The Prime Minister by William Henry Giles Kingston
thoughtthat secret hidden within my own bosom."
"Think you that you could have sailed so many days with me, Joze Pinto,and I not discover the inmost secrets of your soul? Why, every scrap ofpaper with which the cabin has been strewed, covered with rhymes, hashad her name inscribed on it; in your dreams, as you swung in your cot,even during the fiercest gale, you spoke but of her. I have heard itwhispered in the calm night breeze which brought back your sighs, andI'll wager 'tis graven indelibly on every mast of my ship."
"You treat me severely, Captain Pinto," answered Don Luis. "Although Imay in my sleep have uttered that name so dear to me, which I havealways held sacred, for I will not deny my affection; and though I mayhave written it on some paper which has escaped from my portfolio, yet Ihave not converted your masts into shrines sacred to love: they are nothonoured by being marked with that name."
"Well, then, I will confess I was but trying you," answered CaptainPinto; "I will acquit you of ever allowing even a scrap of paper withDonna Theresa's name on it to escape from your portfolio, or of everhaving uttered it, to my knowledge, in your dreams, for I am notaddicted to remaining awake when once I turn into my cot; indeed I knewnot the lady of your affections till this minute, when I, by hazard,mentioned her name, and you owned your secret, though I long agodiscovered your heart was not as free as I could wish it; but, seriouslyspeaking, my young friend, I would have you think earnestly of what Ihave said, though my words sounded jokingly, and it may prove a valuablelesson to you. I will not breathe a word against Donna Theresa inparticular; but remember numbers surround her, offering up daily incenseof sighs and flattery, so that it were madness to confide too much inher constancy, or that of any woman so situated, and two years workgreat changes in the feelings of all. Come now, try to suppose herheartless and inconstant: 'tis better than being too sanguine; and Ishould grieve to see your heart breaking through disappointed love."
"To believe her heartless is impossible," exclaimed Don Luis. "Though,on my word, you seem anxious to shake my confidence in her sex ingeneral."
"O, no," answered the Captain, laughing, or rather, it might be said,chuckling: "some are perfect angels--till you know them."
Don Luis did not answer, though he could scarce avoid being angry withhis friend for his preventive cauterisation, although the wound did notsmart the less severely for its being well intended; and at that momentsome necessary duty of the ship called Captain Pinto from his side, who,as he left him, muttered, "Poor youth, poor youth, if he persist intrusting to the love of such an one as Donna Theresa, he will be sadlydisappointed!" Don Luis was left to pursue undisturbed the no verypleasant meditations to which his late conversation had given rise.
That our readers may no longer be in suspense as to whence the ship wehave described came, we may inform them that she was a man-of-war,belonging to the crown of Portugal, though fitted up as a yacht; thatshe was now returning from the shores of England, whither she hadconveyed an ambassador from His Most Faithful Majesty to the Court ofLondon, and that the young Don Luis d'Almeida, who had, for some timepast, been travelling in that country, after having made the tour ofEurope, had taken advantage of the opportunity of returning in her tohis native land.
The father of Don Luis, the Conde d'Almeida, was a noble of the purestblood, and one of the most ancient families of Portugal; but theirfortune had been much reduced through the improvidence of some of thelatter possessors of the title, their honour preventing them fromemploying any of those unjust, or at best doubtful means which others oftheir rank did not scruple to use to increase their wealth, and theirpride forbidding them to engage in any mercantile speculations, aprejudice less general in the present day than at that time, and oneabove which even the Conde d'Almeida could not be expected to rise.
The Count had several brothers, who died childless; the youngest, and byfar the most talented, having during the former reign been banished, forsome political crime it was said, when the ship which conveyed the youngand audacious advocate of civil and religious liberty was, with all hercrew, overwhelmed by the waves, "a just punishment, doubtless, for hisdaring and impiety," observed the pious King John's confessor, when thenews was brought home: there was also one sister, who had married theMarquis d'Alorna, and, dying young, left her only child without amother's fostering care and protection, the lovely Donna Theresa, whohad, as we have seen, won the early affections of her cousin, Don Luis.
The Count, a man of an enlightened mind, had devoted himself to theeducation of his only son, who had imbibed from him all his sentimentsof honour and virtue, with the same true pride of ancestry which madehim incapable of committing any deed derogatory to the dignity of hislofty birth. Such was the young noble we have introduced to ourreaders, firm in principle, enthusiastic in temperament, eager inpursuit of his aims, with a candour and want of suspicion in his mannerwhich appeared to arise from ignorance of the world, but was rather theresult of the secluded and strict system of education he had undergone,which had kept him unacquainted with the vices of society till hisprinciples had been formed to guard against them, nor had it preventedhim from acquiring a clear insight into the characters of men, when oncehe began his career amongst them. The plan pursued in his education wedeem, in most cases, to be a very dangerous one, when a young mind isplunged unprepared to combat with the follies and vices of the world;but he, fortunately, at once became disgusted with them, and learned todread their glittering temptations, as the mariner does the lightsparkling froth which, on the calm blue sea, plays over the hiddensandbank. In person he was of good height, and well-formed; of the mostpolished and graceful address; his bright dark eye sparkling withanimation, or flashing with anger; his voice of rich and clear melody,so that under no disguise could he have appeared otherwise than agentleman.
Captain Pinto has already, in a few words, given as much of his ownhistory as we are acquainted with, and though his personal appearancehad not the stamp of nobility impressed on it, his features betokened akind disposition, (for we are great physiognomists,) notwithstandingthat he had lately given utterance to some observations which soundedrather sour and morose; but he had spoken with the best intentions,thinking that some advice was necessary to check the too ardent hopes ofhis young friend, and having his reasons perhaps for supposing he mightbe deceived. But it is high time that we should return to ournarrative.
The sails were now trimmed to meet a slight variation in the wind, whichblew less steadily than in the morning, and that duty being completed,the captain resumed his walk by the side of Don Luis, whose feelings ofannoyance had by this time completely subsided; indeed, to his generousdisposition, it was impossible to continue angry any length of time,with one who evidently took a warm interest in his welfare. "Now, myyoung friend," observed the worthy commander, after taking several turnsin silence, "you will soon be convinced of the advantage of beingprepared for disappointment," at the same time pointing to some smalldark clouds rising right ahead from the horizon. "Look at those blackheralds of strife and tumult, not of the puny strife of men, but of themajestic rage and fury of the elements. A few minutes ago you werefelicitating yourself in the fond anticipations of meeting those dear toyou before to-morrow has closed, or at the furthest on the followingday, and with the fair fresh breeze and smooth sea we were enjoying, youhad every reason for your hopes; and now behold how suddenly they may beblasted; for if an old seaman's prognostications are not false, we shallhave before long a stiff gale directly in our teeth, and then, farewellto our friends in Lisbon for a week at the shortest calculation! Thatis no gentle summer gale brewing away to the south-east. See howquickly the clouds gather, and what a thick heavy bank they form,resting like a high land on the sea."
"I should be ungrateful if I were to grumble at the prospect ofremaining a week or so longer under your kind care," returned Don Luis;"but I confess that I did hope to arrive in a much shorter period atLisbon."
"I know you did, I know you did," said the Captain. "Very natural itwas for you to do s
o; and I should think that, long ere this, you musthave become heartily tired of the society of an old fellow likemyself,--though I have seen something to talk about in my ramblingsthrough the world."
Don Luis, with sincerity, protested that he had passed the time on boardmost agreeably.
"Well, I trust you have not found me wanting in hospitality, at allevents," continued the old officer, "though you have full right tocomplain of our long voyage; but let me tell you, we have had, for thistime of the year, most unusual weather; first, the heavy gales weexperienced; then the thick heavy fogs, which hung like funereal pallsover the face of the deep; next the smooth sea and sudden favourablebreeze, which seems, however, inclined to play us a jade's trick, andleave us in the lurch; and now
"Think you that you could have sailed so many days with me, Joze Pinto,and I not discover the inmost secrets of your soul? Why, every scrap ofpaper with which the cabin has been strewed, covered with rhymes, hashad her name inscribed on it; in your dreams, as you swung in your cot,even during the fiercest gale, you spoke but of her. I have heard itwhispered in the calm night breeze which brought back your sighs, andI'll wager 'tis graven indelibly on every mast of my ship."
"You treat me severely, Captain Pinto," answered Don Luis. "Although Imay in my sleep have uttered that name so dear to me, which I havealways held sacred, for I will not deny my affection; and though I mayhave written it on some paper which has escaped from my portfolio, yet Ihave not converted your masts into shrines sacred to love: they are nothonoured by being marked with that name."
"Well, then, I will confess I was but trying you," answered CaptainPinto; "I will acquit you of ever allowing even a scrap of paper withDonna Theresa's name on it to escape from your portfolio, or of everhaving uttered it, to my knowledge, in your dreams, for I am notaddicted to remaining awake when once I turn into my cot; indeed I knewnot the lady of your affections till this minute, when I, by hazard,mentioned her name, and you owned your secret, though I long agodiscovered your heart was not as free as I could wish it; but, seriouslyspeaking, my young friend, I would have you think earnestly of what Ihave said, though my words sounded jokingly, and it may prove a valuablelesson to you. I will not breathe a word against Donna Theresa inparticular; but remember numbers surround her, offering up daily incenseof sighs and flattery, so that it were madness to confide too much inher constancy, or that of any woman so situated, and two years workgreat changes in the feelings of all. Come now, try to suppose herheartless and inconstant: 'tis better than being too sanguine; and Ishould grieve to see your heart breaking through disappointed love."
"To believe her heartless is impossible," exclaimed Don Luis. "Though,on my word, you seem anxious to shake my confidence in her sex ingeneral."
"O, no," answered the Captain, laughing, or rather, it might be said,chuckling: "some are perfect angels--till you know them."
Don Luis did not answer, though he could scarce avoid being angry withhis friend for his preventive cauterisation, although the wound did notsmart the less severely for its being well intended; and at that momentsome necessary duty of the ship called Captain Pinto from his side, who,as he left him, muttered, "Poor youth, poor youth, if he persist intrusting to the love of such an one as Donna Theresa, he will be sadlydisappointed!" Don Luis was left to pursue undisturbed the no verypleasant meditations to which his late conversation had given rise.
That our readers may no longer be in suspense as to whence the ship wehave described came, we may inform them that she was a man-of-war,belonging to the crown of Portugal, though fitted up as a yacht; thatshe was now returning from the shores of England, whither she hadconveyed an ambassador from His Most Faithful Majesty to the Court ofLondon, and that the young Don Luis d'Almeida, who had, for some timepast, been travelling in that country, after having made the tour ofEurope, had taken advantage of the opportunity of returning in her tohis native land.
The father of Don Luis, the Conde d'Almeida, was a noble of the purestblood, and one of the most ancient families of Portugal; but theirfortune had been much reduced through the improvidence of some of thelatter possessors of the title, their honour preventing them fromemploying any of those unjust, or at best doubtful means which others oftheir rank did not scruple to use to increase their wealth, and theirpride forbidding them to engage in any mercantile speculations, aprejudice less general in the present day than at that time, and oneabove which even the Conde d'Almeida could not be expected to rise.
The Count had several brothers, who died childless; the youngest, and byfar the most talented, having during the former reign been banished, forsome political crime it was said, when the ship which conveyed the youngand audacious advocate of civil and religious liberty was, with all hercrew, overwhelmed by the waves, "a just punishment, doubtless, for hisdaring and impiety," observed the pious King John's confessor, when thenews was brought home: there was also one sister, who had married theMarquis d'Alorna, and, dying young, left her only child without amother's fostering care and protection, the lovely Donna Theresa, whohad, as we have seen, won the early affections of her cousin, Don Luis.
The Count, a man of an enlightened mind, had devoted himself to theeducation of his only son, who had imbibed from him all his sentimentsof honour and virtue, with the same true pride of ancestry which madehim incapable of committing any deed derogatory to the dignity of hislofty birth. Such was the young noble we have introduced to ourreaders, firm in principle, enthusiastic in temperament, eager inpursuit of his aims, with a candour and want of suspicion in his mannerwhich appeared to arise from ignorance of the world, but was rather theresult of the secluded and strict system of education he had undergone,which had kept him unacquainted with the vices of society till hisprinciples had been formed to guard against them, nor had it preventedhim from acquiring a clear insight into the characters of men, when oncehe began his career amongst them. The plan pursued in his education wedeem, in most cases, to be a very dangerous one, when a young mind isplunged unprepared to combat with the follies and vices of the world;but he, fortunately, at once became disgusted with them, and learned todread their glittering temptations, as the mariner does the lightsparkling froth which, on the calm blue sea, plays over the hiddensandbank. In person he was of good height, and well-formed; of the mostpolished and graceful address; his bright dark eye sparkling withanimation, or flashing with anger; his voice of rich and clear melody,so that under no disguise could he have appeared otherwise than agentleman.
Captain Pinto has already, in a few words, given as much of his ownhistory as we are acquainted with, and though his personal appearancehad not the stamp of nobility impressed on it, his features betokened akind disposition, (for we are great physiognomists,) notwithstandingthat he had lately given utterance to some observations which soundedrather sour and morose; but he had spoken with the best intentions,thinking that some advice was necessary to check the too ardent hopes ofhis young friend, and having his reasons perhaps for supposing he mightbe deceived. But it is high time that we should return to ournarrative.
The sails were now trimmed to meet a slight variation in the wind, whichblew less steadily than in the morning, and that duty being completed,the captain resumed his walk by the side of Don Luis, whose feelings ofannoyance had by this time completely subsided; indeed, to his generousdisposition, it was impossible to continue angry any length of time,with one who evidently took a warm interest in his welfare. "Now, myyoung friend," observed the worthy commander, after taking several turnsin silence, "you will soon be convinced of the advantage of beingprepared for disappointment," at the same time pointing to some smalldark clouds rising right ahead from the horizon. "Look at those blackheralds of strife and tumult, not of the puny strife of men, but of themajestic rage and fury of the elements. A few minutes ago you werefelicitating yourself in the fond anticipations of meeting those dear toyou before to-morrow has closed, or at the furthest on the followingday, and with the fair fresh breeze and smooth sea we were enjoying, youhad every reason for your hopes; and now behold how suddenly they may beblasted; for if an old seaman's prognostications are not false, we shallhave before long a stiff gale directly in our teeth, and then, farewellto our friends in Lisbon for a week at the shortest calculation! Thatis no gentle summer gale brewing away to the south-east. See howquickly the clouds gather, and what a thick heavy bank they form,resting like a high land on the sea."
"I should be ungrateful if I were to grumble at the prospect ofremaining a week or so longer under your kind care," returned Don Luis;"but I confess that I did hope to arrive in a much shorter period atLisbon."
"I know you did, I know you did," said the Captain. "Very natural itwas for you to do s
Don Luis, with sincerity, protested that he had passed the time on boardmost agreeably.
"Well, I trust you have not found me wanting in hospitality, at allevents," continued the old officer, "though you have full right tocomplain of our long voyage; but let me tell you, we have had, for thistime of the year, most unusual weather; first, the heavy gales weexperienced; then the thick heavy fogs, which hung like funereal pallsover the face of the deep; next the smooth sea and sudden favourablebreeze, which seems, however, inclined to play us a jade's trick, andleave us in the lurch; and now