings. "I have humbly to thankyou, madam, for procuring me the honour of a royal visit; though,another time, I beg you will give me due notice, that I may be preparedto receive so exalted a guest as becomes his rank," he began, in ataunting tone, mingled with anger; "yet I ought to be grateful that,since you have thought fit to select a lover, you have not debasedyourself with one of low degree. But know, lady, his station shall notshield him against my vengeance."
"Oh! believe me, I am innocent!" exclaimed the Marchioness, in a voicetrembling with agitation. "Your own mother is aware of the visits ofthe King, and she will explain all to you; but do not suspect mewrongfully."
"Oh! doubtless, your conduct has been perfectly irreproachable,"responded her lord, in the same strain as before. "All ladies willswear the same, and hope to make their credulous husbands believe them;but, although some choose to be willingly deceived, I do not. I doubtnot, Donna Florinda, whom I have the honour of saluting, will confirmall you aver. Pray, madam, is she your guest, or have you added heralso to my establishment?"
"She was presented to me by their Majesties," said Donna Theresa, gladof an opportunity of stopping the current of her lord's passionatesarcasm.
"I shall take the liberty, then, of returning her to her royal donors,"said the Marquis. "You will take it as no disparagement to yourmatchless charms, Donna Florinda, that I am anxious so soon to part fromone whom all admire; but I prefer that my wife should have no femalecounsellor who will teach her to consider her husband a tyrant andendowed with qualities inferior to all other men."
"You forget your gallantry, Senhor Marquis, when you talk of sending meout of your house, like a roll of silks returned to the mercer as notrequired," cried the sable lady, delighted to have an opportunity bothof loosing her tongue, and of relieving her young mistress from thewrath of her husband. "Truly, I am surprised to hear _you_ speak thus,whom all the Court acknowledge to be the most gallant of knights. Whatwould Senhora Amelia, or the fair Condeca de Campo Bello say, if theyheard you give utterance to such expressions? You would never speakthus to them, I feel confident; but then they are not cruel to you, itis whispered. Come, come, senhor, you have no right to complain if yourlady thinks fit to receive the visits of our sovereign."
"Silence, wretch!" thundered the Marquis. "Begone to your chamber, andlet me not see your hideous countenance while you remain beneath myroof. That you claim to belong to the female sex, alone prevents mefrom ordering you forthwith to be put outside my doors."
"The man is to a certainty mad, to call me such horrid names," cried theDwarf, judging it, however, more prudent to obey. "I trust the coolreflection of the morning will make you think better of your presentdetermination, as I should grieve to leave my lovely mistress so soon."
"You need enjoy no such expectations," answered the Marquis, as thelittle being retired. "And now, madam," he added, turning to his wife,"retire to your apartment, and quit it not without my permission. As itappears that the King has chosen to become the master of my palace, Ishall no longer reside here. Farewell, madam, for the present; I haveaffairs of importance to transact. In the morning I shall return."
"Stay, Luis, stay!" exclaimed the Marchioness; "do not leav
e me thus inanger. Say you do not believe me really guilty;" and she endeavoured toclasp his arm to detain him, but he tore himself angrily away.
"Oaths and prayers will avail you naught, madam," he answered. "Obey mycommands for the present; how I may think fit to act for the future youshall hear:" saying which, he turned aside from his young wife, anddescended the stairs, muttering, as he went, between his closed teeth,"I might have better borne a rival with some gallant qualities to boastof; but this wretched King, who gives himself up to the power of a baseplebeian,--'tis a double disgrace. My lady mother aware of it! I mustsee to that! Impossible! It was but a
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