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 UNIVERSITY 
 
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 Cyf /^ji^-^k^ y^^^^^-^'^^-^ie^^^f^^.
 
 THE 
 
 BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 ^ Uomanct. 
 
 IN FOUR VOLUMES. 
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE PUTNEY, 
 
 AUTHOR OF CORA, 4c. 
 
 As by degrees, from long, thongh gentle rains. 
 
 Great floods arise, and overflow the plains : 
 
 So men from little faults to great proceed, 
 
 Gnilt grows on guilt, and crimes do crimes succeed. WAN DES FORD. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 -*^-»»€» ^<^ 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR 
 
 A. K. NEWMAN AND CO. LEADENHALL-STREBT, 
 
 1826.
 
 
 THE 
 
 BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 V, Xt was towards the close of evening, 
 ^^^^ when the beams of a setting sun had gild- 
 ed the surrounding scene, that Orlando 
 ^ had wandered amidst the rocks which 
 '^ project over the sea that divides the Ca- 
 ^ nary Isles from Africa, to indulge, as usual, 
 ir his deep-rooted melancholy. Neither the 
 ^ beauty of the expansive view, the refresh- 
 - ing coolness of a sea breeze, nor the clear 
 > musical notes of the little yellow-feathered 
 ^ songsters, that take their name from the 
 ^island on which he stood, could yield a 
 ^ charm for him. As he leaned against the 
 *\ craggy precipice, and reflected on the base- 
 ^ ness of his own species, he shuddered at the 
 VOL. I. B thought
 
 2 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 thought of being called man ! — " Strange," 
 said he, " that a being so gifted with the 
 powers of doing good, should, by pervert- 
 ing those endowments, debase himself be- 
 low the meanest reptiles of the creation — 
 and with fiend-like hatred, crush his fellow- 
 mortal !" 
 
 A sigh interrupted his meditations ; he 
 paused— started— listened; when astonished 
 he beheld a female form in a fissure of the 
 rock close by him, clad in a loose robe, 
 with a black ebony cross suspended from 
 the waist : her wild flowing ringlets co- 
 vered her neck ; but as her head was sup- 
 ported by the whitest arm that limners 
 ever fancied, he could not see her face. 
 
 Petrified he stood, when the stranger 
 arose — and on discovering him, with a 
 wild terrific shriek she fled, and was in- 
 stantly out of sight. In vain he called, in 
 vain he attempted to follow — her swiftness 
 seemed like the wind ; and after searching 
 every where that anxious curiosity could 
 pry into, he returned to the spot where 
 
 he
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 3 
 
 he first discovered her. There was some- 
 thing in the sylph-like form of the fugi- 
 tive, which brought to his mind a being 
 who had long since been numbered with 
 the blest. Till this moment he had no 
 wish but to follow the pure spirit of his 
 lost Adela; yet there was something so 
 touching in the wildness of the beauteous 
 creature who had fled his sight, that for 
 the first time since his misfortunes had 
 overwhelmed him, he was roused from the 
 stupor which had sealed up his faculties. 
 — ^* Unfortunate being," he cried, " thou 
 wouldst not fly me, didst thou know that 
 I am perhaps more wretched than thyself; 
 and so far from injuring thee, I would 
 pour into thy wounded mind the oil of 
 compassion, and try to heal thy lacerated 
 heart with the balm of pity." 
 
 His susceptible soul was ever alive to 
 the sufferings of others, and there was 
 something peculiarly distressing in the 
 deep sigh of the interesting stranger, which 
 struck to the heart of Orlando. He was 
 B 2 incapable
 
 4s ^ THE BRAZEN MASK- 
 
 incapable of love — save for that one object 
 who he doubted not was waiting his ar- 
 rival on the celestial shores : but yet he 
 determined to befriend the fair unknown, 
 and even to lose his life in her defence, 
 should circumstances require it. He had 
 not long to wait ere an opportunity oc- 
 curred which put his fortitude to the test ; 
 for he heard the shriek of her he had in 
 vain attempted to follow — and at the same 
 time beheld her fleeing along a precipice 
 above him— -then in a second she leaped 
 the dreadful height, and lay motionless at 
 his feet. He gently raised her ; but what 
 -were his sensations, when in the face of 
 the sufferer he recognised features long 
 since, as he thought, consigned to the 
 tomb! Could he believe his senses, or was 
 he under some visionary influence, which 
 presented to his imagination the form he 
 loved to dwell on ? Was what he beheld 
 real or ideal ? 
 
 While he endeavoured to collect his 
 suspended faculties, still holding the beau- 
 teous 
 
 \
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 5 
 
 teous burden clasped close to his breast, 
 animation gradually returned ; and open- 
 ing her dark expressive eyes, she fixed 
 them steadfastly on him ; then gazing with 
 astonishment, started — and the mutual ex- 
 clamations of — Orlando ! — Adela ! — burst 
 from each heart at the same moment. 
 
 This then was no vision, and those only 
 who have been buried to each other, can 
 form an idea of the feelings which took 
 possession of the enraptured pair. Each 
 was the soul of the other, and as he burn- 
 ing kisses pressed, drank nectar from ruby 
 lip. Explanation was impossible — tumul- 
 tuous joy reigned alone, and repaid them 
 for the past: but momentary was their 
 ecstacy — for the trampling of mules round 
 the base of the rock interrupted them, 
 and Adela shrieked — " They come, they 
 come !" 
 
 Orlando had not time to inquire of 
 
 whom she spoke, ere a gigantic figure in a 
 
 brazen mask, mounted on a mule, advanced 
 
 towards them, followed by a train of arm- 
 
 b3 ed
 
 6 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 ed attendants. The chief ordered Orlando 
 to draw, or surrender his charge. 
 
 " Death only shall separate us," replied 
 the latter, drawing, his sabre ; " but un- 
 mask, and let me see who it is that dare 
 lay claim to Adela." 
 
 " Orlando !" exclaimed the Mask, " thy 
 doom is fixed ;" and instantly aimed a 
 blow at him, which the young man par- 
 ried ; then laying down his fainting fair, 
 desired the chief to alight — and sword in 
 hand fought over the senseless body of his 
 Adela. 
 
 With equal skill, and equal rage, the 
 contest long continued, till Orlando dis- 
 armed his antagonist — when one of the 
 people belonging to the Brazen Mask 
 darted round, and stabbed Orlando in the 
 back. The dastard chief, to make victory 
 more sure, recovered his sword, then 
 plunged it in the breast of his fallen foe ; 
 and twice it drank the blood of Orlando, 
 who seemed to expire without a groan. 
 
 Adela was by this time recovering from 
 
 her
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 7 
 
 her swoon, who just opened her eyes to 
 see him fall ; and shrieking aloud, she said 
 — " Save^ oh save my child r 
 
 He heard no more, for his life's blood 
 flowed fast in many a purple stream, dy- 
 ing the earth around him — and all objects 
 quickly receded from his sight. Adela 
 hung over him in distracted agony— wrung 
 her hands — tore her flowing ringlets, and 
 in piteous accents implored Heaven to 
 grant him life. The wearer of the brazen 
 mask approaching, commanded his attend- 
 ants to bear the beauteous mourner off. 
 
 " Never," she said, " never shall you 
 tear me from the remains of him I loved !" 
 
 Awe-struck, the slaves retreated a few 
 paces, when the Mask exclaimed — " Vil- 
 lains, do ye dare to disobey your master ?" 
 
 Irresolute they stood, for the situation 
 of the unfortunate, defenceless female, had 
 struck a spark of pity from their flinty 
 hearts ; and they might have dared to 
 shew compassion was not quite extin- 
 guished in their breasts, had they had any 
 B 4 other
 
 8 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 other leader than he who commanded 
 them, 
 
 " Obey !" vociferated the Mask, drawing 
 his sword. 
 
 They all gathered round the sufferer, 
 but stood apparently spellbound — for none 
 had dared to lay his hand on her. 
 
 " Dastards !" exclaimed their chief, " your 
 lives shall be the forfeit of this disobedi- 
 ence ;" and striking them to the earth, 
 seized on his wretched prey. 
 
 " Monster !" she said, and threw herself 
 on the cold remains of her lost Orlando. 
 
 The demon tore her from this last em- 
 brace, threw her fainting on his beast, and 
 mounting, ordered his slaves to precede 
 hiqci, fearing they might some of them 
 stay behind, in order to give intelligence 
 to any one who knew Adela, could they 
 meet with such a person ; but his fears 
 were groundless, for she had lived almost 
 sole tenant of those rocks for many a 
 weary month. With reluctance they all 
 obeyed, and with savage satisfaction he 
 
 galloped
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. ^ 9 
 
 galloped off, bearing with him her whose 
 form was symmetry, and whose eye shed 
 lustre on those on whom it beamed. 
 
 Night had now spread her sable curtain 
 over the horrid scene, where lay the stiffen- 
 ed, mangled form of Orlando ; but life was 
 not extinct, and he began gradually to re. 
 cover. He laid, trying to recollect whe- 
 ther the occurrences so lately passed were 
 real, or only the work of fancy : if indeed 
 he had found his Adela, how could she be 
 alive, when he had seen her dead? — ^or 
 supposing her to be alive, how came she 
 there? He might have lain for years 
 confounding himself with conjecture, had 
 he not attempted to move, when the pain 
 and stiffness of his wounds convinced him 
 all was not ideal. He again grew faint 
 from the exertion, when the cries of an 
 infant recalled his fleeting senses : he re- 
 membered the last words of Adela were— 
 '^ Save, oh save my child P' Was this 
 then the cry of her offspring? — " Oh 
 God," he ejaculated, " enable me to rise!'* 
 B 5 His
 
 10 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 His prayer was short, but fervent ; and he 
 once more tried, but in vain. The crying 
 of the little suppliant continued, and dark- 
 ness surrounded him ; though if he could 
 have arisen, it would have been impossible 
 to have found the object of his wishes. 
 Prayer was the only effort he could make, 
 and he lay listening to the plaintive en- 
 treaties of the infant, which at intervals 
 broke upon his ear, but which grew weaker 
 and weaker. At length Aurora painted 
 the horizon with golden streaks, and clad 
 in a robe of purple, came on fast advan- 
 cing, whilst Sol with acquiescence shed 
 his beams around. 
 
 The glittering dew which sparkled on 
 the grass first attracted his attention ; and 
 stretching out his hand, he moistened his 
 parched lips with the pearly drops, which 
 seemed to give him new life ; and raising 
 his head, looked around in search of the 
 object of his anxious desire, but could no- 
 where discern any thing of the kind. — 
 " If," thought he, " there is a Superior 
 
 Power
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 11 
 
 Power (and that there is, each weed pro- 
 claims aloud) — if the unprovoked malice 
 of my enemies is not always to rage 
 against me-^-if I am not totally an outcast 
 from Providence — if my temporal suffer- 
 ings are not now to close for ever — if I 
 have not sinned beyond the reach of 
 mercy, then may the great Disposer of 
 events grant me this one request — that I 
 may be enabled to relieve the wants of 
 this little inheritor of calamity, this plain- 
 tive sufferer, formed by thine his creative 
 hand!" As he earnestly made this last 
 request, he raised his eyes, when they were 
 suddenly attracted by something in the 
 tree, which spread its thick foliage above 
 him. At the same moment he heard ano- 
 ther faint appeal from the object of his 
 anxiety, when he said to himself — " It is 
 — it must be there !" 
 
 With difficulty he crawled to the base 
 of the tree, but to raise himself seemed im- 
 possible ; when collecting all the strength 
 he possessed, and placing one arm round 
 b6 the
 
 12 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 the trunk, he by degrees pulled himself 
 up, and with the other hand took a bas- 
 ket, made of small twigs, which hung on 
 one of the lowest branches, and on open- 
 ing it, beheld a lovely, dimpled boy, who 
 held out his little arms, and in short, im- 
 patient cries, implored for that sustenance 
 which he had been so long deprived of. 
 
 What a situation was Orlando's ! He 
 saw the loveliest inhabitant of this miser- 
 able vale of suffering on the brink of the 
 grave for want of nutriment, yet he had 
 none to give him ; and that child was per- 
 haps his own ! Maddened at the thought, 
 he would have resigned his life, nor 
 thought the sacrifice too great, so that he 
 could but save the offspring of his adored 
 Adela, Language cannot depict his feel- 
 ings, which, together with the exertions 
 he had just made, so far overpowered him, 
 that clasping the babe to his breast, he 
 sunk again into insensibility. ^ 
 
 In this situation he remained some time, 
 yjfhen once niore unclosing his eyes, he 
 
 fixed
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 1$ 
 
 fixed them on the venerable figure of an 
 anchorite, who was bending over him, in 
 anxious solicitude, and motioning with his 
 hand for Orlando not to speak, took fi-om 
 his pouch a cordial, which he presented to 
 him, who with gratitude swallowed the 
 welcome draught, but left some of it in 
 the bottle, and pointed to the infant. The 
 old man understood him, and mixing with 
 it a few drops of water which he had in a 
 cruise, gave it to his little patient, who 
 presently fell into a sweet sleep. 
 
 Orlando suffered his kind friend to pro- 
 ceed his own way, who washed the clotted 
 blood from his wounds, and dressed them 
 with the utmost care; but on examining one 
 which had been torn open in reaching the 
 child from the tree, he found it in a much 
 worse state than the rest ; for the anguish 
 occasioned by severing the lips of the 
 wound asunder, increased the inflamma- 
 tion to a violent degree. The good man 
 acted according to the best of his judg- 
 ment, and finding it impossible to remove 
 
 his
 
 14 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 his patient, pulled off his own cloak, 
 spread it over him, then feeling his pulse, 
 gave him a second draught, squeezed his 
 hand in token of friendship, and taking 
 up the child, was going away. 
 
 " No, no !" exclaimed Orlando, which 
 were the first words that had passed be- 
 tween them. 
 
 " My son," said the hermit, " your re- 
 covery, next to God, depends on yourself, 
 which is the reason I have hitherto re- 
 mained silent, that I might not induce 
 you to exert yourself by speaking. Trust 
 the child to me, and I will bring it back 
 to you in the morning." 
 
 " It will be death to me to part with 
 him," replied Orlando; and pointing to 
 the tree, motioned to the old man to leave 
 him there, thinking that place the most 
 secure which maternal fondness had found 
 out for him. 
 
 " Then be it so," answered the hermit ; 
 " for after what I have given him, he will 
 not require refreshment till to-morrow;" 
 
 and
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 15 
 
 and was placing the infant in his usual 
 cradle, when Orlando motioned to him 
 with an expressive look, which he could not 
 misunderstand ; and he held the child to 
 Orlando, who impressed his first paternal 
 kiss on its lovely face, and, for aught he 
 knew, it was the last; while a big tear 
 strolled from his eye, as he slowly ejacu- 
 lated—" Oh God, protect him !" 
 
 The anchorite having examined the bas- 
 ket, saw a dove had nestled in one corner 
 of it, which flew out for a few minutes in 
 quest of food, and then returned to the 
 basket, to the surprise of the hermit, who 
 let it remain, placing the child and cradle 
 in the tree ; then turning to Orlando, said 
 — " My son, my prayers shall not be want- 
 ing in your behalf; nor would I leave you 
 to-night, if I had those things necessary 
 for your unfortunate situation: but my 
 habitation is some distance from here, and 
 you cannot at present be moved ; there- 
 fore I leave you to the care of Heaven, 
 and will return to you in the morning." 
 
 "Oh,
 
 16 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 '*Oh, father!" said Orlando 
 
 *' Peace, my son !" interrupted the old 
 man, and waving his hand, silently took 
 his leave. 
 
 It was near the close of day, much 
 about the same time that Orlando first 
 heard the sigh of Adela, while he was 
 leaning against the rock ; and he reflected 
 with amazement, on the many strange in- 
 cidents which had crowded on him within 
 the last four-and-twenty hours, when an 
 uncommon weight oppressed his eyelids, 
 and sealed his sorrows in oblivion. 
 
 Morn had risen into day ere the slum- 
 bers of Orlando were broken, when start- 
 ing, he awoke, and beheld the hermit 
 seated by him, with the infant in his lap, 
 whom he was feeding, and who, with 
 eager haste, was devouring the welcome 
 repast his aged nurse had brought him. 
 
 " How fares it with my friend ?" asked 
 the hermit, on perceiving his patient stir. 
 
 ** Better than I can describe," he re- 
 plied ;
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 17 
 
 plied ; " oh, father, teach me a language 
 to express my thanks !" ^^X?^;« 
 
 " No more ort that subjeeV said the re- 
 cluse, and laying the child in the basket, 
 administered some refreshment ; but he 
 gently put it aside with his hand, saying 
 — " The sight of the child will do me 
 more good." 
 
 " Not so, my son," said his friend ; " I 
 do not wish your feelings to be agitated 
 at present ; and as I am both doctor and 
 nurse, must be allowed my own way." 
 
 " You shall, my preserver," Orlando 
 observed ; and after taking the nourish- 
 ment presented, found himself refreshed. 
 
 His attendant proceeded to dress his 
 wounds, which he found in a more fa- 
 vourable state than could have been ex- 
 pected in so short a time, particularly that 
 which had been forced open on account of 
 the child, about which he was most ap- 
 prehensive, and with a smile said — " The 
 uncommon change in your favour autho- 
 rizes me to grant your request;" then 
 
 raising
 
 18 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 raising him up, seated him so that he could 
 lean against the tree, and taking the in- 
 fant out of the basket, placed it in the 
 arms of Orlando. 
 
 He silently contemplated his features 
 for some minutes, when a violent paroxysm 
 of grief burst from him, and shook his 
 whole frame. — " This is what I feared," 
 said the hermit. 
 
 The cause was, that the infant resem- 
 bled no one but his mother: the same 
 speaking eye, the same ruby lip, the same 
 beautiful hair, the same round polished 
 limbs — in short, it was Adela's self in mi- 
 niature. 
 
 The innocent, like a cherub, smiled, 
 and called Orlando to himself again : he 
 pressed it to his heart, exclaiming — " Na- 
 ture tells me that thou art, indeed thou 
 art, my child !" 
 
 " This excess of feeling will retard your 
 recovery, my son," observed the anchorite. 
 
 " Probably you never knew what it was 
 to be a father ?" said Orlando. 
 
 " Would
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 1^ 
 
 " Would to Gk)d I never had !" replied 
 the hermit, and with unsteady steps walk- 
 ed out of sight ; but shortly after returned 
 more composed. 
 
 In the course of the day he brought a 
 mattress for his patient, with whatever 
 comforts his little store afforded, and staid 
 Avith him till he was able to walk ; during 
 which time Orlando would lay for hours 
 contemplating the features of the child, 
 and then place him in the tree. 
 
 The hermit, finding his patient much 
 better, proposed removing to his habita- 
 tion, which he heard with reluctance, but 
 could not refuse. — " I know your motive, 
 and cannot blame you, my son," said the 
 old man. 
 
 His reasons were, he was loth to quit 
 the spot where he had last beheld his 
 Adela, and where he had first seen his boy. 
 
 The little family travelled slowly on, 
 owing to the extreme w^eakness of Orlan- 
 do, and entered a wood, whose thick fo- 
 liage almost excluded the rays of the sun. 
 
 In
 
 20 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 In the centre of the forest stood the cave 
 of the hermit ; the entrance was concealed 
 by the thickness of the underwood, and 
 the hermit leading the way, welcomed his 
 unhappy guest. — " Here at least, my 
 friend, you will be free from the persecu- 
 tions of man," he said — " here you can, 
 without interruption, worship the Creator 
 — and here we will share the delight of 
 rearing your beloved boy." 
 
 Orlando pressed his hand, but felt too 
 much to speak. 
 
 The entrance to the cave was a gradual 
 descent, which opened into a spacious 
 square room, dug out of the earth, at the 
 upper end of which was a table, with a 
 crucifix, rosary, and missal. There were 
 several little comforts which Orlando did 
 not expect to find; the hermit relieved 
 him by saying — " Do not suppose you 
 will be a burden to me, if you was to re- 
 main here all your life ; for I have given 
 so largely to the neighbouring convent, 
 that they supply all my wants, and in- 
 dulge
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 21 
 
 dulge my peculiarities, by never asking a 
 question." 
 
 Orlando bowed his thanks, but seemed 
 buried in his own grief, which his friend 
 observing, said — " My son, you must en- 
 deavour to cheer up, for you will contri- 
 bute to my happiness by trying to regain 
 your health." 
 
 " Alas, father, my loss is greater than 
 I can bear !" replied Orlando. 
 
 " i\ot so, my son ; the sooner you re- 
 cover, the sooner you will be able to re- 
 gain that loss," said the old man. 
 
 The thought reanimated his patient, 
 who from that hour rapidly amended ; and 
 the hermit, to engage his attention, related 
 his own history, as follows : — 
 
 HISTORY OF ACASTO, DUKE OF ANDALUSIA. 
 
 ** I am Acasto, duke of Andalusia ; my 
 family could boast of being allied to the 
 blood-royal of Spain, and gave place to 
 none for ancestry, honour, or wealth. I 
 
 mention
 
 22 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 mention these things (which to me are 
 trifles now), because the nobility of Spain 
 pride themselves much upon their high 
 descent. The duke, my father, was not 
 behind the proudest of them, in giving 
 way to the punctilio so justly attributed 
 to our countrymen. 
 
 We were often disturbed with invasions 
 from the African coast, when I frequently 
 accompanied my father in his excursions 
 to quell these troublesome neighbours. 
 On one of these occasions we had driven 
 them back, and in our own vessels crossed 
 that part of the sea which is called the 
 Strait, and landed on their side the 
 water, when a desperate battle ensued. 
 Victory was a long time doubtful, but 
 owing to the obstinate valour of my fa- 
 ther and his troops, it was declared on our 
 side. 
 
 In the midst of the engagement I ob- 
 served an African chief^ who dealt slaugh- 
 ter round him, though he was wounded 
 in several places ; and one of our people 
 
 aimed
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 23 
 
 aimed a blow at him, which I warded off, 
 exclaiming — " Hold ! your antagonist is 
 already wounded." The transaction so 
 struck the young chief, that he instantly 
 dismounted, and surrendered himself my 
 prisoner, laying his arms at my feet. As 
 one generous action commonly produces 
 another, I vowed eternal friendship to 
 him, which was never broken to the day 
 of his death. 
 
 I procured his freedom, and peace being 
 once more restored, we returned to our 
 domain, accompanied by my young friend 
 Alvaro, the African, who was much plea- 
 sed with an invitation to our chateau. 
 My father behaved towards him with 
 more urbanity than I expected, consider- 
 ing he was of Moorish descent ; but Al- 
 varo, by surrendering, had acknowledged 
 my father victorious, who had too high a 
 sense of honour to treat a conquered foe 
 otherwise than with generosity. 
 
 The more I saw of Alvaro, the more I 
 had cause to esteem him : he was artless, 
 
 brave.
 
 24 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 brave, ingenuous, sincere — in short, he 
 possessed every virtue that could form the 
 warrior and the friend. Our time flew as 
 on the wings of the wind, for it was dedi- 
 cated to friendship ; but, alas ! our happi- 
 ness was interrupted by the machinations 
 of envy. Sebastian, a distant kinsman of 
 my father, saw, with jealous eye, the in- 
 creasing attachment between us, and 
 sought to destroy it. 
 
 Sebastian, as I then supposed him to 
 be, was artful, cowardly, hypocritical, sub- 
 tle — in short, he possessed every vice that 
 could form the villain. He had so far 
 disguised his real character as to obtain the 
 good opinion of my father, who placed the 
 utmost confidence in him, and had ap- 
 pointed him my successor to the family 
 estates, provided I died without male 
 issue. He endeavoured to impress my fa- 
 ther with the idea, that it was dangerous 
 for a Spaniard to form a friendship with 
 one of Moorish extraction; and averred 
 that Alvaro was gaining all the intelligence 
 
 he
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 25 
 
 he could respecting our situation, re- 
 sources, and fortifications. 
 
 The duke, with the true pride of an old 
 Spaniard, rejected these insinuations; but 
 from that time, wished I had found a bo- 
 som friend on this side the water. 
 
 I laboured, and succeeded in clearing 
 Alvaro from the imputations so unjustly 
 attributed to him, when the duke replied 
 — " My son, I have no doubt but your 
 friend is as innocent as you wish me to 
 believe him ; but it does not look well for 
 one of the first families, so nearly allied to 
 the king as ours is, to take to their confi- 
 dence one of his avowed enemies ; for such 
 you know the Africans are. I do not in- 
 sist that you should break with your friend, 
 nor in any way wound his feelings ; but I 
 had rather he was landed on his own coast." 
 
 I left my father with a heavy heart, but 
 could not blame him, for I felt the justness 
 of his remarks. The duke had occasion to 
 go to a distant part of the province on the 
 following day, when Alvaro and I accom- 
 
 VOL. I. c panied
 
 26 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 panied him, attended by some of our re- 
 tinue. We had journied some miles, 
 when on entering a wood, as my friend 
 was gaily conversing with my father, they 
 were attacked by a number of banditti, 
 headed by a man in a brazen mask." 
 
 " A brazen mask !" exclaimed Orlando. 
 
 " Peace, my son, and let me continue 
 my story," said the hermit. 
 
 " Alvaro saw their chief aim w^as at my 
 father ; for the wearer of the mask fought 
 only with the duke ; when with the quick- 
 ness so natural to the Africans, he threw 
 himself between the Mask and my father, 
 receiving the poniard in his own breast 
 w^hich was aimed at the life of the duke. 
 I came up just at this moment, and saw 
 my friend w^eltering in his blood. Judge 
 of my feelings, when I found he had pre- 
 sented his own life to preserve my father's ! 
 I loved him with enthusiasm before, but 
 could not now describe ray sensations. 
 Our retinue came in sight, and the ban- 
 ditti seeing our number exceeded theirs, 
 
 immediately
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 27 
 
 immediately disappeared ; for I should have 
 told you, that my father and Alvaro had 
 ridden on before us. 
 
 My father was distracted at the fate of his 
 preserver, and taking me by the hand, said 
 — " Acasto, your friend is worthy of you !" 
 
 He then ordered our vassals to cut down 
 some boughs of trees, to form a kind of 
 litter, upon which he spread his own cloak, 
 and gently laid Alvaro on it, ordering the 
 men to return, after having stopped the 
 effusion of blood, and in this manner they 
 carried him back to our castle. We had 
 the wound dressed, which owing to its 
 being in a slanting direction, proved not to 
 be mortal. This gave relief to the anxiety 
 of the duke, for if it had been fatal to Al- 
 varo, my father would have mourned his 
 loss, as if he had been his only son. 
 
 On my friend recovering from his faint- 
 ness, 1 was standing by his bedside, when 
 he stretched out his hand to me, saying — 
 " Is the duke safe?** 
 
 I answered — " Thanks to your intrepi- 
 c 2 dity
 
 28 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 ^ity he is; but how shall I express my 
 gratitude? or 'how alleviate your suffer- 
 ings?" .^. vi/r 
 
 He smiling said—" As to gratitude, there 
 is none due, for I have always been your 
 debtor, and am amply repaid for my timely 
 interference, by having been of service to 
 your father ; but as to my sufferings, as you 
 are pleased to term the little inconvenience 
 I feel, it is nothing more than a scratch ; such 
 a one as I have received fifty of in battle." 
 
 My father entered as he was speaking, 
 and taking his hand, said — " Alvaro, from 
 henceforth I adopt you." 
 
 Alvaro silently smiled ; but his intelli- 
 gent eyes spoke for him. 
 
 This unexpected generosity of my fa- 
 ther's almost overpowered me; I threw 
 myself at his feet, gave vent to the effu- 
 sions of my heart, assured him that the 
 kindness I had received from him during 
 my whole life, did not equal that one ac- 
 tion. .He raised me with pleasure, saying 
 — " Then it seems Acasto will not be 
 vr jealous
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 29 
 
 jealous of his younger brother ?" He 
 turned to Alvaro, laid a hand upon the 
 head of each, adding — " My children, re- 
 ceive the blessing of your father !" 
 
 The feelings of two such friends as we 
 were may be conceived, but cannot be de- 
 scribed. '-■'' ■•'^^'-^^ Y 
 
 My father and I spent our time entirely 
 in the chamber of the wounded chief; and 
 I believe Spain did not contain so happy 
 artrio. 
 
 '^* Sebastian frequently visited us, and 
 seemed to share our felicity ; for when I in- 
 troduced Alvaro to him as the adopted 
 son of my father, he appeared surprised, 
 but not displeased. He was particularly 
 attentive to my friend, and would fre- 
 quently shift his pillows to give ease to 
 his posture, who was much pleased with 
 those little services. Alvaro soon became 
 convalescent, and Sebastian took his leave. 
 
 The pleasing gaiety of my friend never 
 forsook him, and my father had been lay- 
 ing some plans for our amusement, pro- 
 c 3 posing
 
 30 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 posing among other things we should all 
 three visit the African coast. 
 
 Alvaro replied with a smile and a bow, 
 that as his grace would condescend to visit 
 his family, it was necessary to know who 
 they were. 
 
 " My complexion," said he, " will tell 
 yoU I am descended from the Moors ;" for 
 his skin was not black, but a dark olive. 
 " They were the ancient conquerors of Spain, 
 and after many hard struggles with the 
 Castilians, were driven from hence to their 
 native country, being deprived of their 
 estates, and all they possessed, or to seek 
 shelter where they could find it ; for the pro- 
 vince of Old Castile was the only part of 
 Spain which the Moors could not over- 
 come. Africa was the first place which 
 presented itself, and thither they fled, 
 forming themselves into tribes ; and swore 
 eternal enmity to the Spaniards ; therefore 
 if they have found us troublesome neigh- 
 bours, they must allow that they have 
 given us some cause." 
 
 "Granted,"
 
 THE BRAZEN JVIASK. 31 
 
 " Granted,'* said the duke. 
 
 " My father," continued Alvaro, " was 
 amongst the foremost of them to avenge 
 the wrongs of his countrymen, and from 
 his uncommon intrepidity, was chosen one 
 of their chiefs. War was his-* trade, and 
 valour his only possession. My mother, 
 who was a Spaniard, fled from her native 
 soil with him. In about a year after her 
 exile, she presented him a son. He took 
 the child out of her arms, and, kneeHng, 
 dedicated him to revenge the persecutions 
 of his tribe. That son was myself I was 
 from infancy taught the art of war, being 
 instructed to bear pain without a mur- 
 mur. 
 
 " My mother next presented her hus- 
 band with a daughter; but he seemed dis- 
 satisfied w4th this gift, saying, if it had 
 been a son, he could have reared it for 
 battle. However, the uncommon beauty 
 of my sister Kora must, I think, have re- 
 compensed him for his disappointment. 
 Her complexion is not so dark as mine, 
 c 4 and
 
 32 IC^HE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 and she is the most beautiful creature my 
 eyes ever beheld; and did I not know 
 that Acasto's heart is engaged, the sight 
 .§f her might prove dangerous." 
 ^. Theiiuke nodded his approbation. 
 
 Alvaro continued — " After my father 
 had spent years in waging war against the 
 Spaniards, in one dreadful battle he fell. 
 I was fighting by his side at the time, 
 when perceiving that life was ebbing fast, 
 he bequeathed my mother and sister to 
 my care, then said — ' Promise me one 
 thing, my son,' — 'Name it,' I eagerly ex- 
 claimed. — ' Promise me,' he replied, * to 
 avenge my wrongs.'^ — * I swear eternal 
 hatred to your enemies !' was my answer, 
 which seemed to appease his spirit, for he 
 immediately yielded it up." 
 ,^^. The utterance of Alvaro was here 
 choked at the recollection of his unfortu- 
 nate father; but after some moments of 
 silence, he resumed — " Our tribes, hearing 
 of my father's death, assembling round the 
 body, elected me chief in his stead; at the 
 
 same
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. S3 
 
 same time, shewing me the fatal wound, 
 made me swear to bear it in my remem- 
 brance. We always met with the most 
 rigorous treatment from our enemies when 
 we were taken prisoners by them, which 
 undoubtedly helped to keep up the spirit 
 of bitterness between us, for the duke of 
 Andalusia had not then taken the com- 
 mand of the Spanish army." 
 
 The duke smiled. 
 
 The young chief proceeded. — " I have 
 fought from my childhood, and should 
 have continued fighting to this day, had 
 not one generous action overcome all 
 my prejudices — had I not seen, in an un- 
 expected moment, that, contrary to my 
 opinion, humanity was to be found even 
 in the heart of a Spaniard ; for had not 
 Acasto warded off the blow aimed against 
 me in our last memorable battle, when I 
 was wounded in several places, I might 
 still have continued his most inveterate 
 foe ; for mercy may conquer where force 
 of arms cannot, as it requires, in my opi- 
 c 5 nion,.
 
 34 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 nion, more valour to treat an enemy with 
 clemency, than to hew him into pieces." 
 
 Alvaro bowed, and the duke, in rap- 
 ture, shook him by the hand. 
 
 " Think not," continued the chief, '*:I 
 have acted contrary to the principles of 
 my father, in suffering you to conquer his 
 son*, for the nobleness of his nature was 
 such, that the least shadow of generosity 
 from a foe would have made him his 
 friend; and well I know his approving 
 spirit smiled on the action which united 
 us in the inseparable bond that death alone 
 
 can sever." 
 
 Alvaro having finished his artless nar- 
 rative (continued the hermit), we sepa- 
 rated for the night, little dreaming of 
 "v^hat we were to witness in the morning. 
 Before I proceed, it is necessary I should 
 give you a sketch of our residence, which 
 was an old Moorish castle of defence, of 
 immense size and strength, built before 
 they were expelled the province of Anda- 
 lusia. It was defended on one side by the 
 
 rock
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. S5 
 
 rock of Gibraltar, and on the other by a 
 strong wall, next the Isthmus which leads 
 into Spain. The entrance was into a large 
 court, surrounded by a high, thick, stone 
 wall, which opened into a second court of 
 the same dimensions, of equal defence, 
 which opened into a third court of the 
 same kind. There were sentinels con- 
 stantly on duty in the several courts, 
 which rendered it impossible to be sur- 
 prised by the enemy ; and the impenetra- 
 ble rock, which was almost perpendicular, 
 equally secured us. 
 
 At the upper end of the third court 
 stood the castle of Andalusia, which bid 
 defiance to the imbecile attempts of man 
 to demolish it. The walls were three feet 
 thick, and instead of windows, there were 
 left long niches in the walls ; for had there 
 been windows, they might have rendered 
 the place less secure. The interior, as 
 well as exterior, of the building, was en- 
 tirely of stone, which prevented the possi- 
 bility of its being destroyed by fire. The 
 c 6 castle
 
 S6 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 castle was immensely large ; and after the 
 first entrance was a hall of great dimen- 
 sions, with a winding stone staircase, which 
 led to the different suits of rooms, and so 
 formed, that any one might see from the 
 upper story what was doing in the hall 
 below; but you must observe, in Spain, 
 owing to the heat of the climate, they do 
 not build their residences so high as in 
 countries where the heat is not so intense. 
 The rooms are constantly kept sprinkled 
 with water, which gives a refreshing cool- 
 ness, and renders the heat less oppressive. 
 There was a kind of bastion, or place of 
 refuge, which was formed under ground, 
 and each chamber had a concealed door, 
 which opened by a secret spring into se- 
 veral narrow passages, with small stair- 
 cases, leading to the subterraneous avenue, 
 which opened into a place of incredible 
 size, so that many troops might assemble 
 there without observation, provided they 
 could gain admittance into the castle; or 
 the inhabitants might, in case of being 
 
 conquered*
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 37 
 
 conquered, which was not very likely, 
 escape this way ; for at the further end of 
 this bastion was a serpentine narrow out- 
 let, which opened to the seashore. The 
 secret springs I mentioned were known 
 only, as we supposed, to my father and 
 myself; for there was no occasion to make 
 our people acquainted with them, unless 
 i:^cessity required it. 
 
 j: Early on the morning succeeding that 
 on which Alvaro had given us his little 
 history, one of the slaves who attended 
 him from Africa burst into my chamber 
 with wild affright, exclaiming — " The 
 chief! the chief !" and pointing to the door, 
 was incapable of uttering another word. 
 
 Terror-struck, I flew to Alvaro's apart- 
 ment, and sickened at the sight, as the 
 chamber was literally covered with blood, 
 for my unfortunate friend lay apparently 
 lifeless near the door. The consternation 
 this spectacle threw me into was not to be 
 described, and I was little more collected 
 than the distracted slave; for I had not 
 
 the
 
 38 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 the sense to attempt administering relief 
 to the sufferer, but stood viewing him in 
 speechless agony, when the voice of the 
 duke, who by this time had entered the 
 chamber, brought me to myself, for he 
 exclaimed — " Arouse, Acasto, and try to 
 restore my poor adopted son !" 
 
 We took him up, had his wounds 
 dressed, and after long anxious trials, per- 
 ceived animation. Our joy was now as 
 great as our grief had been, for we had no 
 hope of seeing him restored. 
 
 Who had entered the chamber with the 
 murderous intent, it was impossible to 
 conjecture, for we could not suspect the 
 faithfully-attached slave ; and no one could 
 enter the apartment of Alvaro, as the slave 
 always slept in the antechamber, and was 
 positive he fastened the door that night. 
 It was evident some one had been there 
 to do the bloody deed, but who that was, 
 was the question which no person could 
 solve. In vain we examined every inha- 
 bitant of the castle, or raised one conjecv 
 
 ture
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 39 
 
 ture after another, in vain we endeavoured 
 to fathom the mystery ; for the more we 
 attempted to elucidate the matter, the 
 more inexplicable it seemed. All the ac- 
 count the slave could give was, that he 
 entered his master's chamber early in the 
 morning, as usual; but on opening the 
 door, and seeing the horrid sight, he in- 
 stantly ran with terror to me. 
 
 Thus we were kept in agonizing igno- 
 rance, thus we were doomed to watch and 
 pray for the recovery of my poor, almost 
 murdered Alvaro. That some enemy had 
 been there, could not be denied ; but how 
 did he escape? None could tell. 
 
 My father wisely determined not to 
 leave Alvaro till he was restored, or laid 
 in the peaceful grave, and we watched in 
 his apartment night and day, ordering a 
 guard on duty in the antechamber. 
 
 " Would to God," said my father, " we 
 had taken these precautions twelve hours 
 sooner! but man was not created to see 
 into futurity: born in ignorance, and blind- 
 ed
 
 40 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 ed by error, he stumbles on through life, 
 nor views things as he should, till he opens 
 his eyes in eternity ; though if he was 
 gifted with foresight, his case would be 
 more pitiable still ; for the few evils which 
 he might be able to avert, would not com- 
 pensate for the misery of seeing beforehand 
 what he was doomed to suffer. Yet man 
 will sometimes dare to arraign the wisdom 
 of his Creator — and after all his murmur- 
 in gs, is compelled to acknowledge the de- 
 crees of Omnipotence are just." 
 
 " I cannot here subscribe to your grace's 
 opinion," I observed — " for I cannot think 
 it right, that so noble-hearted a man as 
 my friend should suffer as he has done." 
 
 " In our finite view of things, it is not," 
 replied the duke ; " but who knows, whe- 
 ther these trials are not sent to prove the 
 faith and fortitude of the afflicted ?" 
 
 It was on the third day after the catas- 
 trophe, that we were thus moralizing, 
 when Alvaro discovered some signs of 
 sense — and taking me by the hand as I 
 
 was
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 41 
 
 was sitting by the bedside, said—" I hope, 
 Acasto, I shall not die of these wounds ?" 
 
 " I hope not, my friend," I replied. 
 ,. *f There would be something ignomi- 
 nious in such a death," he observed. 
 
 " I hope you will be spared to us many 
 years," was my answer ; but without no- 
 ticing what I said, he continued—" There 
 would be something in it far dififerent to 
 falling in the fiel^i of J^Jtleji covered with 
 glory!" V./.^ . -. 
 
 The duke came round to the bedside, 
 saying — " My dear adopted son, if your 
 recollection will enable you, do inform us 
 how this dreadful affair happened." 
 
 Alvaro was going to speak, when the 
 surgeon entered and forbade all further 
 conversation. Thus our hopes were raised, 
 but not satisfied. Though we could not 
 gain the intelligence we wished, yet the 
 probability of my friend's recovery gave 
 us new life ; the little show of his return- 
 ing reason animated us all to such a de- 
 gree^ ,4); ,< was difficult to tell which felt 
 
 most,
 
 42 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 most, tHe duke, the slave, or myself. Mu- 
 ley, the slave, capered about the room, 
 prostrated himself at the feet of the duke, 
 ran and kneeled by the side of the bed — 
 kissed the hand of Alvaro, saying — " Ah, 
 my massa will live, my massa tell you me 
 no kill him! No, no, Muley will die^- 
 massa live !" meaning he was ready to die 
 for his master. 
 
 The surgeon, seeing his tumultuous joy, 
 said, he must order him out of the room ; 
 but Muley replied — " No, no, me leave 
 my massa, me die ; me no kill my massa ; 
 me no speak any more !" Then sitting down 
 at the feet of the bed, seemed afraid to 
 breathe, lest he should disturb his beloved 
 master. 
 
 The conduct of this faithfully-attached 
 creature was most exemplary — for he had 
 never ceased to watch by the side of his 
 master's pillow, nor could he be persuaded 
 to take either food or rest ; and when I 
 offered him any kind of nourishment, he 
 would say — " No, me no eat ; massa die, 
 
 Muley
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 43 
 
 Muley die !" intimating he would starve 
 himself in ease of his master's death. 
 
 I now entreated him to take a little 
 wine, which was the first thing the worthy 
 creature had tasted since the horrid tran- 
 saction took place, and insisted on him 
 retiring to rest; but he said — " No, me 
 joy now, me no sleep" — meaning he could 
 not sleep for joy. 
 
 Credulity itself could not harbour a sus- 
 picious thought against Muley, his con- 
 duct was so opposite to that of a guilty 
 one ; for the duke had tried to persuade 
 him to cross the Strait, and go into 
 Africa, to inform the friends of Alvaro of 
 his danger, or to go to the court of Spain, 
 with intelligence for the minister, think- 
 ing, if Muley was guilty, he would gladly 
 accept one of these missions, in order that 
 he might make his escape; but he con- 
 stantly replied — " No, me no leave my 
 massa ; if massa die, Muley die — if my 
 massa live, den me go all over de world 
 for you, but me no leave him now." 
 
 « This
 
 44 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 " This untaught slave," said I to the duke, 
 " is an example for princes to copy after : 
 without instruction, without the know- 
 ledge of any God, save Mars, he is pos- 
 sessed of every amiable quality that can 
 adorn the man of birth, fortune, and edu- 
 cation: he would scorn to be guilty of 
 the base acts committed every day by men 
 of science, and is a reproach to sovereigns, 
 princes, statesmen, and generals ! Had I a 
 fellow-creature to bring up, I would rear 
 him in the simple ignorance of this faith- 
 ful black, this untaught African." 
 
 " And keep him without the know- 
 ledge of a supreme being ?" said the duke. 
 
 " Man will not be punished for sins of 
 ignorance," I replied, " provided he has 
 not slighted an opportunity of gaining 
 information, but for the sin of doing 
 wrong when he knows how to act right." 
 
 " Granted," said the duke ; " but allow- 
 ing an enlightened man to transgress to 
 the utmost of his ability, may he not live 
 
 to
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 45 
 
 to repent — may he not find mercy at the 
 eleventh hour ?" 
 
 " He may,'' I answered ; " but I should 
 be loth to try the experiment — I should 
 be loth to have the doom of many well- 
 educated villains, whose repentance, per- 
 haps, may come too late — whose whole 
 lives have been wasted in injuring their 
 fellow-creatures— whose faculties have been 
 exerted to the utmost stretch to do evil ; 
 who like many priests I have met with, 
 know how to do good, but will not prac- 
 tise it ; and then depend on a deathbed 
 repentance to wash their crimes away !" 
 
 " You go too far," said the duke — " it 
 is not for us to solve this subject ; for the 
 only pattern which human nature ought 
 to follow, has forbidden us to pick the 
 lock where God has allowed no key ! Say 
 not, my son, who shall ascend into hea- 
 ven, nor who shall descend into the deep ; 
 depend on the great sufficiency of the 
 Redeemer, and rest assured that all may 
 be saved if they will ; and those who are 
 
 eternally
 
 46 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 eternally lost, will have the bitter reflec- 
 tion, that it was their own choice." 
 
 " That makes me think," said I, " that 
 the fate of this uninformed, unsophisti- 
 cated, honest black, will be more prefer- 
 able to " 
 
 Alvaro interrupted me by exclaiming 
 — " The Mask, the Mask !" 
 
 The electnc shock these words gave us, 
 can hardly be imagined — for they con- 
 vinced us the intellects of Alvaro were 
 affected ; and the duke, seating himself by 
 the bedside, said — " JVIy poor boy ! his 
 imagination is wandering back to the scene 
 in the wood, where he saved my life, and 
 nearly lost his own !" 
 
 " Will these wounds be my last ?" asked 
 Alvaro. 
 
 " I hope they will," replied my father ; 
 " but I hope they will not be your end." 
 
 My friend shook his head, and remained 
 silent I knew what was passing in his 
 mind ; I knew the nobleness of his nature 
 to be such, that he scorned to die by the 
 
 hand
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 47 
 
 hand of an assassin. I kneeled by the 
 side of his bed, put up a silent, fervent 
 prayer for his recovery, which he observ- 
 ing, said — '^ I feel as if I should be re- 
 stored to you." 
 
 The surgeon, feeling his pulse, pro- 
 nounced him much better. 
 
 " You mean to flatter us," said I — " for 
 if my friend is better, vi^hy is his mind 
 more disturbed ?" 
 
 " That is not the case," replied the doc- 
 tor ; " and if my patient will promise to 
 talk moderately, I have no objection to 
 his holding a little conversation with you 
 now." 
 
 The duke shook the surgeon by the 
 hand, saying — " You should have imposed 
 moderation upon me, for I scarcely know 
 how to conduct myself with prudence." 
 
 I still had my doubts, fearing the doctor 
 was mistaken. Muley was almost frantic 
 T^ith joy, gave the surgeon a hearty hug, 
 ran and seated himself on the floor, saying 
 — " Now, massa, you tell me no kill you." 
 
 Is
 
 4i^ THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 " Is it possible you imagine I karbour 
 such a thought of you, my faithful fellow ?" 
 asked Alvaro. '' So far from it, I am cer- 
 tain, could your own life have prevented 
 these unfriendly stabs, I should not have 
 received one of them. What demon has 
 possessed thine honest soul, to make thee 
 harbour such a monstrous thought of thine 
 unfortunate master? Well am I assured, 
 if my friend Muley had been present, the 
 dagger of the assassin must have entered 
 his heart ere it had pierced me !" 
 
 Muley, in rapture, kissed his master's 
 hand, saying — " Oh, massa, me love you 
 very big much ; me live, now you live ; 
 me die, when you die !" 
 
 With admiration we beheld this pure 
 child of nature, this perfect stranger to 
 dissimulation. "What a contrast to the 
 sycophantic courtier, to the deceptive, false 
 friend! Again I inwardly sighed with 
 regret, that such an instance of fidelity 
 should so rarely be found in the more po- 
 lished circles of society. Before I had 
 
 time
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 49 
 
 time to moralize longer on the subject, 
 the duke desired my friend to give us the 
 information we so much wished. 
 
 " I will tell you," said he, " all I can re- 
 collect. — On that memorable night when 
 I had been giving you some account of 
 my family, we separated in higher spirits 
 than usual, and I immediately retired to 
 bed, but not to sleep; for the kind con- 
 descension of the duke, in proposing to 
 visit my native shore, was too pleasing a 
 theme to suffer me to give way to so dull 
 a god as Somnus. I had lain some hours, 
 anticipating the happy future, when I 
 suddenly felt a cold hand on my face, but 
 heard not the least noise, and starting up, 
 beheld by the light of the lamp pendent 
 in my apartment, the same brazen-masked 
 figure we encountered in the forest. He 
 was enveloped in a long black cloak, with 
 a large plume of black feathers in his hat 
 — his face concealed by a brazen mask, 
 whilst a dagger gleamed in his right hand. 
 A violent scuffle ensued ; for though uri- 
 
 VOL. I. D armed.
 
 50 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 armed, I determined to sell my life as 
 dearly as possible. I wrestled with him, 
 notwithstanding he had several times stab- 
 bed me ; and having obtained possession 
 of the poniard, plunged it into his body, 
 when, owing to loss of blood, I fell ; yet 
 by what means he gained entrance, or 
 how he made his escape, seemed to me in- 
 explicable. I called several times to Mu- 
 ley, but suppose the poor fellow was too 
 deeply buried in sleep to hear; and being 
 faint from loss of blood, all recollection 
 entirely forsook me." 
 
 The consternation Alvaro's account of 
 the assassin threw us into was great in- 
 deed, for we were as much in the dark as 
 ever. 
 
 " It is plain," said the duke, " that your 
 enemy and mine must be the same per- 
 son; but have you no idea who it is?" 
 
 *' None in the least," answered Alvaro ; 
 " but I am certain he is somebody of con- 
 sequence, from his demeanour, and from 
 his cloak flying open in the scuffle, that 
 
 gave
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 51 
 
 gave me a momentary view of his person, 
 which was richly attired." 
 
 " How happens it," asked the duke, 
 " that my son, Acasto, has escaped the 
 malice of this inveterate, unknown foe?" 
 
 " Your question is easily answered," re- 
 plied my friend ; " for you must recollect 
 Acasto was some distance behind us when 
 the Brazen Mask attacked you in the fo- 
 rest, and probably I incurred his displea- 
 sure by frustrating his evil intentions to- 
 wards you. It is not likely that he has 
 any greater friendship for Acasto than he 
 has for you or me; but circumstances have 
 not yel thrown him within his power ; for 
 he who is the enemy of one, must be the 
 enemy of the other two, as one soul seems 
 to influence all three of us." 
 
 " You are right," said the duke ; " and 
 I tremble alike for both my sons." 
 
 " I will go," said I, " to court, and lay 
 the matter before the king." 
 
 " By no means," exclaimed my father ; 
 
 " you may be attacked on the road by our 
 
 D 2 inveterate 
 
 UBRARY 
 
 UN'VFPSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 52 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 inveterate foe, when his aim may be more 
 sure than it has been against Alvaro and 
 myself. Why should I be deprived of 
 the best of sons, and brought down to the 
 grave in sorrow ?" 
 
 t " Oh, my father," said I, " teach me 
 how to act, and I will obey." .:> ^m s^i v 
 y " Promise me then," he answered, " to 
 quit Spain, with Alvaro, immediately." 
 
 " What, and leave you behind ?" I 
 asked. 
 
 " It must be so," observed the duke. 
 
 « ;No — never," was my answer. 
 
 « No — never," echoed Alvaro — " never 
 will we leave our more than father behind 
 us!" 
 
 " My children," said the duke, " you 
 distress me exceedingly ; but it must be 
 as I at first proposed, for your lives are in 
 hourly danger; and our measures must be 
 prompt, as we have no time to lose. Be- 
 lieve me, I shall cherish with pleasing 
 fondness the remembrance of your affec- 
 tionate
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 53 
 
 tionate zeal towards me, and hope we 
 shall meet in happier times." 
 10 " I will never leave my honoured fa- 
 ther, exposed to the midnight assassin's 
 dagger," I replied. 
 
 " Acasto," said the duke, " you never 
 gave me cause to be seriously angry with 
 you, and will you do it now ? My life 
 hangs upon yours, and at such a time as 
 this, shall Acasto's father sue, and will he 
 refuse him ?" 
 
 ** Your eloquence is such, that if it were 
 possible, you would persuade us to aban- 
 don you," observed Alvaro. 
 
 " I will consent to go any where your 
 €xcellence pleases to appoint," I answered, 
 " provided you will accompany us." 
 
 *' That is impossible," replied the duke ; 
 " for you know my military avocations at 
 this time require my presence here." 
 
 " And here," said I, " you will fall be- 
 neath the poniard of our secret enemy." 
 
 My father was going to urge something 
 
 further on the subject, when a messenger 
 
 D 3 arrived
 
 54 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 arrived from court, with dispatches from 
 the king, informing us that Sebastian had 
 been beset by banditti, and seriously 
 wounded ; at the same time conveying a 
 sarcastic message from donna Isidore, 
 thanking me for the frequent visits I had 
 lately paid her. I had been betrothed 
 from infancy to this lady, who was of high 
 birth, possessed of immense wealth, a fine 
 figure, a tolerable share of beauty, a great 
 stock of pride, and a tyrannical temper ; 
 such was the wife, my father and the 
 king, who had my interest much at heart, 
 had chosen for me. It must be confessed, 
 I bad not been the most attentive lover in 
 the world, and certainly had given the 
 lady some little cause of complaint; for 
 supposing she must inevitably be mine, I 
 did not think it necessary to trouble my 
 head about her ; — such are the ill elBPects 
 arising from parents betrothing their chil- 
 dren in infancy! But to return. The 
 duke had no sooner read the dispatches 
 from the king, than he changed his mind 
 
 respecting
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 55 
 
 respecting my quitting Spain, saying — 
 " It must be as you wish, Acasto, about 
 your going to Madrid ; for you shall im- 
 mediately return with the messenger, ac- 
 companied by a strong guard; but, re*- 
 member, I expect your compliance when 
 you return to our castle, should I deem it 
 unsafe for you to remain here." 
 
 Glad on any terms to avoid being sent 
 out of the country which contained my 
 father, and having made him promise that 
 Alvaro, who was fast recovering, should 
 remain with him, for I knew he would 
 preserve the duke's life at the expence of 
 his own, I gave my word of honour that 
 I would comply. 
 
 \ " Perhaps," said my father, " such a 
 step may be unnecessary; for, from the 
 tenour of his majesty's letter, I rather 
 think your nuptials with the lady Isidora 
 will shortly take place ; and in that case, 
 your residence will be fixed at Madrid ; 
 for as you will be mostly about the person 
 iinim Ui D 4 . of
 
 bQ THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 of the king, I shall then think you per- 
 fectly safe." 
 
 "^ "Then you think there is no safety but 
 in the chains of matrimony ?" said I smi- 
 ling. 
 
 " I certainly do think a good wife an 
 excellent gift," replied my father ; " I cer- 
 tainly do think there is safety for a young 
 man in the arms of a beautiful woman, 
 who he can with honour look upon and 
 say, she is mine. — What is your opinion, 
 Alvaro ?" 
 
 " Heaven bless the ladies !" said he, 
 laughing, " I am in love with the whole 
 sex, and adore them all alike ! but I never 
 J^et saw the one who could so far take 
 possession of my heart, as to make me ex- 
 clude all the rest, and give up my liberty 
 to her sovereign will." 
 
 " I have applied to a pretty counsellor," 
 answered the duke ; " but if Acasto cannot 
 love a fine woman, he is not a chip off the 
 old block." 
 
 " I admire the ladies," said I, "as much 
 
 as
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 57 
 
 as any man, and acknowledge that wives 
 are necessary evils, though I do not see 
 any urgent reasons for taking one imme- 
 diately ; and as I can have donna Isidora 
 at any time, I think I might enjoy my li- 
 berty a little longer." 
 
 ** There lies your mistake," observed 
 my father ; " you think, because you and 
 Isidora are betrothed to each other, you 
 can marry her ten or twenty years hence ; 
 whereas, the lady's patience is now almost 
 exhausted, owing to the undeserved ne- 
 glect you have treated her with. You 
 do not prefer any other woman, and yet 
 will not behave towards her with common 
 attention : however, if it is the wish of the 
 king, and the lady will comply, remember 
 I anticipate no backwardness on your 
 part, Acasto, but shall be glad for the ce- 
 remony to take place as soon as possible." 
 
 My father looked rather grave at the 
 conclusion of this speech, yet on my as- * 
 suring him he should have no cause of 
 D 5 complaint
 
 58 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 complaint on my account, be regiained hfs" ' 
 usual placidity. 
 
 Alvaro was much amused with the pre- 
 dicament I was placed in, and gaily wish- 
 ed me joy, desiring me to send him a true 
 account of the miseries of matrimony, as 
 well as its joys, that he might weigh both 
 before he ventured on the fatal leap. 
 
 " Not quite so fast, my friend," said I>^^ 
 " recollect I am not tied up yet; and peri" 
 haps the lady will be so kind as not to 
 have me." 
 
 " But suppose she should be so cruel as 
 to say she will have you, whatwill Acasto 
 do then ?" asked my friend. 
 
 " Try to make her the best husband in 
 the world," I replied. 
 
 " Well answered, boy !" said the duke, 
 clapping me on the shoulder ; " keep to 
 that determination, and the remainder of 
 my life will be spent in happiness." 
 
 The next morning, my retinue being 
 in waiting, I took leave of my father and 
 my friend, which threw a little damp over 
 
 my
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK, 59 
 
 my spirits ; but the lively sallies of Al- 
 varo, who still bantered me with my pros- 
 pect of happiness, as be called it, soon 
 chased the gloom away, and I departed in 
 a tolerable merr}^ mood, considering I was 
 going to shackle myself with the bonds of 
 wedlock, sorely against my will. 
 
 Not any thing occurred worthy of no- 
 tice during my journey, and I arrived 
 safely at INIadrid. I repaired immediately 
 to the Escurial, where his majesty received 
 me as if I had been his son, so pleased 
 was he with my unexpected appearance; 
 for he had no idea I should return with 
 the messenger. vrn bodar 
 
 " This looks well," said his majesty, 
 " and may do more in your favour than 
 all my rhetoric ; for, I assure you, donna 
 Isidora is in the dumps, and the queen 
 mudi incensed against you ; for you are 
 aware she will resent any slight committed 
 against her niece Isidora; and you know 
 likewise, that Isabella's will has always 
 been mine^" 
 
 D 6 This
 
 60 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 This I knew, to my sorrow; for it was 
 the queen who first proposed this alliance, 
 and who governed the king with despotic 
 sway. 
 
 " I hope," said I, " the ladies will par- 
 don me when they hear my defence ; but 
 I dare not encounter the storm till your 
 majesty has informed them of my arrival, 
 and prepared the way for my admission." 
 
 The king laughed at the scrape I had 
 brought myself into, promising me his as- 
 sistance. — " While I go and break the ice 
 for you," said he, " I will send you a 
 companion, no other than Sebastian, our 
 kinsman, w ho is recovered of the salute 
 w^hich the banditti gave him in the forest, 
 and is now at court on a visit." 
 
 I was surprised at this intelligence; 
 and the king leaving the apartment, im- 
 mediately sent in Sebastian, who anxious- 
 ly inquired after the duke and Alvaro. 
 
 I related to him the unfortunate occur- 
 rence of my friend being almost murdered 
 by an unknown hand, and was surprised 
 
 to
 
 THE bra5:en mask. 61 
 
 to find^ on further conversation, that it 
 took place on the same night on which 
 Sebastian had been beset by banditti. 
 
 " Depend upon it," said Sebastian, 
 "that some one is determined to extirpate 
 our race, and the matter must be laid be- 
 fore the king, or rather before the queen, 
 for you know she governs the state." 
 
 " So much the worse forme," said I.- 
 ijicHis majesty coming in at that mo- 
 ment, prevented me from finishing my 
 sentence. — " I am sorry to be the herald 
 of bad news," said he, " but the ladies are 
 inexorable : the queen refuses to see you 
 till you have made your peace with Isi- 
 dora, who refuses to see you at all. Isidora 
 desires me ttf say, that as you have stayed 
 away to please yourself, you may now stay 
 away to please her." 
 
 " So !" said I ; " what is to be done?" 
 
 " Take the lady by storm," answered 
 Sebastian ; " for, depend on it, she will be 
 won no other way. Women are such ca- 
 pricious creatures, that if they have much 
 
 of
 
 62 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 of their own will, there is no knowin^'to 
 what excess their folly may lead them." 
 
 " Hold ! hold !" cried the king ; " you 
 must not be too severe against them ; for, 
 in my opinion, the more a woman is 
 thwarted, the more refractory she will 
 prove ; and am certain there is no possi- 
 bility of a>a(iiagmg Uiem, but by f^^^ 
 means." -^:*rj^ro p ter^ o>(f5rff (lew bne ' :>uo 
 
 "J know your majesty speaks from ex- 
 perience," answered Sebastian, with a 
 smile ; "but rest assured, if I had married 
 queen Isabella herself, I would have made 
 her know that I was her lord and master." 
 
 The king shook his head, saying—" You s 
 speak like an inexperienced, unmarried 
 man ; but I shall probably live to see you 
 thrust your head into the noose, when I 
 hope you will be the most complete hen- 
 pecked husband upon earth." 
 
 " Thank you for your good wishes," 
 said Sebastian, bowing low ; " but if they 
 are ever verified, LJtnow little of my awn 
 resolution." ^-hf ^^ ) "^^mr" 
 
 " Time
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 65 
 
 "Time will prove," replied the king; 
 " and I only wish your lady may be a se- 
 cond Isidora, who, you know, has not yet 
 learned the lesson of submission." 
 
 " But I would soon teach it her," said 
 Sebastian : " as to Acasto, he will make 
 the worst tutor in the world ; he will in- 
 dulge that woman till she tears his eyes 
 out ; and will make her a greater tyrant 
 than her own violent temper, and the par- 
 tiality of the queen, put together." 
 
 " Pray stay," said I, " till you are worth 
 a mistress of your own, and manage her 
 as well as you can ; but prithee let mine 
 alone, for every ill-natured expression you 
 make about Isidora I deem pointed at 
 myself." ^ ^»^^ 
 
 *' Oh, thou spiritless, good-natured, 
 complaisant slave !" said Sebastian, laugh- 
 ing ; " I wish the lady may wring your 
 ears the first time you venture into her 
 presence." 
 
 " Remember, it may be your turn some 
 time," observed the king ; " but to put a 
 
 stop
 
 64 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 stop to this wrangling about the ladies, I 
 beg your attendance in my closet, Acasto, 
 and advise our kinsman to retire to his, to 
 con over by heart a lesson on patience ; for 
 if I mistake not, he will some day or other 
 stand in need of it." 
 
 " If that is to be the subject," answered 
 Sebastian, "I shall make a very dull scholar, 
 but promise to do my best ;" and rising, 
 left the room. 
 
 His majesty led the way to his closet, 
 where I followed him, wondering what 
 he could have to communicate which need- 
 ed privacy. On entering, he took my 
 hand, saying — " My friend and kinsman, 
 you know I have the match between you 
 and Isidora much at heart, and wished to 
 speak a few words with you in private, 
 fearing Sebastian may mislead you by 
 wrong advice. You know I have no issue, 
 but look upon you and Isidora as the in- 
 heritors of my wealth and crown, provided 
 this marriage takes place; yet you have 
 exceedingly perplexed me with your inat- 
 tention
 
 '^HE BRAZEN MASK. 65 
 
 tention to the lady. You must acknow- 
 ledge she is a fine woman ; and, saving a 
 little flaw in her temper, is unexception- 
 able in every other respect. You have not 
 only wounded the pride of your mistress, 
 but incurred the displeasure of the queen, 
 who cannot brook an insult offered to her 
 darling; and I have given you this short 
 lecture to prevent your adopting Sebas- 
 tian's advice ; for, take my word for it, 
 neither Isabella, nor Isidora, will be ma- 
 naged that way." 
 
 The king had lectured me more on the 
 subject than I expected, considering the 
 mildness of his disposition; but I saw his 
 motive was good, and respected him the 
 more for it, promising to be guided entire- 
 ly by him ; and related the circumstances 
 of my father being attacked in the forest, 
 when my friend saved his life, by receiving 
 the poniard in his own breast ; and like- 
 wise of the attempt afterwards made on 
 the life of Alvaro, in our castle, by some 
 secret enemy, 
 
 « Indeed,"
 
 66 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 "Indeed," said the king, "this infor- 
 mation alarms me excessively; I must 
 hasten to the queen, to see what can be 
 done. That African is a brave fellow. 
 Why did not you inform me of these tran- 
 sactions sooner?'' 
 
 " Because his life was despaired of, and 
 I could not persuade myself to leave him 
 while there was danger," I replied, " which 
 was the reason of my seeming neglect." 
 
 " True, true," observed his majesty ; 
 " you have some excuse now ; and I will 
 endeavour to turn it to your advantage : 
 in the mean time retire to rest — try to re- 
 cover the fatigues of your journey, and I 
 will give you audience in the morning." 
 So saying, he shook me cordially by the 
 hand, when v/e separated for the night. 
 
 I could say of our king what could be 
 said of very few kings — that he was a 
 good-hearted man ; and if he acted wron^* 
 it was not from any evil inclinations of his 
 own, but from a too complying disposi^ 
 tion, and owing to the dictates of the 
 
 queen.
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 6T 
 
 queen, whose influence over him was un- 
 bounded. 
 
 My reflections during the night were 
 not of the most pleasing kind, for I was 
 uneasy on account of my father and my 
 friend, besides being mortified at the re- 
 pulse I had met with from my fair tyrant, 
 nor could I entirely free myself from 
 blame. I arose early in the morning un- 
 refreshed, and strolled into the garden$, 
 which possessed all that art and nature 
 could combine, to make them enchanting. 
 I had not wandered long, before I espied 
 Isidora at a window, in conversation with 
 the king and queen. I immediately made 
 my obeisance, but had the mortification to 
 see the ladies turn scornfully away> and 
 disappear. 
 
 It is customary in Spain for the inhabi- 
 tants to rise early, and retire during the 
 heat of the day to take a siesta, or, what 
 is vulgarly called in England, a nod after 
 dinner. 
 
 The king shortly after joined me in the 
 
 garden.
 
 68 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 garden. When the first salutations had 
 passed, I inquired after the health of her 
 majesty. 
 
 " She is well," he replied. 
 ^>^i^ And the lady Isidora ?" said I. 
 ^ .^^ Still inflexible," he answered. " The 
 queen is not pleased at your making a* 
 friend of an African, and is uneasy at the 
 strange occurrences which have taken place "^ 
 in your family. Isidora allows you hav^ 
 some little excuse for your late conduct/^ 
 though she will not exonerate you till she 
 knows the whole particulars, but will not 
 condescend to see you." 
 
 " How then am I to clear myself?** I 
 asked, (to aasniafisiio oiom \)I&1 1 ./bdmh 
 
 " That is what puzzles me," answered * 
 my royal counsellor. " A sudden thought 
 has struck me, which is this: — you shall;, 
 write to her, and try to soften her, beforey^ 
 an interview takes place." >fi "wonjf 
 
 I was pleased with this proposal, anct^i 
 composed the most ardent, submissive epis- 
 tle I was capable of, entreating to be admit- 
 ted
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 69 
 
 ted ta her presence; which the king having 
 read and approved, We sent it by the hand 
 of one of her pages, anxiously waiting the 
 result. We were not kept long in sus- 
 pense, for the page came to us in a few mi- 
 nutes, with the letter in his hand, saying, 
 his mistress, on hearing who it came from, 
 had returned it unopened ! This was a 
 blow I did not expect — this was a vexa- 
 tion I was not prepared for ; and even his 
 majesty was more ruffled at it than I had 
 ever seen him before. 
 
 While I looked upon Isidora as mine, I 
 never troubled my head about her; but 
 soon as I saw there was a chance of losing 
 the lady, I felt more uneasiness on her ac- 
 count than I thought myself capable of. 
 
 Sebastian joined us, and seeing my cha- 
 grin, was highly diverted, saying — " I tell 
 you what, neither you nor his majesty 
 know how to manage this gipsy of a wo- 
 man, therefore it remains for me to instruct 
 you." fia^inB:i^(Jmi 
 
 Jxffffif.^ 07 mita-^ "And 
 
 bar,
 
 70 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 "And pray," said I, " how am I to pro- 
 ceed?" 
 
 " Run away with her to-night, marry 
 her to-morrow, and lock her up for the re- 
 mainder of her Hfe," replied my instructor. 
 
 " That is impossible," observed the 
 king ; " she is too strongly guarded." 
 
 Rage succeeded mortification. I raved 
 — stormed — swore everlasting hatred to 
 the whole sex — vowed not to stay another 
 hour in Madrid, and ordered my vassals to 
 prepare for my immediate departure to 
 the province of Andalusia. I knew not 
 whether my feelings could be said to arise 
 from love, or hatred ; for I was almost dri- 
 ven to madness. The king soothed me — 
 Sebastian rallied me, saying — " Would I 
 fly from a weak, capricious woman ? No ; 
 I would stay, and make her tremble at the 
 sound of my footstep ; I should glory in 
 taming such a shrew." 
 
 " And so will I," was my reply ; " I will 
 see her, or perish in the attempt." 
 
 One of my servants came to say, my re- 
 tinue
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 71 
 
 tinue was ready to depart — " Then tell 
 them to ride to the devil," T exclaimed, 
 " and take the lady Isidora with them." 
 
 The man stood seemingly petrified. 
 
 " Acasto," said his majesty, " this con- 
 duct ill befits the duke of Andalusia's son; 
 you certainly must be mad." 
 
 " I know that," said I ; " but mad or 
 not, I am determined to see Isidora, let 
 what will be the consequence." 
 
 " Bravo !" exclaimed Sebastian ; " this 
 is acting like a man." 
 
 I said no more, but rushed up a flight 
 of steps to the apartment where Isidora 
 was, for as it was by this time midday, I 
 knew she would be found in her retiring- 
 room. It was a spacious alcove, built of 
 the whitest marble. A range of Corin- 
 thian columns, of the same beautiful mar- 
 ble, inlaid with gold, supported the roof; 
 the windows were shaded from the heat 
 of the sun by a green lattice-work, through 
 which the most delightful flowers peeped, 
 and seemed to invite their mistress's hand 
 
 to
 
 72 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 to pluck them, that they might have the- 
 felicity of expiring on her bosom. There 
 were six marble vases of the purest white, 
 ornamented with gold, filled with the 
 most exquisite perfumes ; besides twelve 
 marble and gold stands, supporting the^ 
 choicest fruits and flowers. At the upper 
 end were six marble steps, on the top of 
 which stood a couch covered with white 
 satin and gold fringe, to correspond with 
 the interior of this unparalleled retreat, 
 where lay reclined the arbitress of my fate. 
 She had a book in her hand, and was 
 clothed in a thin blue robe, girt round the 
 waist with a band of pearls, her hair be- 
 ing ornamented with pearls likewise. At 
 each end of the sofa stood an African fe- 
 male slave, clad in white, who alternately a 
 fanned their mistress to keep off the mos- * 
 chettos, which are very troublesome in that 
 country. 
 
 I leaned against one of the pillars, which 
 concealed me for some time, in order to 
 recover from the agitation which I was in ; 
 
 but
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 7S 
 
 but one of the slaves presently espied me, 
 who shrieking, pointed to the spot. 
 
 ** Heavens !" exclaimed Isidora ; " what 
 bold intruder is that ?" 
 
 " 'Tis I," was my answer, coming from 
 my conceaMent, and bending one knee. 
 
 " Oh, you, is it ?" the lady asked, with 
 tantalizing scorn, again reading in the 
 book which she held in her hand. 
 
 After a pause of some time — " Madam !" 
 said I. 
 
 '* Sir !'* she replied, and read on. 
 
 '* Isidora !" I exclaimed. 
 
 " Acasto !" answered the lady, again 
 casting her eyes on the book. 
 
 " Heavens, madam, this is too much !" 
 I vociferated ; " this is more than mortal 
 man can bear — this indifference drives me 
 to very madness !" 
 
 " Tell my people," said she, turning to 
 one of her slaves, " to take that maniac, 
 and bind him." 
 
 " Donna Isidora," said I, " is it for this 
 I have so long tried to obtain an inter- 
 
 VOL. I. E view
 
 74 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 view with you ? is it for such treatment 
 as this I have ventured unbidden into 
 your presence, and risked incurring the 
 displeasure of the queen ?" 
 
 " Indeed it is," was her answer. 
 
 " Cruel, unfeeling woman !" escaped my 
 lips. 
 
 " Pray, sir," asked the lady, " what is 
 your request ?" 
 
 '• To beg you will hear my defence," I 
 answered. 
 
 " Begin, sir — I am all attention," said 
 my beautiful tyrant. * 
 
 " ]My seeming neglect has been occa- 
 sioned by an attempt which was made on 
 the life of my much-valued father," I 
 stammered out, " whose life was preserved 
 by a justly-esteemed friend receiving the 
 dagger in his own breast. Had this friend 
 been a stranger, common humanity, join- 
 ed with gratitude, would have made me 
 w atch by his couch till his recovery ; but 
 as it was the friend of my heart, I leave 
 you to judge of my feelings. He was not 
 
 recovered
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 75 
 
 recovered of his wounds — he had scarcely 
 gained a small portion of strength, so as 
 to enable him to sit up, ere he was again 
 attacked, and almost murdered by the 
 same mysterious assassin. In vain we en- 
 deavoured to elucidate the matter, and 
 our time was spent in anxious watchings 
 by the side of this unfortunate sufferer. 
 He is not now entirely out of danger, yet 
 I have left him to the care of my father. 
 and have travelled post to Madrid, to face 
 my offended Isidora, and assure her my 
 negligence has not been wilful, but from 
 untoward circumstances." 
 
 " All that you offer as an excuse I wil- 
 lingly accept," she replied, " and should 
 have commended you, had you slighted 
 me for years, provided the danger of your 
 father's life, or that of your friend, had 
 been the cccasion of it ; but there is one 
 part of the business you have forgotten to 
 clear up, therefore I beg you will answer 
 me two questions ; the first is, how long 
 E 2 is
 
 76 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 is it gince the duke was attacked in the 
 
 forest?" 
 
 ^, I answered — " Six weeks." 
 
 I " The second question is," said the lady, 
 
 " what engaged your attention for above 
 
 four months previous to that circumstance 
 
 taking place ?" 
 
 I was too confounded to make an an- 
 swer, and stood playing with the feathers 
 in my hat, which I held in my hand as 
 though I did not hear her, when she again 
 repeated the question. 
 
 I coughed, stammered, and replied — 
 '' Nothing." 
 
 " Oh, nothing!" repeated the lady; 
 '? then as you have forsaken me for no- 
 thing, to nothing you may return." 
 
 If the marble floor on which I stood 
 had given way and closed over me for 
 ever, I should have been thankful; but 
 there was nowhere for me to hide my 
 head, for she had condemned me out of 
 my own mouth, and I stood the statue of 
 
 confusion*
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 77 
 
 confusion, when the king and queen en- 
 tered, to witness my perplexity. 
 
 The fact was, I had been so happy in 
 the society of my friend Alvaro, that I 
 had not for several months bestowed a 
 thought upon my mistress, who had ques- 
 tioned me so artfully, that I had tacitly 
 acknowledged the truth. 
 
 " Well," said the king, " I hope as my 
 adopted children have met, that an under- 
 standing has taken place." 
 
 " Oh yes !" observed the lady, " we 
 understand each other perfectly, I assure 
 you ; and what does your majesty suppose 
 is the reason which my faithful swain gives 
 for having forsaken me for the last six 
 months?" 
 
 " I cannot tell," answered the king. 
 jo^< ^{jihing^' replied my fair tormentor, 
 laughing. 
 
 " A weighty reason, certainly," observed 
 the king. 
 
 The queen cast a contemptuous smile 
 
 at me, and a loud laugh burst from be- 
 
 E 3 hind
 
 78 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 hind one of the pillars, when Sebastian 
 came forward, convulsed with mirth. 
 
 r I bit my lips, and thought I should 
 have sunk with vexation, but could not 
 offer one syllable to extricate me out of 
 the mortifying situation I had plunged 
 myself into. 
 
 " How happens it, niece," asked her 
 majesty, " that you have changed your re- 
 solution, and permitted this gentleman to 
 have an interview with you ?" 
 
 " I did not grant him that liberty," re- 
 plied Isidora ; " but he thought proper to 
 enter unbidden, which I am not sorry for 
 now, because he has confessed that I am 
 of as much consequence to him as — no- 
 thing'* 
 
 " Come, come," said the king, " you 
 must forgive him : consider the most per- 
 fect of us are not infallible, for every lover 
 has some time or other given his mistress 
 cause of anger." 
 
 " If I must pardon him, I can assure 
 
 your
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 79 
 
 your majesty it will not be at present," 
 replied this haughty woman. 
 jyfVOh," said Sebastian, " if I had you to 
 manage, donna, I should act very diffe- 
 rently to what that poor fellow does, who 
 stands trembling there; I would make 
 
 you know " 
 
 jol^ I: will thank Sebastian to retire," in- 
 terrupted the lady, " and when I need 
 his interference, he will be sent for." 
 
 ** Withdraw !" said the queen, speaking 
 in the imperative mood ; when the young 
 man bowing, left the alcove. 
 , ,.J 9^w that even Sebastian, with all his 
 boosted impudence, was awed before my 
 beautiful tyrant. 
 
 " Pray, niece," said the queen, " what 
 is your determination with respect to the 
 duke of Andalusia's son ?" 
 
 " To banish him," was the answer. 
 
 " That must not be," said the king — 
 
 ** Isabella, my love, you must allow me 
 
 to speak now — I cannot agree to that." 
 
 t|^ I think Isidora perfectly right," re- 
 
 E 4 plied
 
 80 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 plied her majesty. " Shall it be told to 
 future ages, that the; niece of the queen of 
 Spain, whose hand has been sought by 
 monarehs, has been slighted, scorned, and 
 contemned, by the son of a duke?" 
 
 I saw the storm was gathering, and 
 kneeled to my mistress, but spoke not. 
 . " Speak, man," said the king ; " if you 
 are not struck dumb, say s^omething for 
 yourself" 
 
 " I like his silence better than any thing 
 he can urge in his own behalf," Isidora 
 observed ; " therefore, as your majesty 
 wishes to befriend him, I will limit his 
 banishment to six months ; during which 
 time, he shall make no inquiry after me, 
 nor take any farther notice of me than he 
 did in the six months he forsook me for 
 ■ — nothing! What says my kind aunt to 
 this arrangement?" 
 
 " I approve it beyond a:ny thing you 
 could propose," answered the queen, ** and 
 hope Acasto will bear in mind your ex- 
 
 : - ^- a ^ -ti^eme
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 81 
 
 treme lenity, in limiting the time of his 
 absence to so short a period." 
 
 ." If Isidora loved Acasto, could she be 
 satisfied to remain six months without 
 seeing or hearing from him ?" I asked. 
 
 " Ah, that is right, man," said his ma- 
 jesty ; " speak for yourself — take courage : 
 a very natural question indeed! What 
 says Isidora to this?" 
 
 " She will answer it by a question 
 equally as natural," replied the lady. " If 
 Acasto loved Isidora, could he have re- 
 mained six months without either seeing 
 or hearing from herV 
 
 " Well said," observed the queen ; " a 
 very natural question indeed ! What says 
 Acasto to this?" 
 
 '^ We will not say another word on the 
 subject," replied the king, " lest we should 
 sink deeper into disgrace, for it is impos- 
 sible to manage the ladies, but by suffer- 
 ing them to have their own way ; there- 
 fore we will act as you direct." 
 
 " I am glad your majesty at last thinks 
 £ 5 as
 
 §^ THE BRAZEN MASBT. 
 
 as you ought to do on this subject,** ob* 
 served the queen ; " and have no doubt 
 but Isidora will in time be able to bring 
 Acasto to his senses, as I have brought 
 you to yours." 
 
 My good-natured sovereign kissed her 
 hand as he smiled upon her, for he never 
 could persuade himself that it was possible 
 for his Isabella to be in the wrong. 
 -•^*' May not I beg that the time of my 
 banishment may be for a shorter period ?" 
 I asked, addressing Isidora. 
 
 " No, not an hour less," was her an- 
 swer » 
 
 " Where do you intend me to go ?" 
 said I. 
 t^ Wherever you please," she replied. 
 I ** When do you wish me to depart ?" 
 I demanded. 
 
 " Immediately," she answered. 
 
 " Before you go hence, young man," 
 said the queen, " I wish to speak a few 
 words with you. I understand you have 
 formed a strict friendship with an African 
 ehief, one of our greatest foes. You may 
 
 say
 
 THE BHAZEN MASK. 85 
 
 say he saved the life of your father: pro- 
 bably he did, and I would be the last 
 person in all Spain to induce you to be 
 ungrateful for so signal a service ; but 
 recollect, we are well aware that you took 
 this friend to your confidence long before 
 he rescued your father, and for no other 
 reason than the caprice of the moment. 
 Does it look well, think you, for a branch 
 of the house of Spain, in whose veins the 
 blood-royal flows, to form alliance with 
 one of the deadliest foes of our nation? 
 What impelled the duke to indulge you 
 so far ? We should have taken more se- 
 rious notice of this affair, had it not been 
 for the tried allegiance of your father ; but 
 remember we command you, on your ar- 
 rival in Andalusia, to send this new-found 
 friend back to his native shore, and forbid 
 you ever to hold faith with an African." 
 
 I bowed, but did not answer, and bent 
 one knee to Isidora, taking her hand, say- 
 mgr4-^ Allow me to imprint one kiss on 
 the hand which inflicts my punishment." 
 YBlTi UQ i i5i>I i E 6 .. " This
 
 84 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 -' " This is more than could be expected 
 from Acasto," said the queen, " and I do 
 believe, with proper management, Isidora 
 will make a rational being of him !" at 
 the same time extending her hand to me, 
 which was a condescension 1 did not hope 
 for. Having kissed her majesty's hand, I 
 hurried out of the alcove, followed by the 
 king. ' ' ' 
 
 .1 «* Well, well," said his majesty, " this 
 affair has ended better than I thought it 
 would, and the ladies have been more, 
 merciful than we had reason to expect ; 
 for your conduct has certainly been repre- 
 hensible, and by espousing your cause, I 
 have sunk as deeply into the scrape as 
 ^yourself*' ^"^^ ^^^^ ^^^ 
 a(i ^ I shall ever bear in remembrance your 
 ^^ftiajesty's kind interference in my behalf, 
 and hope you will not think me too im- 
 ^i)ortunate if I crave another boon," said I. 
 baa« What is that?" he asked. 3i em 
 
 " It is," I repHed, '* that you Wall use 
 vyoujr influence with your royal consort, in 
 jo^^V'i . favour
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. ^5 
 
 favour of my friend, and force us not to 
 j|tit?:> for if half his worth was known, 
 the queen would be the first promoter of 
 our friendship." 
 
 "I have no doubt but he has merit," 
 observed the king, " or else Andalusia 
 would not have countenanced him ; but 
 as to changing the queen's mind on any 
 subject (particularly respecting the Afri- 
 cans, for she has the greatest antipathy to 
 them), it is almost an impossibility, for 
 you know she is a little inclined to obsti- 
 nacy, and has some reason to be so ; for 
 having a strong reflecting mind, the opin- 
 ion she first forms invariably proves right : 
 however, I will do my best." 
 
 So infatuated was the king respecting 
 her majesty, that if she had asserted the 
 moon to be made of glass, I am confident 
 he would have believed it to be the case ; 
 therefore I plainly saw there was no hope 
 for me respecting my unfortunate friend 
 
 Alvaro.DO-Y iRfii 
 
 My sovereign seeing me dejected, said 
 K>vj5i — " Acasto,
 
 86 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 -^^^ Acasto, I am and ever will be your 
 friend, as long as you do not give my 
 Isabella any great cause of anger ; there- 
 fore, you have no reason for this melan- 
 choly, but must pass your time as cheer- 
 fully as you can during your exile ; at the 
 expiration of which you may return, and 
 make Isidora your own." 
 
 The good-hearted creature shook me by 
 the hand, wishing me perfect felicity, and 
 was bidding me adieu, when Sebastian 
 came to us, entreating his majesty's per- 
 mission to accompany: me a few leagues 
 on the road. ' ;' 
 
 " By all means, by all means," replied 
 the king ; " and tt^'t^: raise Acasto's 
 spirits, for he seems as if he would bear 
 his banishment with but little fortitude." 
 Then, waving his hand, quitted us. 
 
 My suite being ready, we mounted our 
 mules, turning our backs on the palace, 
 which contained two of the most arbitrary, • 
 perverse, female spirits in the whole 
 world. .^,.M-. K •jiai uo-f ■ 
 
 .'^ons'^i I quitted
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 87 
 
 I quitted Madrid in no enviable state 
 of mind, with a firm resolution never to 
 return to it, for I was mortified to my 
 heart's core, stung to the quick at the 
 triumph of Isidora, grieved on account of 
 the command to part with Alvaro, and 
 alarmed for the safety of my revered fa- 
 ther ; for I knew if I offended the vin- 
 dictive Isabella, she would wreak her 
 vengeance on him. I had no prospect of 
 happiness, whether I married Isidora or 
 not. 
 
 To unite myself to such a woman, was 
 ensuring wretchedness for life ; and not to 
 marry her, was encountering a storm of 
 the bitterest persecution that could be set 
 on foot against me. 
 
 Buried in my own reflections, I rode 
 on — nor heeded the many questions put 
 to me by Sebastian ; till stopping short, 
 and taking hold of the bridle of my beast, 
 he said — " Has your mistress the power of 
 |>etrifying you, and has she really trans^v 
 formed you into a statue ?.!' 
 J^iSJHJjp 1 " Peace;'
 
 88 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 ;/f*4 Peace," answered I, " and leave me 
 to myself." 
 
 " There is no peace," said he, " to a 
 lover !" 
 
 " Too well," I rejoined, ^ do I feel the 
 truth of your maxim." 
 
 " Pray, Acasto," he asked, " did you 
 get your ears boxed ?" 
 
 " Cease your bantering," I replied, " for 
 I am not in a mood to bear it." 
 
 " Egad !" said he, " I was very glad to 
 make my escape out of the alcove — for she 
 seized upon me like a tigress !" 
 
 " Where was your boasted resolution — 
 where was your vaunted power then ?" I 
 asked ? 
 
 " Oh, I had no right to use it," he an- 
 swered ; " but I have the power to release 
 you out of your thraldom respecting that 
 lady." 
 
 " How in the name of wonder is that 
 to be brought about ?" I eagerly demanded. 
 
 " By your resigning her to me," he re- 
 plied. 
 
 " You
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 89 
 
 " You know," said I, " that is not in my 
 power ; you know I am betrothed to her| 
 and the king, the queen, the duke, as well 
 as the lady herself, are all determined on 
 the match." 
 
 "Yet all that will not deter me," said 
 he ; " for if you will allow me to try my 
 success, I will woo her, win her, marry 
 her, and master her !" 
 
 I smiled at his conceit, saying — " I 
 doubt you will find yourself mistaken ; 
 but you have my leave to try, and Hea- 
 ven grant you may succeed ! for if you 
 will do as you say, and rid me of my tor- 
 mentor, I shall be almost inclined to wor- 
 ship you." 
 
 >iy Cheer up then," said he ; " but re- 
 member this proposal for ever remains a 
 secret between us, provided I should fail." 
 
 I promised not to divulge it — " But 
 how," asked I, " can you think of marry- 
 ing Isidora, when you know her dispo- 
 sition so well?" 
 
 '* It is because I know her affluence so 
 UoY well,"
 
 90 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 well," he replied. " She has riches enough 
 to gild the pill of inatrimony, was it more 
 bitter than gall itself — and estates enough 
 to thrust it down, should it stick in my 
 throat. I intend to marry the fortune, 
 not the lady." 
 
 I laughed at his idea, but was not sur- 
 prised, for avarice had always been his 
 governing passion. We pursued our jour- 
 ney in a more agreeable manner than it 
 began, for I felt my spirits lighter since 
 the proposal of Sebastian ; though I knew 
 it arose from a selfish motive, yet that 
 would not lessen the good which would 
 accrue to me, in the event of his success. 
 My fears would sometimes surmount my- 
 hopes — for I was inclined to believe the 
 lady would marry me out of pure contra- 
 diction ; but yet I cherished the thought,-, 
 that she might be pleased with the offer^ 
 of Sebastian's hand, for he was of a great' 
 family, though not so nearly related to the 
 king as I was; had considerable posses- 
 sions, a good person, and an insinuating c 
 
 address.
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 91 
 
 address. He was full of his project, and 
 so elated with the idea of bearing ofif the 
 prize, that he accompanied me further 
 than he at first intended ; for we did not 
 separate till I entered the borders of An- 
 dalusia. We parted in mutual confidence, 
 and you may be sure I did not fail to wish 
 him success with all my heart. 
 
 I proceeded some miles further, but the 
 intense heat of the day obhged me to rest 
 at a small inn, till the coolness of the 
 evening would suffer me to continue. I 
 determined to travel in the night, that I 
 might arrive at our castle early the next 
 momihg. Having refreshed myself and 
 followers at the inn, we again set forward 
 at the close of day. The moon had arisen 
 in full splendour as we entered the forest, 
 where my father had been attacked, and 
 Alvaro had been wounded. My people 
 halted, entreating me to proceed no fur- 
 ther till daylight, saying — " We fear not 
 for ourselves, but for you. It is not long 
 since the duke's life was attempted in this 
 
 gloomy
 
 §t THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 gloomy forest, and should any thing hap- 
 pen to our young master, how shall we 
 face his excellency again ?" 
 
 I smiled at their fears, till my servant/ 
 who had attended me from my birth, said 
 — " For myself I care not, as no one will 
 think my life worth the trouble of takings 
 and if my beloved master will consent not 
 to travel further to-night, I will go alone 
 to the castle, and inform the duke he may 
 expect him by this time to-morrow." ^Sf 
 
 I at last yielded to his importunities, 
 but would not suffer him to precede me, 
 as there was no real necessity — and deter- 
 mined to pass the night on the skirts of 
 the wood. We tied our mules to the 
 trees, then spi*eading our cloaks on thfet^ 
 grass, laid ourselves down to enjoy th^ 
 cool night breezes, which were a great 
 luxury after the oppressive heat of a sum*- 
 mer's day. 'O^ 
 
 My people being fatigued with their 
 journey, were soon safely locked in the 
 arms of Somnus ; and I shortly after yield- 
 
 ,,.,.. ed
 
 THE BRAZEN MASKi 9$i 
 
 ed to the stupifying influence of that dull 
 god. I was aroused from my slumber by 
 some one shaking me violently by the 
 shoulder; and on opening my eyes, fixed 
 them for the first time on the — Brazen 
 Mask ! He was enveloped in ,a long black 
 cloak, with a large plume of black feathers 
 in his hat ; and motioning with his hand 
 for me not to speak, said in a deep-toned 
 voice — ** Acasto, marry Isidora at your 
 peril !" 
 
 He immediately fled into the wood, but 
 my servant Carlo waking perceived him, 
 and starting up, followed him so quickly, 
 as to catch hold of his cloak — when they 
 wrestled together for some time, till the 
 Mask proving the strongest of the two, 
 got from him, and was lost in the thick- 
 ness of the forest, leaving a piece of his 
 cloak in the hand of Carlo, who would not 
 loose his hold. 
 
 I was too confounded at the sudden ap- 
 pearance of this strange person, to have 
 the sense to assist my servant, or I might 
 
 probably
 
 94 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 probably have escaped the evili^ which 
 followed me. -J^iq {ai ^ii , 
 
 .r« Who can that villain be ?** said- Carlo; 
 "his strength can be equalled only by 
 Hercules ; for I never reckoned myself a 
 powerless man, yet I seemed as nothing 
 in his hand." 
 
 " How happens it," said I, " that we 
 have both escaped being wounded ?" 
 
 " Because," replied Carlo, " he is pro- 
 bably not armed ; for if he had had only a 
 stiletto about him, he would liave plunged 
 it into me for wrestling so long with him." 
 
 The appearance of this unaccountable 
 figure turned my thoughts into a differ- 
 ent channel, and made me a^ain fear for 
 my father and my friend ; and 1 in vain 
 perplexed myself wath the question of — •- 
 " Who is he?" I could not recollect any 
 person that resembled his figure, for he 
 seemed taller than any one I was acquaint- 
 ed with ; and how was it possible for my 
 marriage with Isidora to affect him ? 
 
 I began to think he was a ci-devant 
 
 lover
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 95 
 
 lover of the lady's, or some one about tlie 
 court, as my pretensions to the niece of 
 the queen was known by few, except my 
 own family. — " Why had he given me 
 this notice not to marry Isidora? and how 
 did he know where to find me?" 
 
 Carlo answered — " Because he is the 
 devil." 
 
 I smiled at the supposition of the man, 
 but did not contradict him, knowing that 
 some weak minds are addicted to supersti- 
 tion. 
 
 Carlo aroused his fellow-servants, telling 
 them to keep watch for the devil, for he 
 had been there, leaving a piece of his black 
 cloak in his hand. 
 
 Some stared, others laughed at the as- 
 sertion of Carlo, but all were astonished 
 at the piece of the cloak which he present- 
 ed to them, and did not feel themselves 
 inclined to sleep any longer. We passed 
 our time till daybreak in useless conjec- 
 ture about this unaccountable being, 
 
 when
 
 96 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 when the gloom of night gave way to the 
 rosy streaks of morn. 
 
 We mounted our mules, set forward in 
 the same direction the Brazen Mask had 
 taken, beating about every bush, in the 
 vain hope of finding him. In the evening 
 I arrived at our castle, mortified, alarmed, 
 spiritless, and disappointed. 
 
 My father welcomed me with true pa- 
 ternal affection — Alvaro received me with 
 the sincerest friendship — our vassals hailed 
 me with shouts of joy ; but all could 
 scarcely raise my spirits, so as to enable me 
 to return their kindness. 
 
 I anxiously inquired whether they had 
 been troubled by their mysterious visitor, 
 and was informed they had not been in- 
 terrupted by him during my absence. 
 
 " That is some consolation," said I, 
 " though it is my opinion he is not far 
 off;" and related to them his rousing me 
 from sleep, on the skirts of the forest, the 
 night before. 
 
 Muley
 
 THE BRAZEN ]V1;ASK. ^7 
 
 Muley exclaimed — " Ah, me kill dat 
 debbel Mask ! me tear him bit from bit !" 
 
 Carlo had informed him it was his opi- 
 nion that the being who had paid us three 
 such strange visits, was no other a person 
 than an evil spirit, commonly called the 
 devil ; which Muley could not understand, 
 but supposed it was some bad character, 
 and amused us by saying he would kill 
 the debbel, the next time he made his ap- 
 pearance. We waited in hourly expecta- 
 tion of another visit from our unknown 
 foe, keeping ourselves prepared for his re- 
 ception, but he came not. 
 
 Alvaro was perfectly recovered, and was 
 gay, lively, and entertaining, as usual ; but 
 my spirits became more and more depress- 
 ed, which my father observing, desired 
 my attendance in his closet. 
 
 I obeyed, when on entering he arose, 
 seated me by his side, and retaining my 
 hand within his, said—" My son is in want 
 of some one to whom he can unburden 
 
 VOL. I. F his
 
 98 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 his miiid ; where then will he find so fit a 
 person as his father?" 
 
 " Nowhere, ' I replied ; " but I feared 
 to afflict you." 
 
 " You will indeed afflict me," said he, 
 " if you have a trouble which I must not 
 share." 
 
 I related to him the imperious conduct 
 of Isidora and Isabella, when he interrupt- 
 ed me, saying — " I see no great cause of 
 complaint in this — you offended them, 
 therefore they had a right to retaliate ; 
 and with respect to your being banished 
 from your mistress six months, which is 
 the exact time you slighted her without 
 cause, I think she is perfectly right, and 
 has acted like a woman of spirit." 
 
 " I fear," said I, " she has too much 
 spirit, and that is one cause of my uneasi- 
 ness." 
 
 " Poh, poh !" replied my father ; " a sen- 
 sible woman wUl always study to make 
 her husband happy, and no one can say 
 Isidora is wanting in common sense. An- 
 swer
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 99 
 
 swer me one question — do you love any 
 other woman better than her ?" 
 
 " I do not," was my answer ; " nor do I 
 think I love her sufficiently to marry her." 
 
 " That violent passion which you call 
 love borders on madness,, and is not abso- 
 lutely necessary to produce happiness in 
 the married state ; besides, if you disliked 
 the lady, you would not be so chagrined 
 at being forbidden her sight for six 
 months : all this will end favourably," said 
 my father, smiling. 
 
 " My chagrin arose from wounded 
 pride," I rejoined ; " but I have another 
 thorn which pricks me to the heart : it is 
 the command of the queen to part from 
 Alvaro, and send him back to his native 
 shore." 
 
 " This is what I expected — this is what 
 I foresaw, from the beginning of 3^our at- 
 tachment," answered my father. ^ " I knew 
 her majesty's hatred to the Africans, whom 
 she looks upon as the invaders of her 
 rights, and would suppose her throne be- 
 F 2 gan
 
 100 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 gan to totter if an African is suffered to 
 breathe the air of Spain. Alvaro is, in 
 every respect, a man of honour, whom I 
 esteem as if he was my own son, but at 
 the same time regret that he did not leave 
 Andalusia without the interference of the 
 queen, whose restless spirit will know no 
 peace so long as he is here." 
 
 •' Do you mean then," I asked, " to part 
 with him ?" 
 
 " It must be so," answered my father, 
 " though I owe him my life ; and with 
 respect to sterling virtue, I shall never find 
 his equal ; yet we must part, for after the 
 command of the arbitrary Isabella, his life 
 would not be safe were we to suffer him 
 to remain here." 
 
 I saw my father was right, and that if 
 1 wished to preserve the life of my friend, 
 I Qiust hasten him out of the kingdom. 
 
 " We will not wound his feelings," said 
 my father, " we will not jnform him of the 
 order of the queen ; but as I think both 
 your lives in danger, on account of some 
 
 secret
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 101 
 
 :t>ecret enemy who seems lurking about 
 our castle, you shall accompany him to 
 Africa, and spend your time there with 
 him, till your offended mistress thinks fit 
 to recall you." 
 
 . " And leave you to be murdered here ? " 
 said I ; " no, no— I cannot consent to leave 
 my beloved father to the poniard of an un- 
 known foe." 
 
 " Fear not for me," replied the duke ; 
 '* only act as I direct, and all may yet be 
 well." 
 
 " Oh, say that you will go with us !" I 
 eagerly exclaimed. 
 
 " That is not in my power," said he ; 
 " for if I-was, it would arouse the suspi- 
 cion of the queen, and we know not where 
 the evil would end." 
 
 I knew my father had not erred in 
 one of his remarks, but could not bring 
 myself to leave him with any degree of 
 tranquillity, and know not whether I had 
 or had not a presentiment of the miseries 
 which ensued, in consequence of my ac- 
 F 3 companying
 
 102 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 companying my friend to Africa; but yet 
 the impulse was not strong enough to in- 
 duce me to refuse ; and in a fatal moment 
 I yielded to the entreaties of my much^ 
 loved parent. 
 
 Alvaro was highly diverted at the idea 
 of being sent away on account of his own 
 personal safety, for he feared not death in 
 any shape, and made several facetious re- 
 marks on the care of the duke, for fear his 
 adopted son should be killed. 
 
 My servant Carlo was fidelity itself, and 
 I left him with my father, with strict in- 
 junctions not to leave him night or day, 
 entreating the duke to let him sleep in his 
 apartment, and allow a strong guard to be 
 placed in the antechamber, which, to quiet 
 my fears, he consented to. 
 
 Preparations were made for our depar- 
 ture, and on the fourth day after my ar- 
 rival at the castle, we went on board one 
 of our vessels, when we were wafted by a 
 light gale to that shore, where I experi- 
 enced the pinnacle of joy, and the depth 
 
 of
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 103 
 
 of misery. Even at this distant period 
 the recollection curdles the blood in 
 my veins, and harrows up my soul to 
 agony. But I must stifle my feelings, or 
 I shall not be able to go on with my his- 
 tory. 
 
 After I had parted from my father, the 
 pressure on my spirits hourly increased, 
 notwithstanding the cheerful companion I 
 had in my valued friend Alvaro, who ral- 
 lied me by frequently saying, I had left 
 my heart in the Escurial at Madrid. 
 
 We landed on the coast of Barbary, 
 which is that part of Africa nearest to 
 Spain. Some parts of Africa are extreme- 
 ly fruitful, on account of the overflowings 
 of the rivers Nile and Niger, which ferti- 
 lize the adjacent country, and make 
 amends for the large tracts of uncultivated 
 lands forming the deserts, whose sands are 
 so loose, that by a strong wind they are 
 raised to a considerable height, and in 
 their descent have buried hundreds of peo- 
 ple at a time, who travel in large compa- 
 F 4 nies.
 
 104 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 nies, on account of the wild beasts which 
 inhabit these deserts, the principal of which 
 is Zaara. 
 
 Morocco was inhabited by Alvaro and 
 his followers, which is a fine part of the 
 country, about five hundred miles in 
 length, and four hundred and eighty in 
 breadth : it is bounded on the north by 
 the Mediterranean Sea, on the east by the 
 kingdom of Algiers, on the south by the 
 desert of Zahara, and on the west 43y the 
 Atlantic Ocean^ The coast was covered 
 by the tribes of blacks belonging to Al- 
 varo, who constantly kept that station, 
 vv^hich made it impossible for an enemy to 
 land without observation; they were al- 
 ways prepared for an attack, by having 
 quivers full of arrows slung at their backs, 
 and bows in their hands. 
 
 These faithful creatures, on espying our 
 vessel, placed themselves on the defensive, 
 as they were ignorant of their leader being 
 on board ; but on seeing their beloved 
 chief land on his native shore, they to a 
 
 man
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 105 
 
 man prostrated themselves at his feet ; then 
 leaping up, rent the air with acclamations, 
 and ran about, as if they were intoxicated 
 with joy. 
 
 I could not help admiring the unfeign- 
 ed affection of these artless people, nor did 
 I wonder, considering who was their lead- 
 er; for Alvaro, though young, acted the 
 part of a father and friend to all his fol- 
 lowers. They eyed me askance with some 
 distrust, which their chief perceiving, took 
 me by the hand, and presented me to 
 them, at the same time laying his other 
 hand on his heart, to indicate I had a place 
 there; on which many of them nodded 
 their approbation, and prostrated them- 
 selves at my feet, which is their manner 
 of swearing allegiance. *^^'^ih 3 '^ i i 
 
 I was much pleased with the country 
 of Africa, which is one of the four grand 
 divisions of the world, bounded on all 
 sides by seas, except the isthmus of Suez, 
 by which it is joined to Asia, the Medi- 
 terranean being on the north, the Atlantic 
 F 5 Ocean
 
 106 THE BRA2EN MASK. 
 
 Ocean on the west and south, and the In- 
 dian Ocean and Red Sea on the east. 
 
 The Atlas mountains, which are a grand 
 work of an Almighty Hand, strike the 
 beholder with awe, being of great extent, 
 reaching from Morocco to Egypt : the 
 Mountains of the Moon, which are so call- 
 ed from their extreme height, are no less 
 deserving notice, though but little of them 
 is known. 
 
 The beautiful country of Barbary con- 
 sists of the coast of Africa, from Egypt to 
 the Straits of Gibraltar, and from thence 
 to the utmost bounds of the kingdom of 
 Morocco on the ocean. Barbary is parted 
 from Biledulgerid by a long ridge of 
 
 mountains But lam trespassing on your 
 
 patience by this digression, and will return 
 to my narrative, and beg your indulgence 
 for dwelling too long on that country, 
 which gave birth to the greatest treasure 
 that ever fell to the lot of man. 
 
 Muley did not fail to receive his share 
 of congratulation, for each of his fellow- 
 blacks
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 107 
 
 blacks seemed as if in him they, had found 
 an only brother. r.fff. . 
 
 After Alvaro and I had partaken of 
 some of their refreshments, they crammed 
 Muley with every thing they thought 
 good, till I began to fear it would be 
 his last meal. These simple people testi- 
 fied their joy by dancing and capering 
 round their old friend. 
 
 •They are remarkably swift of foot, and 
 without waiting for orders, some of them 
 had disappeared, and after an absence of 
 three hours, returned with a beautiful ele- 
 phant, the favourite animal of Alvaro, and 
 the very same he was mounted on when 
 I saved his life in the last battle, by ward- 
 ing off the blow aimed at him by one of 
 our soldiers; and that action was the be- 
 ginning of a friendship which lasted for 
 life, and, I doubt not, will be renewed 
 after death ; for if any man could deserve 
 heaven, it was Alvaro. The intelligent 
 beast instantly knew his master, licked his 
 hands, drawing him still closer with its 
 F 6 trunk;
 
 108 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 trunk; then, without bidding, kneeled^ 
 that Alvaro might mount with greater ease. 
 
 The friendship between the beast and 
 his master seemed reciprocal, as the latter 
 scarcely knew how to caress his favourite 
 Achmet enough, for he had called the^ 
 animal after a faithful slave, who fell in 
 battle. The elephant no sooner felt the 
 welcome burden of his master on his back, 
 than he set off with incredible swiftness 
 for so large a creature, as if he was impa- 
 tient to restore Alvaro to the arms of his 
 family. I mounted another, and followed 
 my friend, attended by a great number of 
 blacks, with JNIuley at their head, who was 
 much respected by his brethren, on account 
 of his strong attachment to his master. 
 
 We took our way along the shore, till 
 arriving at a . thick impervious wood, we 
 struck into it, which afforded us a welcome 
 shade from the scorching rays of the sun ; 
 for the heat, though great in Spain, is still 
 greater in Africa, as the most parts of it 
 lie under the torrid zone : however, the 
 
 coasts
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 100 
 
 coasts in general are very fruitful, and the 
 plants extraordinary : its productions are 
 honey, wax, oil, sugar, hides, dates, al- 
 monds, fruit, gum, camels, elephants, all 
 sorts of wild beasts, and gold. 
 
 Alvaro was assuring me of a hearty wel- 
 come, when I perceived through the fo- 
 liage of the trees an elephant approaching, 
 beautifully caparisoned with gold trap- 
 pings, led by two blacks ; and a light fe- 
 male figure, in a reclining posture, was 
 placed on its back. As they came nearer 
 Alvaro espied them, exclaiming — " This 
 is too much — she has been beforehand 
 with me :" then leaping off his beast, was 
 instantly beside the lady, whom he assist- 
 ed to ahght, and they were- fast locked in 
 each other's arms. ., * ; • 
 
 I kept at a little distance, and for the 
 first time in my life envied my friend. He 
 folded his arms round the most exquisite- 
 ly-formed being I ever beheld. She was 
 clad in a leopard skin, girt round the waist 
 with a gold cord, wearing blue silk san- 
 dals.
 
 110 THE BRA2EN MASK, 
 
 dais, broad gold bracelets, with a scarf of 
 light bine silk, fringed with gold, thrown 
 across one shoulder, and her hair confined 
 within a gold net, except a stray lock 
 which had broke loose, and wantonly play- 
 ed in the breeze. 
 
 As Alvaro seemed pdssessed of such a 
 mistress, I was astonished he had not con- 
 fided the circumstance to me : whichever 
 way she turned, her form was symmetry 
 itself, for grace was in every attitude, lus- 
 tre in her eye, and affection in her smile. 
 Such was the creature my friend clasped 
 in silent ecstacy ! Oh, how I envied him 
 his situation ! oh, how I envied him those 
 sweet embraces ! 
 
 I had dismounted, but stood like a sta- 
 tue fixed to the spot, admiring this pro- 
 digy of the work of nature, this master- 
 piece of all that was lovely, when Alvaro 
 advanced, leading her in his hand, saying— 
 " Acasto, allow me to introduce you to *' 
 
 He stopped, for I turned away my head, 
 feeling that I dare not take another look, 
 
 and
 
 THE BKAZEN MASK. Ill 
 
 and that I must instantly return to Spain, 
 or dishonour my friend. If I was en- 
 chanted with the sight of her at a dis- 
 tance, I was still more so on a nearer view 
 of her ; for her eyes were bright as stars ; 
 her teeth white as the elephant's ; her lips 
 red as coral, and the witchery of her smile, 
 assisted by the dimples which played 
 around her mouth, enough to rob any 
 man of his senses. 
 
 My friend was surprised at my beha- 
 viour, saying — " Surely Acasto is not of- 
 
 tiended at my introducing him to " 
 
 and again stopped short ; when I whisper- 
 ed to him — " It must not be, Alvaro ; if 
 you mean to keep her for your own, you 
 must not trust me with the sight of her 
 again.*' 
 
 My friend burst into a loud laugh, and 
 putting the hand of the blushing creature 
 within mine, said — " Acasto, ray sister 
 Kora." 
 
 Thunder-struck, I started, exclaiming — 
 " Your sister !" I could say no more, for 
 
 surprise
 
 112 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 surprise struck me dumb. Alvaro enjoy- 
 ed my confusion, for he laughed so vio- 
 lently, that he was obliged to lean against 
 a tree for support ; while I stood unable 
 to extricate myself out of the most awk- 
 ward situation imaginable. 
 
 The lady was the most collected of the 
 three, and turning to her brother, said— 
 " What is the meaning of this excessive 
 mirth ?" 
 
 " The meaning iij," he replied, " that 
 my friend is so terrified at the uncommon 
 ugliness of your features, that he insists 
 on returning to his own country, where 
 the ladies are infinitely more beautiful 
 than you, and begs he may never see you 
 a second time." 
 
 *• That he never shall," said the lovely 
 creature, " if he will only accept my 
 thanks for preserving the life of my be- 
 loved brother." 
 
 " Alvaro," I exclaimed, " I did not 
 think you had been so malicious ; I did 
 
 ofi oUnot
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 113 
 
 not believe you had had so much mischief, 
 in you." n 
 
 " Gome, my dear girl," said he, taking- 
 her hand, " I must not disgust this proud 
 Spaniard any longer with the sight of 
 your disagreeable person; you must re- 
 mount your beast, and we will make the 
 best of our way to our dwelling." 
 
 The lady did so with inimitable grace, 
 and drawing the silk curtains of her 
 canopy, totally hid herself from my view. 
 
 I stood biting my lips, with my arms 
 folded, and stamping with vexation, ex- 
 claimed — " For Heaven's sake, Alvaro, 
 what is it you mean ?" 
 
 He laughed till he could not stand, and 
 at last said — " Come, come, man, do not 
 put yourself in a passion about a woman !" 
 
 " Passion !" I echoed — " I shall go mad. 
 I could rage, storm, tear my flesh off my 
 bones with passion !" 
 
 ** And what good would that do ?" he 
 asked. 
 
 " Do not put such a question to me, 
 
 for
 
 114 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 for I have not sense enough to make a 
 rational answer," said I. " Oh, Alvaro, 
 how could you play me such a trick ?" 
 
 " Merely for the sake of fun," he re- 
 plied. " But prithee, man, mount, and 
 do not keep the lady waiting any longer ; 
 for you have already given her such a 
 specimen of the politeness of Spanish 
 nobles, which she will not forget as long 
 as she lives." 
 
 " Oh, thou monument of mischief," I 
 sighed, " I did not think thou hadst such 
 roguery within thee !" 
 
 We mounted our beasts, and followed 
 the lady's elephant, led by the two blacks, 
 when I kept my eye steadily fixed on the 
 canopy, in hopes the curtains would blow 
 apart, and give me another peep at her. 
 But no gentle breeze would stand my 
 friend, no pitying gale would aid my pry- 
 ing sight, and waft those cursed curtains 
 aside ; for I afterwards found they were 
 fastened down inside by gold rings. Al- 
 varo perceiving my intention, said^ — " Ay, 
 
 ay*
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 115 
 
 ay, man, stare on ; but if you get sight of 
 her in a hurry, her name is not Kora/' 
 
 " I will see her," I replied, " if it costs 
 me my life ; I will endeavour to re- 
 move the ill impression you have given 
 her respecting me ; for on account of my 
 being so dazzled by her beauties, you took 
 advantage of me, by giving a wrong co- 
 lour to the surprise I was thrown into; 
 for, supposing her to be the mistress of 
 your heart, I honestly desired I might not 
 be tempted to supplant my friend, by 
 being trusted with another view of her." 
 
 " How came you to suppose she was 
 my mistress ?" he asked. 
 
 " Was it possible for me to imagine you 
 had such a lovely creature for your sister, 
 when you never but once slightly men- 
 tioned her?" said I. 
 
 ** Because I would rather see her happy 
 than great," he replied, " which is the rea- 
 son I seldom name her, or let her be seen, 
 for I should be better pleased if she would 
 choose herself a husband out of one of our 
 
 tribes,
 
 116 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 tribes, than to see her splendidly miserable. 
 It was my intention you should never see 
 her, and you may attribute it entirely to 
 chance that threw her in your way ; for 
 her strong affection to her brother induced 
 her to come and meet us, which accident 
 I neglected to guard against, and which I 
 severely reproach myself for." 
 
 " Do you mean to ^insinuate," said I, 
 " that I have seen her for the last time ?" 
 
 " I do indeed," he answered. 
 
 " Alvaro," said I, " is this the conduct 
 of a friend ?" 
 
 " Yes," he replied, ** of the truest friend 
 that ever man had. My regard for you 
 is too great to suffer you to plunge into 
 difficulties headlong, without trying to 
 save you." 
 
 I sighed, but spoke not; for his last, 
 remark had thrown me into a train of re- 
 flections, which presented nought but in- 
 surmountable obstacles at every turn. 
 
 We silently rode on, till I perceived on 
 the skirts of the wood a low, white, stone 
 
 building*
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 117 
 
 building, which Alvaro pointing out as 
 his home, said — " Cheer up, my friend, 
 for I will introduce you to another lady, 
 whom you shall see as often as you please." 
 
 The house was only one story high, on 
 which account it stood on an amazing 
 large piece of ground ; for in these hot 
 climates the dwelUngs are always low. 
 It was a most desirable retreat, being 
 shaded by the trees of the forest on one 
 side, and the tenements of the slaves be- 
 longing to the household of the chief on 
 the other sides. 
 
 To my great mortification, the elephant 
 of the beauteous Kora was led round to a 
 different part of the building, so that at 
 the moment I expected my wishes to be 
 gratified with once more beholding her, 
 she seemed lost to me for ever. 
 
 Alvaro alighted, and giving me his 
 hand, welcomed me to his home — wel- 
 comed me to the hearts of his people, who 
 came out in crowds to, receive and bless 
 their master. p, booi 
 
 .gaibllifc He
 
 118 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 He led me through innumerable apart- 
 ments, indeed so many, I thought he was 
 shewing me the interior of the building ; 
 till stopping at a door, he entered, desir- 
 ing a female slave to apprize her mistress 
 of his arrival ; but not having patience to 
 wait her return, followed into the inner 
 apartment, and leaving the door a little 
 open, gave me a view of a fine woman, 
 seated on a low cushion. He was instant- 
 ly at her feet, when the lady shrieked 
 violently, and was unable to speak, till a 
 flood of tears relieved her, when the ex- 
 clamations of—" My son !" — " My beloved 
 mother !" unravelled the mystery. 
 
 As soon as their feelings were a little 
 subsided, he conducted me into the apart- 
 ment, saying—" Mother, allow me to in- 
 troduce the duke of Andalusia's son to 
 your notice." 
 
 " Oh," said the lady, " do I live to see 
 the preserver of my Alvaro ? do I live to 
 thank this young man for saving a life 
 more dear to me than my own ? Was I 
 
 to
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 119 
 
 to exist a thousand years, the time would 
 be too short to express my gratitude !" 
 
 " Lady," said I, " there is none due, for 
 I have been the greatest gainer, as your 
 son is the only man I know whom I deem 
 worthy the name of friend." 
 
 '* May this friendship remain unbroken 
 through life !" said she, joining our hands. 
 
 There was something peculiarly inte- 
 resting in the mother of Alvaro, for she 
 was descended from a noble family of 
 Spain, and fled persecution, with great 
 numbers of her countrymen, who settled 
 on the spot I now beheld them on ; she 
 was possessed of dignity without pride, 
 condescension without servility, and fasci- 
 nation without art. I was not now sur- 
 prised at the great powers of pleasing to 
 be found in my friend Alvaro, when I 
 saw he had been reared by such a mother 
 as Leonetta. The last five-and-twenty 
 years of her life had been dedicated to the 
 care of her children and dependents, who 
 almost seemed to idolize her. She had 
 
 been
 
 / 
 
 120 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 been destined by her parents to take the 
 veil, but her strong, reflecting mind, con- 
 vinced her, at the age of sixteen, of the 
 impiety in taking so solemn an oath, when 
 her heart was solely engaged by the affec- 
 tionate regard of a young noble, with 
 whom she escaped from her convent, and 
 to whom she gave her hand. You may 
 naturally suppose that this young man 
 was the father of my friend, which was 
 the case. 
 
 Time passed delightfully in the society 
 of my hostess and her son, but yet there 
 was one thing wanting — there was some- 
 thing which I was constantly craving- 
 after, and dared not mention : it was that 
 beautiful little witch Kora, whose image 
 had been floating in my brain from the 
 first moment I saw her. I had at this pe- 
 riod been three weeks with my friends, 
 and in all that time had not seen or heard 
 any thing of Kora ; she was never meri- 
 tioned, nor could I find out where they 
 had hid her. 
 
 Alvaro
 
 THE BRA2EN MASK. ISl 
 
 Alvaro had occasion to go further into 
 the interior of the country, and appointed 
 me to be his deputy, to superintend the 
 comforts of those old slaves who had grown 
 grey in the service of his family, giving 
 me a strict injunction to take peculiar care 
 of his mother. 
 
 " Would to Heaven," said I, " you had 
 left your sister under my care also !" 
 
 " I do not doubt it," he replied, laugh- 
 ing; " but you need not make yourself 
 uneasy about her; she is perfectly safe, 
 which I dare say by this time you are 
 convinced of" 
 
 " To my unspeakable sorrow I am," 
 said I, shaking my head. 
 
 My friend, having previously taken 
 leave of his parent, shook me by the hand, 
 saying—" Let me see Acasto act worthy 
 of his high descent, worthy of his noble 
 father." He mounted his favourite Ach- 
 met, and rode off. 
 
 I admired the strict honour of this 
 young man, who totally excluded his sis- 
 
 voL. I. G ter
 
 122 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 ter from my sight, for fear of an attach- 
 ment taking place between us, as he would 
 have deemed her a dishonourable match 
 for the duke of Andalusia's son. 
 
 I was one day walking with Leonetta, 
 in a grove of pomegranates, which led 
 from the house to a beautiful bath, when 
 I carelessly asked her if Alvaro was her 
 only child? 
 
 " No," said she ; " I have another equal- 
 ly dear to my heart as he is." 
 
 " Why then,*' I artfully asked, '' is 
 your other son not with you?" ^^ 
 
 " It is not a son," she answered, ** but 
 a daughter ; and if I mistake not, Acasto 
 has seen her." -i 
 
 I felt confusion mantling to my face, 
 for I had attempted to deceive her, by 
 pretending not to know any thing of this 
 daughter, and making my apology, said-^ 
 " You must let the extreme beauty of 
 Kora plead my excuse." 
 
 " I will accept of such an excuse from 
 Acasto only," replied Leonetta ; " for he 
 
 can
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 123 
 
 can demand of me but one thing wliich I 
 would withhold from him." 
 
 '^ And what is that ?" I asked. 
 
 " It is my child," she answered. 
 
 " Yet that child is the only gift Acasto 
 would stoop to crave ; for, in his opinion, 
 creation dwindles into nothing in compa- 
 rison with her," I observed. 
 
 " Honour commands us to deny you," 
 said she ; " besides, my son informs me 
 you are betrothed to a relation of the king 
 of Spain : how then can you stoop so low 
 as to fix your mind on my simple Kora ?" 
 
 " Because she would add lustre to a 
 throne," said I. " Oh, lady, let that com- 
 passion which is a constant inmate of your 
 breast plead in my behalf, and lead you 
 to grant my request, by once more in- 
 dulging me with the sight of your lovely 
 daughter !" 
 
 \ " It must not be," answered Leonetta. 
 " To what purpose do you wish for an in- 
 terview with her ?" 
 
 ^H*^ To remove from her mind the ill im- 
 G 2 pression
 
 124 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 pression which Alvaro gave respecting 
 myself," said I. 
 
 " Which impression we wish to •re- 
 main," observed the lady ; " for you must 
 remember, you are not at liberty to choose 
 for yourself." 
 
 " Would to Heaven I was !" I replied. 
 
 " Since then you are not," she said, " let 
 me see that you have sufficient command 
 over yourself to act honourably ; and let 
 this be the last time you either think of, 
 or mention, my innocent Kora." 
 
 I feared my case was quite hopeless, for 
 I found the mother to be as inflexible as 
 the son. I dared not question any of the 
 slaves, for I knew it would lessen me in 
 the esteem of my friends, and I likewise 
 saw the fidelity of the slaves was not to 
 be shaken. In this hopeless situation I 
 remained another week, when Alvaro re- 
 turned, to the great joy of his mother and 
 myself. He perceived an alarming alte- 
 ration in my health, and anxiously in- 
 quired the cause. 
 
 "You
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 125 
 
 " You know it too well," said I ; " it is 
 your inflexible honour which has occa- 
 sioned my sufferings." 
 
 ** Acasto," said he, " can I act other- 
 wise? can I so requite the duke, who has 
 been to me, in every sense of the word, a 
 second father, as to suffer his son to form 
 an alliance w^ith the sister of an African 
 chief? No, never!" 
 
 " Is your honour dearer to you than the 
 life of your friend ?" I asked. 
 
 " Say not thy valued life is in danger," 
 he replied with emotion ; " sting me not 
 to the soul, with the reflection that I have 
 occasioned thee one hour's uneasiness. 
 Oh, Acasto, have some pity for your friend, 
 whose situation is not more enviable than 
 your own, and promise me to shake off 
 this new-formed passion." ■^^^? --r 
 
 *^ It is impossible," I answered, " for it 
 consumes my very life." 
 
 " Surely," said he, " you could not fall 
 
 so desperately in love at the first glance ! 
 
 Consider, it is not in your power to make 
 
 G 3 my
 
 126 THE BKAZEN MASK. 
 
 my sister an honourable offer ; consider, if 
 a marriage was to take place between you, 
 it would deluge both countries in blood !" 
 
 " Alas ! alas !" I exclaimed ; " you but 
 augment my miseries." 
 
 " Come, my young friend, you must 
 not give way to despair," said Leonetta ; 
 " change of scene will relieve your mind ; 
 you shall go with Alvaro to Algiers, where 
 I doubt not you will find many things to 
 amuse you. I have for some time ob- 
 served the change in your health, but dared 
 not mention it, for fear an explanation 
 should be displeasing to you : but now the 
 worst is over, I trust you will exert that 
 fortitude I know you to be possessed of, 
 and try to make Alvaro and me happy." 
 
 I kissed her hand, saying — " I will do 
 every thing in my power to add to the fe- 
 licity of such valued friends, but cannot 
 promise impossibilities." 
 
 " We are all short of penetration in 
 this affair," Leonetta observed ; " for we 
 know not if Kora would be pleased with 
 
 the
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 127 
 
 the offer of your hand, were you at liberty 
 to honour her so far." 
 
 This remark did me more good than 
 any thing which could be urged, and I 
 began to think it might be so ; that after 
 all I might not be so acceptable to the 
 heart of so beautiful a creature. 
 
 Alvaro taking my hand, said — " Now I 
 see we shall succeed — now I know Acasto 
 will be himself again, and prove that he 
 is worthy of the duke his father." 
 
 I could not refuse to strive to contri- 
 bute to the peace of mind of this amiable 
 son and mother, and assumed a cheerful- 
 ness which was foreign to my heart : but 
 my melancholy would at timies get the 
 better of my resolution, which whenever 
 my friends perceived, they would double 
 their efforts to amuse me. It was on one 
 of these occasions, that Alvaro had per- 
 suaded me to hunt with him, which was 
 a diversion he was fond of. We had been 
 some hours in quest of prey, and were re- 
 turning disappointed, when we entered 
 jil; G 4 the
 
 128 THE BRAZEN MASK. « 
 
 the forest which led to his habitation, and 
 espied a young tiger, sleeping under a 
 large tree. We aroused the beast, and 
 joined in full pursuit after, which so exas- 
 perated him, that his eyes glared fire. He 
 toot the road we had just passed, but 
 after many turnings and windings, return- 
 ed back again, darting in a straight course 
 through the forest. We kept pretty close 
 to him, but not near enough to wound 
 him, when the shriek of a female assailed 
 our ears, from the same direction the beast 
 had taken. Horror-struck, we rode on, 
 being confident whoever it was, their death 
 was inevitable ; when I perceived a female 
 flying before the animal, which gained fast 
 upon her. I instantly shot at the beast, 
 though there was no chance of wounding 
 the tiger without wounding the figure, 
 who was in vain trying to escape; but 
 there was no time for consideration, for 
 J:h.^.,ladj .fell, and the wounded beast, 
 Jhpwling, rolled over her. I then turned 
 my attentipn to the lifeless figure on the
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 129 
 
 ground, when on raising it up, found it to 
 be my beloved, angelic Kora ! What a 
 situation was mine! She was covered 
 with blood, and I had every reason to be- 
 lieve that I had been her executioner. I 
 called upon her adored name, pressed ten 
 thousand kisses on her lips, rubbed her 
 cold hands, but could not perceive any 
 signs of life. 
 
 I was seated on the ground, with the 
 beloved object clasped close to my heart, 
 when Alvaro and his followers came up. 
 — " Ye gods," said he, " it is my sister !" 
 
 I spoke not, for I looked upon myself 
 as her murderer ; and Alvaro, taking her 
 out of my arms, was almost as distracted 
 as myself 
 
 The slaves seemed more collected, for 
 one of tliem opened a vein in her arm 
 with a small knife he had in his pocket, 
 which restored her to life: but they could 
 not bring me to my senses again ; for I 
 was so horrified at the thought of having 
 shot her as well as the beast, that it took 
 G 5 such
 
 130 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 such full possession of me as to make my 
 brain feel on fire. I was so stupified that 
 I paid no attention to the entreaties of my 
 friend, who was obliged to act for me ; and 
 seating- me on his own mule, placed the 
 yet almost inanimate Kora on mine, walk- 
 ing between us, and we alternately shared 
 his attention ; but I was insensible to every 
 thing around me. .^.jo. 
 
 In this manner we arrived at Alvdro^s 
 mansion, when the first person who met 
 us was his mother, who was directing 
 some of the slaves to go in search of her 
 daughter. Alvaro had now to exert him- 
 self on account of his mother, who felt all 
 that a mother could feel, on beholding her 
 daughter in such a condition ; and he was 
 some time before he could convince her 
 Kora was not wounded; but that the 
 blood on her dress had flowed from the 
 tiger which I had killed, just time enough 
 to save her life. f vlA r 
 
 This affectionate parent hailed me as 
 the preserver of both her children ; but, as 
 
 I was
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. ISl 
 
 I was afterwards informed, her encomiums 
 were lost to me ; for I was still in the 
 state I before described. They carried me 
 in, laid me on a couch, where I raved on 
 the name of my beloved, frequently shew- 
 ing my hands, which I insisted were dyed 
 by the blood of Kora ; for my fever raged 
 with unvarying violence. Alvaro was 
 constantly by my side, assisted by the 
 faithful Muley; and whenever Leonetta 
 could leave the couch of her suffering 
 Kora, she was by the side of mine. 
 
 The illness of the object of my heart 
 arose from the effects of fright ; but she 
 was not in the extreme danger I was, and 
 became much sooner convalescent. It 
 was at this period I experienced the ten- 
 der assiduities of a mother; for Leonetta 
 discharged those duties to me, in the 
 strictest sense ; and one day perceiving my 
 disorder had spent its force, she took my 
 hand, saying to Alvaro — " My son, there 
 will be no way of convincing this obsti- 
 nate young Spaniard of the mistake he 
 G 6 lies
 
 132 THE'BRAZETT MASK. 
 
 li^s under, but by suffering Kora to be 
 sometimes with him." >,. :^ 
 
 "I doubt," observed my friend, "the 
 experiment would be dangerous." 
 ,10" Whether it should prove so or not," 
 replied his mother, " we must risk the 
 trial ; for we cannot do too much for one 
 who has so singularly served us as he has 
 jdone." 
 
 ^r «« My mother knows I never yet thought 
 her wrong," said Alvaro, " and w hatever 
 she wills or says, in my opinion, must be 
 right; therefore lead the dear girl in." 
 
 I did not understand the whole of this 
 
 discourse, but I heard the name of Kora, 
 
 >^/^^]^ iS^as sufficient to occupy my 
 
 '^oughts; and I was trying to recollect 
 
 iflfh ether she was dead or not, when the 
 
 h4oor opened, and the beloved object of my 
 
 heart stood by my side. I looked at her 
 
 .(|or: some moments, and taking her hand, 
 
 ^f^^hich-. trembled within mine, exclaimed 
 
 or-r" She lives then !">•> ^bybesib I jbu 
 
 The lovely creature locked at me with 
 i(\J angehc
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. C^tSS 
 
 angelic pity ; then bursting into a flood of 
 tears, hid her face on her mother's shoulder. 
 )ti " Why this excess of feeling, my child ?" 
 said Leonetta. fiij oa jblijow jnacrm^qx^ 
 ^j' " Oh, my mother, why ditl not you 
 prepare me for the change?" asked the 
 beauteous mourner — " why did not you 
 tell me he was on the borders of the grave ? 
 There is not one feature left of what I saw 
 when I first met him in the wood! He 
 will die, my mother — he will die, and then 
 your Kora will never know happiness 
 again." 3b srlj bfiof sioltafafiJt ::tii^n 
 
 --ifi " And is Acasto so blest as to have an 
 interest in the heart of Kora?" I asked. 
 ^ *' Oh," said the artless maid, clasping 
 •'-trer hands, " live — for my sake, try to Hve !" 
 >H " I am in perfect health!" I exclaim- 
 ed ; " thine enchanting voice has called 
 '.^Xie from the tomb !" '« yd t)ooJa iiBsn 
 b( " My sister had better retire," said Al- 
 ^•raro. " This was what I feared — this was 
 what I dreaded," continued he, walking 
 iiip and down the room. '^^ ^cfl 
 
 Vd^a£ The
 
 134 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 8iThe lovely creature withdrew, when 
 her beauty seemed heightened by her 
 blushes. The fact was, that Kora, in the 
 innocency of her heart, had let me into a 
 secret which had been carefully guarded 
 from me ; and which, owing to the alte- 
 ration she saw my illness had occasioned, 
 she in an unguarded moment let slip ; for 
 her artless manner and agitation convinced 
 me I was not indifferent to her. \i 
 
 From that moment I rapidly amended; 
 and from that hour the uneasiness of Al- 
 varo increased. He took my hand, saying 
 — " I will trust to the honour of my friend 
 that no advantage will be taken, for he is 
 not at liberty to act as his noble heart would 
 dictate, were he left unshackled by those 
 engagements to the lady Isidora." : 
 
 The name of this lady was like a thun- 
 derbolt in my ears, and threw me back 
 upon all my miseries. 
 
 Leonetta, perceiving the change in my 
 countenance, said — " We will talk this sub- 
 ject over another time, but at presentrcfi 
 
 must
 
 THE BRA^ENMASK. 135 
 
 must entreat my patient will not turn his 
 thoughts to any thing hut what will tend 
 to his recovery ;" and Alvaro going out of 
 the room, she added — " Shall I repeat 
 poor Kora's last request ?" 
 
 "It is unnecessary," I replied, "for her 
 words still vibrate on my heart." 
 
 In the course of conversation, I found 
 Kora had been concealed ever since my 
 arrival in a remote part of the building, 
 which had a beautiful garden attached to 
 it — that she never left this retirement but 
 when Alvaro and I were engaged in the 
 chase; when at these times she embraced 
 her favourite recreation of strolling into 
 the forest, and it was during one of these 
 rambles I saved her from' the fangs of the 
 tiger we were pursuing. : ^ .; 
 
 " If chance should again thnow^ her in 
 your way," said Leone tta, " I shall not 
 be apprehensive that any ill consequences 
 will ensue, for I am well aware you will 
 always bear in mind that you are destined 
 for another." 
 
 "Too
 
 136 THE ^ItA^^K'ltfAiSit. 
 
 *' Too well I feel I am destined for de- 
 struction," I thought. — I told Leonetta 
 not to debar me the sight of her daughter, 
 for I would give my word of honour I 
 would not make her an offer which it was 
 not my intention to fulfil. She seemed 
 satisfied with this promise, but saw not 
 the double entendre I had made use of. 
 
 Alvaro had business which called him 
 to Algiers, and, taking an affectionate 
 leave, left me to the care of his mother, as 
 I was not sufficiently recovered to accom- 
 pany him: 
 
 Leonetta suffered compassion to over- 
 come her prudence, and sometimes indulg- 
 ed me with the society of Kora. 
 
 It was now that the moments seemed 
 to fly too swiftly, and I dreaded the return 
 of my best friend Alvaro. 
 
 I had declared my passion to Kora, who 
 entreated me never to mention it again. 
 — " Were you at liberty," said the artless 
 girl, " I perhaps might listen to you ; but 
 
 as
 
 THE BRAZEN MASKt 13? 
 
 as circumstances arc, let me beg you will 
 for eyer seal your lij^s on the subject." 
 
 " Then it is plain yQiijlgE^mj^rjfiot,''! 
 observed. - . r^. hur j t 
 
 " Yon moon can witness for me to the 
 contraiy," answered the maid ; " for she 
 has nightly listened to my plaint, and 
 heard my unceasing regrets that I had ever 
 met the young Acasto I" 
 
 "If then it is as you say, grant me a 
 proof of it, by promising never to give 
 your hand to another?" I exclaimed. ^.^^ [ 
 
 " That promise I will rigidly perform/* 
 she answered. 
 
 " One more favour grant, and make me 
 for ever blest, by l^estowing this loved 
 hand on me," said I, still holding it within 
 
 ffjM^- jfb 1 Dim ^vnirn^.oou /H 01 
 
 The maid looked steadfastly at me, 
 
 withdrew her hand, and silently retired. 
 
 Three days elapsed, and I saw her not. 
 
 On the fourth she appeared, pale, dejected, 
 
 yjl^j I .eagerly inquired the cause, when 
 
 l^e replied — " I am come to beg the cause 
 
 may
 
 138 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 may not be repeated — I am come to en- 
 treat the subject of our last conversation 
 may never be mentioned again." 
 
 " It never shall, in your hearing," I said, 
 " for I am going to return to Gibraltar for 
 ever." 
 
 ** For ever ?" she asked. 
 
 " Yes," I answered, " for ever ! To 
 what purpose would it be for me to re- 
 main here, save but to witness your suffer- 
 ings, and increase my own ?" I saw a si- 
 lent tear stray down her cheek, and taking 
 her hand, said — " Why will not you con- 
 sent to make me and yourself happy ?" 
 
 " Because," she sighed, " there is no 
 happiness for either of us, on this side the 
 grave." 
 
 " Then you will persist in driving me 
 from you for life ?" I asked. 
 
 " Oh, say not for so long a period !" she 
 answered ; *' say that we shall meet again 
 sometime ! and the thought of that may pro- 
 bably enable us to support a separation." 
 
 ^ 'We may meet in heaven," said I;
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 1S9 
 
 " and if I mistake not, the period will soon 
 arrive ;" placing a pistol to my head. 
 
 " Oh, forbear ! Live, and I am yours !" 
 she shrieked, and fell senseless at my feet. 
 
 I was little better than her, for my feel- 
 ings were wound up to such a pitch of 
 frenzy, that, had she hesitated a moment 
 longer, I should have discharged the pis- 
 tol, and rushed unbidden into eternity. 
 
 On raising her up, she slowly recovered, 
 and with a deep sigh^ said — " Is Acasto 
 safe ?" 
 
 " Safe and happy," I answered ; " free 
 from the crime of suicide, and happy in 
 the love of Kora." 
 
 I found it difficult to calm her mind, 
 notwithstanding I begged, soothed, and 
 entreated her to leave all to me. 
 
 " Your rashness has extorted that pro- 
 mise from me, which, I fear, will be fatal to 
 us both," she observed ; " I shudder at the 
 consequences which may follow !" 
 
 " Fear not, thou stranger to deceit," 
 said I, clasping her to my heart ; " the 
 
 wife
 
 1 40 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 wife of Acasto shall know nought but fe- 
 licityi^J- ^ - 
 
 The shades of night coming on apace, 
 we returned to the house, for this inte- 
 resting conversation had taken place in a 
 small alcove, situated in the beautiful gar- 
 den belonging to Kora, where she had 
 gambolled through the innocence of her 
 infant years — where she had, child like, 
 been amused with pursuing a feather dri- 
 ven before the wind, and where she had 
 now, by consenting to be mine, made me 
 the happiest of human beings. ' ' 
 
 I was in a delirium of joy not to be de- 
 scribed, for my regard for Kora appeared to 
 increase at every fresh interview. She one 
 day asked me how it happened that I had 
 changed my sentiments respecting her, 
 from the most violent disgust to the pu- 
 rest love ? 
 
 v^-dL smiled, and asked her for an explana- 
 tion, od ioa 
 
 " Do you not recollect," said she, *^ when 
 you first saw me in the wood, how shocked 
 
 you
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 141 
 
 you- VYas at the disagreeableness of my 
 person, and begged my brother would not 
 disgust you with a second sight of me ?" 
 
 I laughed most heartily, saying — "And 
 did you believe my wicked friend Alvaro?" 
 
 " Certainly I did," she answered, " and ' 
 kept out of your way, for fear you should 
 take a still greater dislike to me." 
 
 " I did not think the rogue's plan had 
 succeeded so far," said I ; " but now my 
 beloved is convinced of the mischievous 
 trick he played me." 
 
 It was not the first time I had been 
 made acquainted with the artlessness of 
 my Kora; for, however unaccountable it 
 may appear, it was a fact, she was a per- 
 fect stranger to her own loveliness, which 
 in my eyes rendered her more lovely still. 
 I have heard say, that perfect felicity ne- 
 ver dwelt on earth; but I must here con- 
 tradict the assertion — for though it might 
 not be permanent, yet I enjoyed it at this 
 period in real perfection. 
 I Shortly after this Alvaro returned, and 
 
 a little
 
 142 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 a little damped my serenity, for he met 
 me glowing with the sincerest friendship, 
 while I greeted him with an accusing con- 
 science, which told me I had acted to- 
 wards him with duplicity ; that I had 
 stolen from him a treasure which he va- 
 lued beyond price, in beguiling him of 
 his beloved sister; that I was not the man 
 of honour he took me for ; that I was un- 
 worthy the friendship of a heart like his. 
 He saluted me with his usual urbanity, 
 was rejoiced to see me recovered, and at- 
 tributed my unaccountable reception of 
 him to a lassitude he supposed was left 
 on my spirits by my recent illness. — 
 " Wretch that I am !" I sighed, " shall I 
 plunge this nian of worth into the only 
 calamity he dreads? shall I so requite his 
 long-tried friendship ? No ! I will fly this 
 idol of my soul, I will return to my fa- 
 ther. — And leave Kora to pine in secret ?" 
 said reflection on the other hand — for i 
 beheld the maid coming up a walk shaded 
 by pines to meet me; " shall she suffer?" 
 
 said
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 143 
 
 said I to myself; " no, no, let all creation 
 mourn, so she escapes !" 
 
 One glimpse of her was sufficient to 
 tlirow down all my new-formed resolu- 
 tions. — "I have sought you," she said, 
 " to ask one favour, which, owing to the 
 agitation I was thrown into the moment 
 I consented to be yours, I forgot to re- 
 quest." 
 
 " Name it," said I. 
 wV It is," she replied, " that you will not 
 insist on the fulfilment of my promise, 
 should my brother be averse to the match." 
 
 " Is this a proof of your love ?" I asked ; 
 " is this worthy the exalted mind of Kora? 
 to give her consent, and then retract? 
 Oh, 'tis too much! Alas! alas! I too 
 plainly see I have deceived myself, and 
 there is no room in the cold heart of Kora 
 for the lost Acasto !" 
 
 She burst into tears, sayings — " Judge 
 me not too harshly — you know the ex- 
 treme delicate honour of my brother." 
 
 "On which account," said I, " he will 
 biiic never
 
 144 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 never consent to our union ; and the only 
 proof you can give me of a sincere attach- 
 ment is, to agree to a private marriage." 
 
 " If you will accept of no other," she 
 said, "then I must yield ; though it is act- 
 ing against my duty and my judgment." 
 
 I dried her tears, and having soothed 
 her mind, was again restored to tranquillity. 
 
 Leonetta was ignorant of the promise I 
 had obtained from her daughter, and in 
 that ignorance was happy ; she behaved 
 to me with the kindness of a mother, 
 which added to my comfort, for 1 was a 
 stranger to the soft attentions of my own, 
 having lost her in my infancy. There is 
 something peculiarly fascinating in the 
 delicate attentions of the female sex, which 
 I had been unaccustomed to in the castle 
 of my father, as he became a widower 
 shortly after my birth. 
 
 I proposed Alvaro should accompany 
 me on a visit to my father, which he de- 
 clined, on account of business that required 
 his attendance again at Algiers — " But I 
 
 advise
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 145 
 
 advise you to go by all means," said he, 
 ** if it is only to tell the duke that absence 
 has strengthened the regard of his adopted 
 son; and should you meet with my old 
 acquaintance in the brazen mask, give 
 my best compliments to him, and tell him 
 I hope the time will come when ^ shall 
 pay him my respects in person." 
 
 We were a little facetious at the ex- 
 pence of our old visitor, and I set off in 
 high spirits, my friend and his mother 
 having made me promise to return to 
 them as soon as possible. 
 
 There was little cause to suppose I 
 should be long absent, when Kora was 
 the magnet that drew me to their coast, 
 for she alone knew the object of my visit 
 to Gibraltar ; for having slyly taken leave 
 of her, I went on board a beautiful vessel 
 belonging to Alvaro, and was safely land- 
 ed on my native shore, where I once more 
 admired the old friendly rock, which stood 
 like a wall of defence on one side the cas- 
 tle of Andalusia. 
 
 VOL. I. H Our
 
 146 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 Our servants crowded round me, who 
 created quite an uproar in expressing their 
 joy at my unexpected arrival ; and Carlo 
 went to inform the duke, lest my sudden 
 appearance should surprise him too much. 
 He received me with true parental affec- 
 tion, congratulated me on my good looks, 
 anxiously inquired after his youngest son, 
 as he called Alvaro, and added — " Much 
 as I esteem that youth, I am thankful he 
 does not accompany you." 
 
 My father smiled at the message of my 
 friend, particularly that part relating to 
 the Mask, saying — ** You may tell Alvaro 
 I am not anxious for either of my sons* 
 society ; for as you are the occasion of such 
 bad company coming to the castle, I think 
 you are better away." 
 
 " Upon my word, you are excessively 
 polite," said I, ** to compliment me thus 
 on my landing !" 
 
 " I shall be still more so," he observed, 
 " and send you back in a few days, as I 
 deem it unsafe to let you remain here." 
 
 I was
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 147 
 
 I was thankful to find my father had 
 not once been molested by our trouble- 
 some visitor since I went to Africa. He 
 said he had heard many times from Ma- 
 drid upon state affairs, but the lady Isi- 
 dora and I were not once mentioned. — 
 " Here is a letter for you," he continued, 
 " which I think, by the handwriting, is 
 from our kinsman Sebastian." 
 
 On opening it, I found it was, and felt 
 much amused with the contents, which 
 ran, as nearly as I can recollect, in the 
 following manner : — 
 
 " DEAR ACASTO, 
 
 " I fear you will have some cause 
 to triumph over me, for I cannot say, 
 with respect to your mistress, that I have 
 been completely successful ; but do not 
 exult yet, for though a little crest-fallen, 
 I do not despair. She is the most difficult 
 riddle I ever met with in my life, and for 
 the soul of me, I cannot comprehend her. 
 H 2 Sometimes
 
 148 THE BRAZEN MASIi. 
 
 Sometimes her conduct places me on the 
 highest pinnacle of hope, and at others 
 abases me to an abject state of humility, 
 when I am, without having given any 
 known cause of offence, forbidden her 
 sight ; and then, without reason, taken 
 into favour again. If ever there was a 
 devil of a woman, it is Isidora ! she will 
 neither have me nor let me alone ; she will 
 not accept the offer of my hand, nor send 
 me about my business ; but a time may 
 come when I shall make this tigress trem- 
 ble ! Yes, Acasto, notwithstanding all, I 
 am determined to persevere, for the great- 
 er the difficulty, the more glorious the 
 conquest ; therefore do not laugh at pre- 
 sent, for who knows but I may rise vic- 
 torious ? I am kept totally in the dark 
 about you ; for when I have tried to learn 
 Isidora's intentions respecting you, she, 
 with a haughty air, commands me to be 
 silent on the subject. The queen idolizes 
 her as much as ever, and has almost turn- 
 ed her brain by excessive indulgence. 
 
 Perhaps
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 149 
 
 Perhaps it may fall to my lot to bring 
 this proud beauty to her senses. Her ma- 
 jesty is, as usual, the primum mobile of 
 the grand machine of government, and 
 the king, good soul, understands nothing 
 else but submitting to the will of his wife. 
 Heaven take such husbands ! say I ; for if 
 there were many of them, they would 
 ruin all the women in the universe. Mind, 
 this is entre nous, for the secrets of a court 
 are not fit to be canvassed by the public. 
 I am such an altered, captive slave, such 
 a miserable, abject wretch, owing to the 
 tyranny of this woman, that you will find 
 it difficult to recognise your kinsman, 
 
 " Sebastian." 
 
 I was highly diverted with the mortifi- 
 cation of Sebastian, whose boasting of his 
 powers to subdue the most high-spirited 
 lady in the court of Spain knew no bounds, 
 and was comforted on another account; 
 for knowing more of the caprice of Isidora 
 H 3 than
 
 150 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 than any one else, I saw, or fancied I saw, 
 that he stood a much greater chance of 
 success than he supposed. This prospect 
 of affairs elated me beyond belief, and my 
 father congratulated me on the high flow 
 of spirits I was in, which he attributed to 
 my having spent so much time in the en- 
 gaging society of Alvaro — " And to shew 
 you," said he, " how much I respect that 
 young man, I shall be glad of your return, 
 loaded with the blessings of your father, 
 which I beg you will share with him." 
 
 If there was a man void of offence, if 
 there was a character on earth without 
 blemish, it was my universally-respected 
 father. 
 
 Carlo entreated he might attend me; 
 tnit I thought, in case of intruders, he 
 would be useful to the duke, and chose 
 the company of father Lopez, who had 
 been my confessor from my youth. 
 
 " Should any thing occur to require 
 your presence here," said the duke, " I 
 shall send some of the servants across the 
 
 Strait,
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 151 
 
 Strait, to the Barbary coast, to inform 
 you. As I was so disturbed with the bad 
 company who followed you when last 
 here, it will not be surprising if I am 
 anxious for your departure, lest we should 
 again be visited by the Brazen Mask." 
 
 I took leave of my father, who, had 
 he known all that was passing in my 
 mind, need not have been so solicitous for 
 my return ; for there was a loadstone on 
 the shore of Barbary which would have 
 drawn me from the caverns of the deep. 
 
 Lopez accompanied me on board, and 
 a brisk gale filled the white sails of our 
 little vessel, which scudded before the 
 wind with unusual swiftness. Boreas 
 blew another blast more strong, which 
 split our mainsail, when the rising waves 
 indicated a coming storm. We endea- 
 voured in vain to repair the damage, 
 for the wind blew a hurricane, and the 
 waves rose higher than our vessel, which 
 washed two of the blacks overboard. I 
 threw out a rope that one of them caught 
 H 4i hold
 
 152 TftE BRAZEN MASK". 
 
 hold of, and saved his life ; but the other 
 poor fellow sunk, to rise no more. We 
 were pretty well collected, considering 
 our wretched situation, except Lopez the 
 priest, who was incapable of rendering any 
 assistance, and kept invoking his favourite 
 saint. Another breaker took away our 
 rigging, leaving us to the sport of the 
 winds, which drove us, providentially, 
 nearer the African shore. We made all 
 the signals of distress we could ; but the 
 darkness of the night, increased by the 
 storm, rendered our efforts unavailing. A 
 third wave broke away our only hope, 
 which was fixed on the boat, by snapping 
 asunder the rope that fastened it to the 
 vessel: 
 
 In this condition we remained all night, 
 without the glimmer of a single star to 
 cheer us. During this horrible night 
 Lopez siaid to me — " INIy s^n, I fear thii 
 indicates some further evil — I fear some 
 one on board has, in an especial manner, 
 incurred the wrath of Heaven ! Confes- 
 sion,
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 153 
 
 V •■/!.-. ■5ffi iur} .■■A:l '^■u^^ K^ - n^ -^T.' .• o>: 
 
 sion, my son, may do much to avert the 
 
 blow of death, and conscience will tell 
 
 tl^ee if thou art the man ! Should it be 
 
 SO3 once more place confidence in your 
 
 long-tried friend Lopez, for there seems 
 
 but a step between us and a watery grave." 
 
 I was struck with the good man's re- 
 mark, and conscience stung me most 
 keenly, for I accused myself with acting 
 treacherously towards my honoured father 
 and my best friend; but there was a 
 stronger feeling kept me dumb — it was 
 my love for Kora. 
 
 Day at last appeared, and gave me a 
 view of our hopeless condition; for I 
 plainly saw our vessel must soon go to the 
 bottom, as she had sprung a leak, and was 
 fast filling with water. We were in mo- 
 mentary danger of being dashed overboard 
 by the violence of the waves, and, as may 
 fee supposed, had been kept continually 
 drenched by them through the whole of 
 the night. I proposed each should exert 
 himself for his own preservation, and make 
 H 5 use
 
 154 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 use of what rafts could be foutid ; but the 
 blacks, who are capital swimmers, pre- 
 ferred plunging into the sea, which they 
 did one after another. I Was most disf-^ 
 tressed about Lopez, who could not swim, 
 but persuaded him to let me tie him to a 
 raft ; and in this manner I set him afloat 
 in that part of the Mediterranean Sea com- 
 monly known by the name of the Gut, oi^ 
 Straits of Gibraltar. 
 
 I was the last who quitted the vessel ; 
 and calling on the name of my beloved' 
 Kora, committed myself to the mercy of 
 the waves. I buffeted them with nervous 
 sinews, being an excellent swimmer, and, 
 as tny father used to say, almost amphi- 
 bious; for, as the rock of Gibraltar only 
 divided our castle from the sea, I bad had 
 much practice in the art of swimming, 
 which became an habitual amusement.' ''''' 
 
 Whether Providence had reserved nid 
 
 for greater evils I know not ; but, strange 
 
 as it may seem, tliough I was the last to 
 
 quit the vessel, I was the first who reach- 
 
 iv ed
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 155 
 
 ed the African shore. The blacks kept 
 coming in, one by one, who all declared 
 they never struggled so hard for life be- 
 fore, owing to the roughness of the sea. 
 We were much exhausted ; and I was 
 uneasy on account of the non-appearance 
 of father Lopez^ and held a consultation 
 with my fellow-sufferers what course to 
 t^ke. jOne of them said he passed him, 
 and attempted to lay hold of the raft, but 
 the roughness of the sea bore it from him, 
 driving it^^lo^yer, down towards the main 
 
 p,,j3?his was bad news indeed, for I was 
 fearful of having doomed the poor creature 
 to the misery of being starved to death, 
 exposed, without shelter from the ele- 
 ments, on the wide ocean. We none of 
 us had strength to follow him, being faint 
 with fatigue and want of food, when the 
 blacks espied some of their brethren, be- 
 longing to the forces of Alvaro, who con- 
 stantly kept watch on the shore. They 
 came towards us, with Muley at their 
 ^. H 6 head^
 
 156 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 head, who had been sent by his mistress, 
 to see how the troops fared after the last 
 tempestuous night, ^niyBa 
 
 Leonetta was a Christian in conduct, 
 and not in word ; for she had been reared 
 a CathoHc, and was thrown amidst a peo- 
 ple who were strangers to the living God ; 
 yet, though she could not make them all 
 understand the greatness of such a Being, 
 they nevertheless shared her compassionate 
 care, as if they had been followers of her 
 own faith. - ♦" .>sOu 
 
 Muley had been left in care of his mis- 
 tress and her household during the absence 
 of Alvaro. He expressed both joy and 
 sorrow on seeing me and his brethren, 
 who had escaped the dangers of the storm 
 ^oy at our preservation, and sorrow at 
 seeing us in the deplorable phght we were 
 i«$ifi jnaking us partake largely of some 
 wine which Leonetta had sent by him for 
 the comfort of the troops who had suffered 
 during this boisterous night. I told him 
 the dilemma I was in respecting Lopez^ 
 
 describing
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 157 
 
 describing the perilous situation he was 
 in, when the faithful fellow tapped me on 
 the shoulder, saying — " You never fear, 
 massa Acasto, Muley can swim like one 
 big fish ; and me go into the Red Sea but 
 me find him, for Lopez did tell me no 
 fear de debbel." ?? 97ew cr^ 
 
 f^He immediately plunged into the Me- 
 diterranean, having twisted a rope round 
 his waist, and taking the course which 
 the black directed him who last saw L»o- 
 pez, was soon out of sight. v *=? 
 
 6il knew perfectly well what Muley 
 meant by saying that Lopez had told him 
 not to fear the devil. These untaught 
 blacks had some idea of an evil spirit, 
 whom they used to worship by drawing 
 hideous figures on walls, which they 
 thought represented him, and never pass- 
 ed without making obeisance, and pray- 
 ing the figure not to harm them. While 
 Muley was at the castle of Andalusia, 
 Lopez endeavoured to give him some idea 
 of the Creator, telling him to fear God, 
 -'«-- and
 
 158 THEBRAZEN MASK. 
 
 and not Satan, which the poor creature did 
 not thoroughly understand, but slapping 
 his hands, said — " When me kill de deb- 
 bel in de mask, den me no fear him." 
 r. We remained a long time on the beach, 
 in expectation of Muley. Eeing impa- 
 tient at his stay, I equipped myself in the 
 clothes of the blacks, which consisted 
 merely of the skin of a wild beast wrap- 
 ped round the waist, reaching down to 
 the knee, and leaving my own to dry, 
 walked along the shore in the direction 
 he had taken ; and after having gone some 
 distance, to my unspeakable joy I saw 
 the faithful creature rapidly swimming to 
 the shore, towing in the raft, having fast- 
 ened one end of it to the rope, and the 
 good old priest tied safely on, just as I 
 committed him to the waves. Muley 
 landed, and untying that part of the rope 
 which was round his waist, drew the raft 
 to shore, released poor Lopez, carried him 
 in his arms, and seated him on dry ground, 
 clapping the old man on the back, saying 
 
 —"Now,
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 159 
 
 — *^ Now, ij6p€!i,^htt''tio fear de debbel, 
 for he want to drown you, but Muiey no 
 let him ; so good man no fear de debbeU^'i 
 
 The poor priest was unable to speak, 
 and I hailed some of the blacks, who 
 brought with them the remains of the 
 wine, which revived the exhausted Lopez, 
 and made the good-hearted Muley more 
 merry than usual. Lopez poured forth sin- 
 cere thanks to the Divine Being, and h^ 
 friend Muley, for his miraculous preserva- 
 tion, assuring us he had given up all hope' 
 of feeing extricated from his perilous siti*-^ 
 atiWi ;- and — ^** What think you," said he 
 to me, " would have beeii my situation,^ 
 if, under these dreadful circumstances,-!? 
 had had no God to flee to?" r*^ 
 
 Lopez was a pious, harmless creature;^ 
 and, though not blessed with shining abk 
 lities, he acted up to what he professed. 
 He was too weak to walk to the dwelling 
 of the chief, for we had landed further off 
 than usual, owing to the storm ; so I left 
 him in the care of Muley, and bent my 
 
 steps
 
 160 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 steps to that habitatibri which contained 
 the object of my heart, taking with me 
 my other companions in distress. I pass- 
 ed the large tree where we first aroused 
 the tiger in our last chase, and stopped at 
 the well-remembered spot where I shot 
 the beast, and knew not at that moment 
 but I had shot my Kora also ; even at this 
 time I shudder at the recollection of my 
 feelings when I raised her from the ground. 
 
 I travelled with all the speed my little 
 i^maining strength would allow, for every 
 step I took brought me nearer to Kora, 
 and arrived in a pitiable condition, as well 
 as my fellow-sufferers; for, except the 
 wine which Muley gave us, we had not 
 tasted sustenance for thirty-six hours. 
 Leonetta acted the part of the good Sa- 
 maritan, seeing that we had every neces- 
 sary comfort, and rejoiced at my preser- 
 vation as if I had been her own son ; but 
 Kora felt too much to speak, answering 
 only by her silent tears. 
 
 Leonetta sent some servants, with an 
 
 elephant.
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. l6l 
 
 elephant, to convey father Lopez, as well 
 as proper refreshments for him. She in- 
 sisted on my retiring to rest, which was 
 impossible for me to think of, as I had 
 once more been blest with the sight of my. 
 beautiful girl, who I thought appeared 
 more lovely than ever. 
 
 Lopez arrived, being more recruited 
 than I expected to find him, and Leonet- 
 ta was much pleased with her new visitor^^ 
 giving him a sincere welcome to her hom^'; 
 but she lamented with me the loss of the 
 unfortunate man who was washed over^ 
 board by the first wave at the commenc^- ^ 
 ment of the storm. 
 
 Not any thing occurred for severaf^ 
 days, which time I employed in persuacfc 
 ing Kora to let the priest join our hands, 
 urging her to name an early day ; but still 
 found her backward, which was what t 
 expected, knowing her native modesty so 
 well. After a deal of entreaty, I men*^ 
 tioned that day week, which was hei^' 
 birthday, when she would complete her 
 
 sixteenth
 
 162 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 sixteenth year; to which she, half deny- 
 ing, half yielding, reluctantly consented. 
 
 This may seem an early age for a young 
 lady to marry, but it was not thought so 
 in the country where Kora was born, for 
 they marry much younger in hot climates 
 than elsewhere. 
 
 Another obstacle arose, which I was 
 not prepared for ; it was the refusal of Lo- 
 pez to join our hands, without the con- 
 sent of Kora's friends and the sanction of 
 the duke. I fetched him from our castle 
 for this purpose only, and almost lost my 
 life in bringing him over, never imagin- 
 ing but he would act as I directed. This 
 threw me into a dilemma I knew not 
 how to extricate myself out of, for the 
 more I entreated, the more obstinate the 
 old man was. 
 
 Leonetta delighted in his society, for 
 he was the only priest she had met with, 
 since she was driven out of her own coun- 
 try ; and he was no less pleased with her, 
 which militated much against my plan. 
 
 Lopez
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 163 
 
 Lopez repeatedly asked me how he 
 could be guilty of such black ingratitude 
 to those who had behaved to him so well. 
 But he was not in love, and I was, which 
 made a material difference in our circum- 
 stances. 
 
 I asked him if he had any regard for 
 the duke? 
 
 " As much as one man can have for 
 another," he answered. 
 
 " Then you are determined to leave 
 him childless," I observed, vowing to put 
 an end to my existence, if he refused to 
 marry me and Kora at the time I men- 
 tioned. This alarmed him greatly, and 
 he gave me a long lecture on my rashness, 
 but to no purpose, for I kept to my reso- 
 lution till I extorted from him a promise 
 to comply. — " Besides," said I, " after all, 
 it will be but a clandestine marriage, and 
 those are as common as the sun at mid- 
 day in Spain." 
 
 *' They are so, my son," said Lopez, 
 
 "but
 
 164 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 " but I do not like to serve my friends in 
 a clandestine manner." ^Jsnoshi 
 
 I felt his rebuke stick in my throat, but 
 chose to swallow it, not being in a situ- 
 ation to reply. 
 
 At last the wished-for day arrived, when 
 morning zephyrs wooed my love to quit 
 her couch, and led her to the lattice of 
 her chamber, through which Sol had al- 
 ready shot his golden beams, and seemed 
 to shine with unusual brightness. The 
 slaves in crowds saluted her, and received 
 from her hands their new habiliments for 
 the ensuing year. On this day was held 
 a kind of jubilee, for Kora was the idol of 
 her tribe, and not a slave belonging to the 
 family but hailed the anniversary of her 
 birth as a day of revelry. At such a time 
 as this, Zamba seemed more proud of her 
 darling, whom she had reared, and point- 
 ing to her young mistress, would ask 
 where her equal was to be seen ; for 
 Zamba had been nurse to Kora from the 
 hour w^hich gave her matchless beauty to 
 
 this
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 165 
 
 this wondering world. On this occasion, 
 Leonetta's eyes would beam with strong 
 maternal affection, as she raised them to 
 Heaven, in thankfulness that her child had 
 been spared to her another year; and Al- 
 varo would hail his sister as the flower of 
 his race. 
 
 Such had hitherto been the birthdays of 
 Kora, till I, the spoiler, came and blasted 
 all their peace. 
 
 The day closed in harmony, and each 
 separated for the night. Lopez and I re- 
 paired to the alcove, which had been used 
 by Leonetta as a sort of little chapel, 
 where she had taught her charming 
 daughter the principles of the Catholic 
 faith ; and where she, attended by the few 
 slaves whom she had made comprehend 
 some of the tenets of her religion, daily 
 offered up her prayers and thanksgivings. 
 
 Since the arrival of Lopez, Leonetta 
 had it in contemplation to completely fit 
 up and adorn this little edifice, so as to 
 serve for a place of worship. Hither we 
 
 repaired
 
 166 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 repaired to wait till midnight the coming 
 of Kora, attended by the faithful Zamba, 
 whom I had trusted with my intentions, 
 because I saw her fondness for her young 
 mistress was such, that she thought it im- 
 possible for her to do wrong ; on which 
 account I knew her secrecy might be de- 
 pended on. 
 
 The intervening hours seemed length- 
 ened into years, and I crept softly be- 
 neath the window of Kora, when I heard 
 her say — " I dare not go, Zamba ; I have 
 an inward dread of I know not what, 
 which seems to say * forbear !" 
 
 " Den you no love de Spaniard, missee ?" 
 asked the slave. 
 
 " I do with every faculty of my soul," 
 was the reply. 
 
 " Why you no make him happy ? Me 
 love you ; me do every ting you tell me," 
 said Zamba. " Why you no marry de 
 Spaniard when he tell you, and make him 
 happy ?" 
 
 " Because
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 167 
 
 ^' Because I am fearful of making my 
 friends miserable," answered her mistress. 
 
 I perceived it would not do to let the 
 conversation continue, and said— "Haste, 
 my beloved, Acasto waits : what makes 
 Kora linger ?" 
 
 The lattice opened, the timid maid de- 
 scended a small flight of steps that led 
 into the garden, and gave me her trem- 
 bling hand, which I with rapture kissed, 
 and conducted her up a walk bordered 
 with melons on each side, to the alcove, 
 followed by Zamba. 
 
 We entered, and father Lopez, as he 
 was instructed, began the marriage cere- 
 mony. The thunder suddenly growled 
 at a distance, which nearer and still nearer 
 came, threatening destruction to man and 
 beast ; while the lightning's vivid flash, at 
 times, so far illumined the little sanctuary, 
 that had not the good priest have known 
 the ceremony by heart, it would have 
 lighted him to read the smallest print. 
 The old man faltered, saying — " This 
 
 union
 
 168 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 union is against the will of Heaven, and 
 I dare not proceed." 
 
 " Do you refuse ?" said I. 
 
 " I have done," he answered, closing 
 the book. 
 
 " Proceed, or die !" I exclaimed, holding 
 a pistol to his head. 
 
 '• Rash youth," said he, " fire ! for 
 sooner would Lopez resign his life, than 
 go on when Heaven says ' stop !" 
 
 Kora laid her hand on my arm, earnest- 
 ly looked in my face, but did not speak, 
 for terror had rendered her incapable ; yet 
 her dumb eloquence made me understand 
 her wish, and clasping her to my heart, I 
 threw the pistol away, saying — " Angelic 
 creature ! it was the thought of losing 
 thee that made a maniac of me, for no 
 human power shall prevent me possessing 
 thy perfections. — Good Lopez," I con- 
 tinued, turning to him, " finish the cere- 
 mony : you perceive the storm has abated, 
 and these convulsions of nature we are ac- 
 customed to in Spain as well as here." 
 
 He
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 169 
 
 He did not reply, but went through 
 the form of marriage without interruption 
 to the end, when I again heard the thun- 
 der threaten, and Lopez said — " My chil- 
 dren, rise not till you have received the 
 blessing of a poor aged man ;" then laying 
 a hand on the head of each, added — " If 
 Heaven ca^i bless a marriage under such 
 peculiar circumstances, may it shower the 
 choicest in its store on yours !" 
 
 A flash of lightning almost blinded us 
 as we rose from our knees, and the war- 
 ring elements seemed contending for the 
 mastery. The trees surrounding the little 
 building were torn up by the roots, or 
 split from top to bottom. We fled out of 
 it, thinking we should be safer in the open 
 air, and had not got mapy paces from the 
 place, ere a thunderbolt struck it level 
 with the ground. The shock was so great, 
 that we stood like so many statues, view- 
 ing the scene before us; but the priest 
 was the first who was collected, and kneel- 
 ing, prayed for protection on himself and 
 
 VOL. I. I us,
 
 170 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 US, entreating for the mercy of Heaven to 
 shield us through the storm of life. 
 
 Nature again was hushed in peace, 
 Avhen I kissed the silent tear off Kora's 
 cheek, and led her into the house. From 
 the time of my landing in Africa to the 
 day of my marriage, it was exactly four 
 months ; yet I then thought not that the 
 six months of my banishment from the 
 court of Spain would shortly expire, for 
 Kora was mine, and all besides her seem- 
 ed to me as nothing. 
 
 The remaining two months flew on in 
 bliss, and I had formed no settled plan for 
 my future conduct, when an express ar- 
 rived from my father, informing me that, 
 contrary to his expectation, be had receiv- 
 ed no intelligence from Madrid concern- 
 ing me, no mandate for my return, and 
 asked my opinion how we should act. 
 
 I returned for answer, that as far as I 
 could see, there was nothing to be done, 
 but to wait in silence the issue of the 
 event, and thought it better for me to re- 
 main
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 171 
 
 main wh^re I was, for it seemed, when I 
 was absent from our castle, our strange 
 visitor was absent also. 
 
 I sent back the messenger, but felt a 
 little uneasiness from this interruption: 
 for I dreaded being torn from the wife of 
 my bosom, who was all that an angel 
 could be to an undeserving man ; for the 
 mind of my Kora was equal to the beau- 
 ties of her person. You may suppose I 
 might have continued safe in Africa fi'om 
 the persecutions of the court of Spain, but 
 I knew better. 
 
 I endeavoured to quiet my mind with 
 the hope that Sebastian had succeeded; 
 and three months more rolled on in plea- 
 sure, when a servant arrived from Gibral- 
 tar with a letter, written in haste by my 
 father, requesting my immediate return, 
 having received an express from court, 
 desiring to know why I had been absent 
 nine months, instead of six ; at the same 
 time informing me, the messenger had or- 
 I 2 ders
 
 172 THE BRAZEN MASK, 
 
 ders to escort me from the castle of Anda- 
 lusia to the Escurial at Madrid. 
 
 Horror-struck at this news, I was mad 
 enough to refuse to go, sending a verbal 
 answer to that effect, which our servant 
 unfortunately delivered to my father in 
 presence of the king's messenger, who im- 
 mediately set off to Madrid. The duke 
 was thunderstruck at my conduct, and 
 sent the vessel back, desiring an explana- 
 tion ; but before I could form an excuse, 
 Carlo, arriving in another vessel, in a state 
 of distraction, hastened on to the mansion 
 of Alvaro, whom he met on the skirts of 
 the forest, and communicated to him w^hat 
 he dared not impart to me. Alvaro sought, 
 and found me. — " Acasto," said he, " have 
 I formed a wrong opinion of your heart ?" 
 
 " Probably you have," I answered, " if 
 you think it faultless as your own." 
 
 " I have had cause to esteem it still 
 more so," he observed ; " nor will I be- 
 lieve but it is pure as the beams of the 
 silver moon, till conviction proves to the 
 
 contrary ;
 
 THE BRA2EN MASIC. 173 
 
 contrary ; therefore tell me the reason of 
 your disobeying the orders of the duke for 
 your return to Gibraltar?" 
 
 I started, and remained silent. 
 
 " Will you trust me ?" said he. 
 
 " Never," I replied. 
 
 " Shall I have to reproach Acasto with 
 un filial conduct," asked Alvaro, " to the 
 best of fathers ?" 
 
 " I fear you will," was my answer. 
 
 " Are you mad ?" said he ; " wdll you 
 force me to bid you hence ?" 
 
 " Do so," I replied ; " let Alvaro forbid 
 me his house, his shores, his country, and 
 I will still remain." 
 
 " Then the duke is for ever lost !" he 
 exclaimed ; " but no, his adopted son will 
 try to save him, if he perishes in the at- 
 tempt !" 
 
 ** What said you about my father ?" I 
 asked — " oh, what ails my father?" 
 
 " Ask this man," he answered, opening 
 the door, and taking Carlo by the hand. 
 
 " Carlo," said I, " why came you here?" 
 I 3 " To
 
 174 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 " To bring the heaviest tidings that 
 ever one man bore to another," answered 
 Alvaro, seeing that he hesitated. 
 
 " Carlo," 1 exclaimed, *' answer me — 
 what of my father ?" 
 
 " The duke is " replied the man, 
 
 and stopped. 
 
 " Dead ?" I asked. 
 
 " No," he answered; " but worse!" 
 
 " Can worse be ?" 1 demanded. 
 
 " Speak, man," said Alvaro ; " nor con- 
 ceal any thing from one w^o has no feel- 
 ing for his father, and despises his friend !" 
 
 " The duke is — in the Inquisition," said 
 Carlo, and with these words deprived me 
 of sense. 
 
 The assiduity of my friends brought me 
 back to life, and to all the horrors of my 
 situation, for I felt myself encircled by 
 the arms of Kora, who had been in the 
 room a silent audi tress of what had pass- 
 ed, and was acquainted with all I wished 
 to keep from her.—" Acasto lives," she whis- 
 pered, " and Kora cannot be miserable." 
 
 I pressed
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 175 
 
 I pressed her hand, but could not answer. 
 
 Leonetta gave me some drops, which 
 revived me a little, when Alvaro, taking 
 me by the hand, said — " I knew my friend 
 and brother was the same I first found 
 him, though he wanted to persuade me 
 to the contrary." 
 
 " You are mistaken," I said, " for I am 
 a villain !" 
 
 " It is false !" he replied ; " and was it 
 any man that said so but yourself, I would 
 scalp him instantly !" 
 
 Leonetta soothed — Alvaro cheered me ; 
 but what appeared inexplicable was, Kora 
 shed not one tear. — " Come," said Alvaro, 
 " do not despond, exertion is requisite — 
 you must quit us ; and as your company 
 is necessary to the happiness of the royal 
 family of Spain, as soon as you make your 
 appearance at court, your fatlier will be 
 released." 
 
 " I cannot go !" I exclaimed ; " oh, it is 
 equal horror whether I go or stay !" 
 
 1 4 " What,
 
 176 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 " What, are you going mad again ?" 
 asked Alvaro. 
 
 " You must go," said Kora — " if you 
 value the peace of Kora, you must go !" 
 
 " Is it my xicife says this ?" I demanded. 
 
 " Wife r said Leonetta. 
 
 " Wife r exclaimed Alvaro — " Unhap- 
 py girl ! and is it come to this ?" 
 
 " Call me not unhappy," said the heroic 
 girl ; " for the wife of Acasto is not un- 
 happy if he is not miserable." 
 
 " I cannot be completely so," I said, 
 " while I am possessed of Kora's love." 
 
 " And that you will never lose, till Kora 
 parts with life," she replied. — " Oh, mo- 
 ther, you know not half his worth, or 
 you would have consented to the match, 
 if we had asked you." 
 
 " The only reason that would have in- 
 duced me not to give my consent would 
 have been, that you was not his equal, 
 nor he at liberty to make you his own," 
 answered Leonetta. 
 
 ** Unhappy couple !" said Alvaro, " I 
 
 will
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 177 
 
 will not reproach you, for I only ana to 
 blame — I was the means of bringmg you 
 together, and ought alone to be the suffer- 
 er ! — But," he added, turning to me, "you 
 should not have taken the forbidden fruit ; 
 for could my sister have been the wife of 
 Acasto with honour, he is the only man 
 on earth to whom I would with pleasure 
 have given her." 
 
 " Am I not then a villain ?" said I. 
 
 " No," he replied ; " the word villain 
 can never be coupled with the name of 
 Acasto." 
 
 " Oh," I exclaimed, " that it were pos- 
 sible for me to sink into annihilation ! how 
 gladly would I hide my head from the 
 calamities I have heaped upon it— how 
 thankfully would I consent to sink into 
 nothing, and be as though I had never 
 been, could I but extricate those I love 
 from the miseries I have plunged them 
 into !" 
 
 " Is it Acasto talks thus ?" asked my 
 
 wife; " shall Kora teach him fortitude? 
 
 I 5 Arouse,
 
 178 ^ THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 Arouse, shake off this despondency — go 
 instantly to Madrid, and set your noble 
 father free. It was for my sake he was 
 imprisoned, and for my sake you must 
 sacrifice all to set him at liberty. Fly ! 
 remember it is Kora bids you hence !" 
 
 " Alas !" I sighed, " you know not the 
 consequence of my going to the court of 
 Spain !" 
 
 " I know it all," she replied ; " I know 
 your marriage with Isidora must take 
 place." 
 
 " Ah — what — marry her ? impossible !" 
 I exclaimed. 
 
 " Acasto," said Kora, kneeling, " do 
 not drive me to desperation; for if you 
 persist in acting contrary to my earnest 
 entreaties, the babe within my womb and 
 I will die together ! Start not, but hear 
 me, for I am resolute : I give you my full 
 consent to marry the lady Isidora ; let her 
 take your society, your person, and es- 
 tates, so she leaves me but your heart; I 
 shall be rich indeed — for she who possesses 
 
 the
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 179 
 
 the heart of Acasto can never be called 
 poor. Should it happen that 1 outlive 
 Isidora, I shall again consider myself your 
 wife. On these terms, and these only, do 
 I consent to live, and rear your yet un- 
 born child." She arose, rushed out of the 
 apartment, and I saw her no more." 
 
 " Adorable girl !" exclaimed Alvaro. 
 
 But I was dumb, for the unexampled 
 conduct of my beloved Kora had stupified 
 me. 
 
 Leonetta followed her daughter, and 
 Alvaro remained with me, vainly endea- 
 vouring to instil that fortitude into me 
 which Kora so emi nen tly possessed. " Could 
 I worship this angelic creature too much, 
 who had sacrificed the dearest interests of 
 her heart, to secure the peace and safety 
 of me and my father ? could I agree to 
 leave for ever this dear object of my affec- 
 tions, and give my hand to a woman I did 
 not esteem? — No, no, it cannot be," 
 said I. 
 
 ** By yon sun but it must," replied Alf 
 I 6 varo,
 
 180 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 varo, " if I drive you hence by force! 
 shall your noble father perish in a dungeon?" 
 
 " Oh, for Heaven's sake," I exclaimed, 
 " say not so !" 
 
 --: " Will you remain here," continued he, 
 " and be my sister's murderer, by driving 
 her to commit suicide ?" 
 
 " Hold !" said I ; "no more 1 I do— I 
 will consent to go." 
 
 fc ^^-That is my loved friend," he replied; 
 " go, act as Kora directs, and you will 
 save the lives of her, your child, and your 
 beloved father; stay, and you will occa- 
 sion the death of all three !" 
 
 " Dreadful alternative !" I sighed. 
 . Alvaro gave orders for my immediate 
 departure. — " Oh God," I exclaimed, rising, 
 ** give me strength to support the parting 
 from my beloved Kora !" 
 
 With unsteady steps I bent my way 
 to her chamber; but she refused to see 
 me, saying, it might be fatal to us both ; 
 that she knew the human heart too well 
 to hazard the agony of taking leave; and, 
 
 as
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 181 
 
 as her last request, begged I would not 
 insist on bidding her adieu. 
 
 I stood motionless at her lattice, when 
 Alvaro took my arm, and silently dragged 
 me away. Carlo supported me on the 
 other side, and assisted in placing me on 
 Achmet. Alvaro and himself mounting, 
 we proceeded through the forest to the 
 shore, where they placed me in a boat, 
 rowed me to the ship, and got me on 
 board. All this time I had not spoken, 
 but gave way to the dumb anguish of my 
 soul, for my grief was too great for utter- 
 ance. Alvaro said — " Now, my brave fel- 
 low, let me see that you have fortitude to 
 surmount your difficulties; remember, 
 every moment will bring you nearer to 
 the best of fathers, whose freedom you 
 alone can secure. Strive to live, and per- 
 haps some years hence, Kora may again be 
 yours ; and remember, you have a friend 
 in Alvaro, who will not desert you till the 
 last gasp of existence !" 
 
 He instantly leaped into the boat, and 
 
 stood
 
 182 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 stood waving his hand till distance shut 
 him from my view. It was then I felt 
 the weight of all my woes : separated from 
 every being I held dear, torn from the 
 wife of my heart, who was the most amia- 
 ble of her sex, doomed to give my hand 
 to a woman who was the cause of all my 
 miseries, or let the most affectionate father 
 in the universe perish in a dungeon of the 
 Inquisition. 
 
 I remained in a state of apathy till the 
 vessel brought me within sight of the 
 rock which defended one side of our cas- 
 tle ; but how different were my sensations 
 now, to what they were the last time I 
 landed on the same spot, when I went to 
 fetch Lopez to unite me to Kpra ! then 
 all was hope and joy — now all was despair 
 and sorrow. 
 
 The sight of our castle seemed to awa- 
 ken me from the stupor grief had phmged 
 me into, and I incessantly called on my 
 father ; but there was no father within to 
 welcome me with open arms. I could not 
 
 bear
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 18S 
 
 bear to enter, and determined to set off 
 instantly for Madrid. Carlo said — " Masi 
 ter, I must accompany you; for I have 
 promised the chief not to leave you, night 
 or day, till you are in some measure out 
 of your troubles." 
 
 " Peace, man," I vociferated, ** and re- 
 store my father !" 
 
 I threw myself into the carriage, and 
 Carlo followed me, when we travelled 
 night and day till we arrived at the Spa- 
 nish court, stopping on the road only to 
 change mules. How I was enabled to 
 perform the journey I knew iiot, for Carlo 
 has since told me he was obliged to hold 
 me in by main force, as I had a strong de- 
 sire to throw myself under the wheels. 
 
 We entered the palace, passed the 
 guards without speaking, as they all knew 
 me, and rushed into the presence-cham- 
 ber, where were the king, the queen, and 
 Isidora ; then throwing myself at the feet 
 of her majesty, I wildly exclaimed — " My 
 father ! give me back my father !" 
 
 Isidora
 
 184 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 Isidora shrieked, the king started, and 
 the queen demanded — " What means this 
 bold intrusion ?" 
 
 " It means," I answered, " that you 
 have torn from me my injured father ; re- 
 store him to me again, and I will sacrifice 
 my every hope of happiness to your ca- 
 price !" 
 
 " Insolence !" she exclaimed — " is this 
 the way to ask a favour? — Guards, con- 
 vey the proud Acasto to the Inquisition, 
 and let him learn humility !" 
 
 " Hold !" said I, catching her by the 
 robe ; " cruel, unfeeling woman, stay, and 
 hear my determination : restore my father, 
 and I will be your slave; withhold him, 
 and I will deluge your country in blood : 
 ay, proud woman, 1 will let in the Afri- 
 cans, like swarms of locusts, upon your 
 land, and they shall level the throne of 
 Isabella with the dust !" 
 
 " Wretch !" she replied. 
 
 *' Fiend !" I retorted ; but could say no 
 more, for I fell into strong convulsions, 
 
 I had
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 185 
 
 I had stifled my feelings ever since I 
 quitted the mansion of Alvaro, but the 
 sight of the author of my misfortunes 
 made them break forth with tenfold vio- 
 lence. The poor king was concerned at 
 my situation, and ordered Carlo in, who 
 informed his majesty I had been mad ever 
 since I heard of the imprisonment of the 
 duke. He afterwards related to me the 
 following scene : — 
 
 " I thought that was the case, my Isa- 
 bella,' said the king ; " the poor young 
 man deserves compassion, and not reproof; 
 consider what his feelings are at this time !" 
 
 " Consider what my feelings must be," 
 interrupted her majesty, " to be abused, 
 stormed at, threatened, by a relation of 
 yours ! Shall I bear this ? No ! not with- 
 out making him feel the effects of his 
 rashness, and will take care he is entan- 
 gled in his own net ; for no one ever in- 
 sulted Isabella with impunity !" 
 
 " Recollect, my love," replied the king, 
 ** he is not answerable for his own actions 
 
 now,
 
 186 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 now, being in a disordered state of mind." 
 " Is it possible you connive at those 
 who ill treat the partner of your throne ? 
 do I see this, and live? Oh, it is too 
 much!" said her majesty, stamping, and 
 immediately went into strong hysterics. 
 
 The good king was distracted, vainly 
 endeavouring to sooth her; Isidora said, 
 her dear aunt would never recover; the 
 attendants were terrified, the physicians 
 summoned, the whole palace thrown into 
 an uproar; and in this confusion Carlo 
 carried me to the apartments kept for my 
 use. The faithful fellow was miserable 
 about me, but could get no help, as the 
 attention of every one was turned to the 
 queen ; for he called, begged, prayed, en- 
 treated, stormed, yet all to no purpose ; I 
 was left at liberty to live or die without 
 interference ; and he went to seek assist- 
 ance, when meeting one of the queen's 
 physicians, he seized him by the arm, 
 dragged him into the room, saying — 
 " There lies the duke of Andalusia's son T 
 
 " Is
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 187 
 
 " Is this young man son to the duke?" 
 asked the physician. 
 
 " He is, and at the point of death," an- 
 swered Carlo. 
 
 " The duke was my intimate friend," 
 observed the doctor. 
 
 " Then save his son," said my servant. 
 
 " I will, if possible ; if my skill is equal 
 to the task, he shall not die ; but in my 
 (pinion his case is desperate," replied the 
 physician, as he proceeded to administer 
 relief 
 
 It was a long time before he had any 
 hope of saving me, being obliged to leave 
 me in the care of Carlo, with directions 
 how to act, and returned to the ante- 
 chamber of the queen, not daring to re- 
 main with me, lest his absence from his 
 royal patient should give offence. He 
 came frequently to see how I went on, 
 and owing to his great skill, the convul- 
 sions began to abate, but left me in so 
 weak a state, that I could scarcely be said 
 to be alive. Carlo was my only nurse, 
 
 who
 
 188 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 who was the most affectionate fellow that 
 ever watched by the side of an unfortunate 
 master. I was in a palace filled with do- 
 mestics, but where, save in the breast of 
 our good king, Compassion never dwelt, 
 or if she dared to enter, arrogance would 
 fright her thence, and she would seek re- 
 fuge in some lowly cot, to sooth the suf- 
 ferings of the humble swain, whose envi- 
 able situation in life I would gladly have 
 exchanged, for all the riches, honours, ti- 
 tles, I possessed. Though I was the son 
 of a duke, and nearly allied to the king, 
 yet, because I was under the frown of 
 royalty, no one thought it worth their 
 while to inquire after me — I was too in- 
 significant a being for these miscreants to 
 ask if I lived. The physician slackened 
 not his attentions to me, who was not an 
 inhabitant of the palace, and Carlo was 
 fidelity itself; but they could give no ease 
 to my mind, for I incessantly raved on 
 my father, my Kora, and my friend. 
 Some days after, the doctor told me, if 
 
 I would
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 189 
 
 I would try to be calm, and not give way 
 to the poignancy of my feelings, I should 
 see my father. 
 
 " Is it possible you can effect what you 
 say? is your influence over the queen 
 sufficient to obtain so great a blessing ?" I 
 demanded. 
 
 " I can perform my promise," he said, 
 " but have no influence over her majesty ; 
 and if I had, I dare not use it ; for the 
 king has forbidden any one to mention ei- 
 ther you or your father in her presence, 
 on pain of his displeasure." 
 
 " Is the king so incensed against me?" 
 I asked. 
 
 " I do not know that he is," replied the 
 doctor ; " but you know his extreme fond- 
 ness for his wife, and he is fearful of your 
 name being whispered in her hearing, 
 lest it should cause a relapse." 
 
 " Is the queen really ill ?" said I. 
 
 " She certainly is," he answered, " and 
 her illness was solely occasioned by you 
 having the temerity to tell her a little 
 
 plain
 
 190 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 plain truth, a thing which seldom assails 
 the ear of royalty." 
 
 " I hope she will never honour me with 
 an interview again," I observed, " for my 
 father's wrongs rise up in my mind, and 
 rob me of patience. But this is wander- 
 ing from the- subject nearest my heart, 
 which is, how you can procure me a sight 
 of my father ?" 
 
 " It would be dangerous to trust a 
 young man with my plans who has so 
 lately given such a special proof of for- 
 bearance as you have done," said the phy- 
 sician, smiling ; " but rely on me, endea- 
 vour to recover, and I give you my word 
 of honour, that as soon as your strength 
 will permit, I will procure a meeting be- 
 tween you and the duke, provided you 
 ask no more questions on the subject." 
 
 " Is my parent well ?" I demanded ; 
 " what does he say about his son ?" 
 
 " Remember I have imposed silence on 
 you," he answered, and withdrew. 
 
 Carlo rubbed his hands, saying — " Now, 
 
 master.
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 191 
 
 master, we shall do ; this will tend more 
 towards your recovery than all the medi- 
 cine in Madrid. God bless you, get well 
 as fast as you can, and we shall then know 
 how the duke is, which is a blessing I ne- 
 ver expected again." 
 
 " If you feel so much for him," said I, 
 " what must my situation be, who have 
 caused all his sufferings ?" 
 
 The very idea brought on another pa- 
 roxysm of my disorder, which alarmed 
 poor Carlo, who was endeavouring to re- 
 cover me, when a page from the queen 
 entered the room, with orders for me to 
 appear before her. 
 
 Had a thunderbolt have struck Carlo, 
 he could not have been more astonished, 
 but had the sense to answer, that I was 
 extremely ill, and as soon as I was able I 
 would wait on her majesty. — " Come, my 
 dear master," said he, " swallow all your 
 ill usage at once — let us go and hear what 
 good news there is for us." 
 
 " I will never face that woman again, 
 
 without
 
 192 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 without telling her a little more of my 
 mind," I exclaimed ; " oh, I think another 
 sight of her will kill me!" ^ 
 
 While I was speaking the page retiirh» 
 ed, saying j her majesty expected me im- 
 mediately. 
 
 Carlo whispered to me not ta speak, 
 and went back with the man, but shortly 
 after came to me, saying — " You must ga, 
 master, or make matters worse; for I en- 
 tA'eated permission to represent to the 
 queen how very ill you are, when she 
 stopped me short, exclaiming—' Dead or 
 alive, bring him before me !" "^ 
 
 " Yes, I will go," said I, " to see this 
 tyrant once more;" and leaning on the 
 arm of my faithful attendant, he with diffi^ 
 culty conducted me to the antechamber, 
 where I saw my friend the physician, who 
 motioned with his hand for me not to no- 
 tice him, and we were oi'dered into the 
 apartment where the queen was. She wa$ 
 much surprised at my haggard looks, and 
 ^aid — "Who have; you brought here ?" 
 
 ..•■ . .JLUy
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 193 
 
 ** My master, and please your majesty," 
 replied Carlo. 
 
 " Can this be the young Acasto ?" ask- 
 ed the king. 
 
 " He is," said my man ; " but so altered 
 by illness, I scarcely know him myself." 
 
 " Poor youth!" ejaculated my sove- 
 reign ; " he has suffered greatly — who has 
 attended him ?" 
 
 " / have," answered Carlo. 
 
 " You ! are you a medical man ?" asked 
 the king. 
 
 " No, and please your majesty ; but I 
 have been his nurse," replied Carlo. 
 
 " Nurse ! and has he had no other at- 
 tendant than you ?" demanded my old 
 friend. 
 
 " No other has seen him since the day 
 he arrived at the palace," said Carlo. 
 
 " Shame ! «hame !" exclaimed the king ; 
 " what have my people been about ? But 
 I am to blame. — Isabella, my love, we 
 must have him properly attended; for 
 your illness engrossed my thoughts so 
 
 VOL. I. K much.
 
 194 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 much, I fear he has been neglected too 
 long." 3ZBslq bfffi ^a^Y ' 
 
 " We will talk of that in due time," 
 said the queen ; ** I will first put one ques- 
 tion to him. — Pray, young man," address- 
 ing me, " where did you spend your 
 time for the last three months before you 
 arrived at the palace?" 
 
 I fixed my frenzied eye on her, and re- 
 mained silent. 
 
 She repeated her question. 
 
 Carlo was terrified on my account, and 
 bumping down on both knees, said- — 
 " May it please your majesty to suffer me 
 to answer the question ?" 
 
 '* How long have you lived with him ?" 
 demanded the queen. 
 
 " Ever since he was born," answered 
 Carlo. 
 
 " Well then, as you value your life, 
 speak with truth," said her majesty ; 
 " where did your master pass his time for 
 three months before he arrived here ?" 
 
 " On the sea," replied Carlo. 
 
 "On
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 195 
 
 " On the sea !" echoed the queen. 
 
 " Yes, and please your gracious ma- 
 jestyi" said nay man ; " after the six 
 months of his punishrnent were ended, he 
 expected to be called to court ; but finding 
 that was not the case, he laid it so to 
 heart, that he fell into a bad state of 
 health, and the duke sent him a- coasting 
 to recover him." 
 
 " It is strange I was not informed of 
 this before !" observed the queen. 
 
 " Not at all, my dear," replied the king ; 
 " you would not allow either the duke or 
 Acasto to vindicate themselves." 
 
 " As usual," said this haughty woman, 
 " your majesty never can find any one in 
 the wrong but me! — Are you certain this 
 is true?" turning to Carlo. 
 
 " It is false!" I vociferated; " I spent 
 that time with an angel !" 
 
 *^ He is mad !" screamed her majesty, 
 lifting up both her hands. 
 
 " Yes, and please your highness, he has 
 
 been mad ever since the duke was taken 
 
 •v^i.n K 2 away,"
 
 196 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 away," replied Carlo, dashing off a te^r 
 from his honest face. v^r 
 
 rfl^*^ Who ordered him to be torn from 
 wa^yi I 6ercely demanded, " but you, 
 queen of fiends ?" 
 
 I "Take him away ! take him away !" she 
 shrieked. -^r 
 
 ^fi^* No, infernal woman, they shall not 
 take me away till I have told thee that I 
 Imte thee !" was my reply. 
 
 The king ordered one of the physicians 
 
 to attend, who fortunately happened to be 
 
 the same who had befriended me, and he 
 
 pronounced me insane. It was in vain I 
 
 insisted on the contrary ; their majesties 
 
 judged by my conduct, which certainly 
 
 was that of a madman, and I was placed 
 
 v*under the care of the good Fernandez, for 
 
 that was the doctor's name. He had me 
 
 conveyed to my apartment by force, which 
 
 I resisted with all my might, and which 
 
 helped to confirm the by-standers still 
 
 , more in their opinion. 
 
 ,2gaFbe doctor advised her majesty not to 
 
 r^ have
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 197 
 
 have me brought before her again till! 
 was recovered, as he could not answer the 
 ill effects it might have on her health, 
 who instantly thought herself much worse 
 in consequence of this last interview. 
 
 Carlo blessed his favourite saint that I 
 was not the victim of my own impru- 
 dence, and Fernandez lectured me very 
 severely on my rashness, in giving way 
 to the violence of my feelings — " For," 
 said he, " you endangered the lives of 
 your good father, your attached servant, 
 and yourself.'* ^nsniad tell oriw sojca srfj 
 ■s afti J know not a greater curse,** said J, 
 ^ than intense feelings ; not that I mean 
 to vindicate my want of prudence, but I 
 am not hypocrite enough to cringe and 
 bow to a woman who has torn from ntie 
 every blessing that Heaven had so largely 
 given — I cannot tamely kiss the lash that 
 has so keenly scourged me." 
 - " I feel for you, my young friend/* an- 
 swered the physician, " and will do all 
 that man can do to lessen your sufferings, 
 -'^^ • K 3 if
 
 I^ THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 if you will once more promise to be calm " 
 
 " Rely on me," I teplied, *' that you 
 shall not have cause to reprove me again 
 for the same error." 
 
 " Oh, what a blessed thing it is," said 
 Carlo, " that you raved, and called her 
 majesty those ugly names ! for she is posi- 
 tive you are mad, which will give us a lit- 
 tle time to ourselves." 
 
 " Which time will be spent by my 
 wretched father in a dungeon," I sighed. 
 
 "When you are convalescent," said the 
 doctor, " we will talk further on this sub- 
 jebt; but there is nothing to be done while 
 you remain in your present weak state; 
 and owing to your excess of feeling, you 
 prolong the sufferings of your unfortunate 
 father. I will give orders that no one 
 shall see you but myself and your faithful 
 servant." 
 
 I should have been thankful to have 
 seen my father, had it cost me my Kfe ; 
 but the kind Fernandez would not con- 
 sent
 
 THE BRAZEN JMASK. 199 
 
 sent till I was in some degree recovered, 
 fearing a meeting might be fatal to me. 
 
 As soon as it was whispered in the pa- 
 lace that his majesty had given orders for 
 me to be properly attended, every one 
 was ready to pay their sycophantic ho- 
 mage to me, which I with scorn rejected ; 
 and Carlo resolutely obeyed the orders of 
 my physician, not to admit any one into 
 my apartment. 
 
 Matters remained thus for some time, 
 when Fernandez delighted me one day by 
 saying he would trust me to see my fa- 
 ther. — " You seem to doubt my power," 
 he observed, " but I will explain myself. 
 When your father was first taken from his 
 castle, by order of the queen, and lodged 
 in the Inquisition, the shock he received 
 at such unmerited ill treatment impaired 
 his health, and I being a favourite with 
 her majesty, was commanded to attend 
 him, which enabled me to soften the ri- 
 gour of his fate, on account of my medical 
 functions. He has been worse during the 
 K 4 nights
 
 200 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 flights than in the iday time, therefore I 
 
 ^ have frequently visited him in the night, 
 
 'and stayed two or three hours with him at 
 
 bhce, to engage his mind by conversation, 
 
 and beguile the time. As ygu are nearly 
 
 my height, I propose you shall change 
 
 clothes with me, envelope yourself in. my 
 
 large cloak, and instead of me, pay him 
 
 one of these nocturnal visits. If you are 
 
 discovered, it will only be thought you 
 
 are a madman, and there the affair will 
 
 end ; but it is not likely you will be fQU^d 
 
 but, for I am ordered by the familiars not 
 
 to speak to any one except my patient, not 
 
 even to the turnkeys." 
 
 '^ I grasped the hand of Fernandez, and 
 
 Ihould have thrown myself at his feet, had 
 
 Tae not prevented me. — " When— -oh, when 
 
 shall this take place ?" I asked. ^qyoirfj 
 
 " To-night," he answered. -IT 
 
 I waited for the wishedrfp^ hour witka 
 
 palpitating heart. \, ,,.,v 
 
 Before I proceed with my narrative, J 
 will give you a description of the Inquisi-
 
 ,%fedt THE BRA2EN MASSS^rf^ ^- 201 
 
 tion at Madrid, or at least that part of 
 it which I have seen. It is a fine, exten- 
 sive building, and better would it be 
 were it appropriated to a more laudable 
 purpose. It is three stories high, and 
 has several vaulted galleries, along which 
 are situated a number of dungeons, of six, 
 seven, eight, and nine feet square ; those 
 on the ground- floor and on the first story 
 having no windows, are deprived of both 
 light and air, which may be termed a 
 great blessing to the miserable beings who 
 are chained there, for it helps to shorten 
 their existence and their sufferings toge- 
 ther. The dungeons in the next story 
 have a kind of breathing-hole, in the form 
 of a chimney, strongly grated at the top, 
 through which the sky may be seen. 
 These upper apartments are allotted to 
 prisoners who it is supposed have some 
 chance of being set at liberty. In the wall 
 of each dungeon there is a hole, of about 
 an inch in diameter, which communicates, 
 with a private gallery, running along by 
 K 5 each
 
 202 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 each row of dungeons. By these means 
 the agents of the Inquisition can at any 
 titne see what is passing with the prison-* 
 efs, without being observed by them. In 
 these corridors, or galleries, are seats, so 
 contrived, that a familiar can observe what 
 is the conduct of two prisoners, by ju«t 
 turning his eyes from right to left, in 
 order to look into either of the holes, be- 
 tween which he is seated. These spies 
 wear list shoes, and the corridors are all 
 matted, that they may not make the least 
 rioise in walking past the dungeons. A 
 familiar of the Inquisition is often shut up 
 with a prisoner, from whom it is wished 
 to draw confessions, to be afterwards used 
 against him, when the familiar is furnished 
 with a plausible tale, of his own pretended 
 sufferings, to impose on the unfortunate 
 prisoner, and gain his confidence. I think 
 the infernal regions cannot be sufficiently 
 terrible as a place of punishment for these 
 miscreants. 
 
 - in the first dungeon my father was put 
 
 into.
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 203 
 
 into, there was a human skull and other 
 bones, and on the wall was carved the 
 name of some unfortunate prisoner, ac- 
 companied with five hundred notches, in- 
 dicating probably so many days, which 
 mark a confinement of near seventeen 
 months, terminating very likely by the 
 death of the prisoner. The name of this 
 unfortunate person carved on the wall 
 was, Leonardo de Guzman. This is an 
 exact description of those parts of the In- 
 quisition which I have seen. 
 
 Night at last came on, when Fernandez 
 equipped me in his habiliments, enveloped 
 me in his large cloak, the hood of which 
 nearly hid my face, and directed me which 
 way to steer my course, for the Inquisition 
 joins the Escurial. 
 
 It was at the hour of twelve, when 
 taking a lamp in my hand, I sallied forth, 
 and descending a large stone staircase, 
 passed along a winding corridor, which 
 was terminated by a narrow flight of 
 steps, leading into a number of vaults be- 
 K 6 neath
 
 204 THE JBBAZEN MASK. 
 
 nciitb the palace. All these I traversed^ 
 tai coming to the last, I discovered da 
 KXKill iron door, strongly secured on the 
 outside by three curious locks, which 
 Fernandez gave xne the keys of, and 
 having unfastened them, I gave three 
 gentle taps, as I had been instructed, and 
 instantly heard the ponderous bolts on the 
 other side give way, when the door open- 
 ed, and presented to my view a wr^ch 
 who appeared scarcely human; in the li- 
 neaments of whose face nothing couldjh^, 
 traced but barbarous ferocity. This was 
 one of tlie beings whose office it was to 
 torture the prisoners.— ** So, Don Fer- 
 nandez," said he, " you are earlier than 
 
 usual." 31 />I93 9iom 1o 9d faiuow ilusi g^cii 
 I answered by a slight movement of my 
 head, and he led the way through many 
 dismal windings, till we came to another 
 iron door, which he unlocked, saying-.«t^ 
 **jGo on ; you have been here often enough 
 t%know the wayj - >^i;t»iiaijsijxti ^^^itiu 
 ^(He i^but the 4oor ^fteif jnei lodked it on
 
 THE BRAZKK MAS^. SidS 
 
 his own side, leaving me at liberty to^ prbi 
 ceed up a long flight of steps, so darn^ 
 that I could scarcely keep on my feefe 
 When I arrived at the top, there wa§ 
 another winding corridor, similar to that 
 beneath, with rows of dungeons on each 
 side, and on this floor my father was lodgi 
 ed. These apartments were all numbered, 
 and his was forty -two. I stopped soni^ 
 moments opposite his door, to collect all 
 the fortitude I could, when one of the fa- 
 miliars perceived me, and taking a largS 
 bunch of keys from his side, unlocked the^ 
 door, saying—" I cannot think, doctor, 
 why your patient is to be better attendecJ 
 than the other prisoners ; in my opinion^ 
 the rack would be of more service than^ 
 any thing you can prescribe." -^^^ • 
 
 I involuntarily shuddered, and it ^W^^ 
 with difficulty I restrained myself from 
 giving him his death-blow. He perceived 
 my agitation, and holding his lamp up to 
 my face, exclaimed — " What means this, 
 doctor? I thought people in your line 
 
 were
 
 206 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 were not troubled with finer feelings than 
 gentlemen of my profession i'fyr^ if ei^V/ 
 .h J gave myself up for lost; but forcing a 
 smile into my face, bowed, and stepped 
 into the apartment of my father. 
 fiiWhat a sight for a son who loved a pa- 
 rent as I did him ! and what a bitter re- 
 flection, that I was the cause of his being 
 placed there ! He was sitting, with his 
 head leaning on his hand, his eyes bent 
 on the ground, buried in deep thoughtj 
 and appeared much emaciated. I am not 
 ashamed to say, the big tears chased each 
 other down my cheek at this moment, for 
 my soul sickened at the sight. 
 * I made a kind of rustling noise, which 
 aroused him from his reverie ; he raised 
 his languid eye, fixed it on me, rose up, 
 extended his hand, saying — " My only 
 friend Fernandez, this kindness never can 
 be repaid; once more welcome to my 
 dungeon. What of my son ?" 
 
 I trembled exceedingly, and he conti- 
 nued — ■
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 207 
 
 nued— " Do not be afraid to teli me-^ 
 where is my boy ?" h^ 
 
 ** At your feet," I replied, kneeling, and 
 dropping off the cloak. 
 
 He bent over me in speechless agony^ 
 and at last fell back, covered with cold 
 perspiration. I raised him, placed him in 
 his chair, rubbed his temples, gave him 
 some medicine which stood on the table, 
 and leaned his aged head against my 
 breast. He recovered a little, and clasp* 
 infg me to his heart, said — " Now 1 can 
 close my eyes in peace, for I haveonee 
 more seen my soh !" i ■. 
 
 It is useless to attempt a description of 
 our feelings, for none can have an idea of 
 them but those who have been in similar 
 situations : for above an hour we were 
 scarcely rational. At length I desired my 
 father to inform me of what had happened 
 since we last met. 
 
 He said, as soon as my refusal to ap- 
 pear at court was reported to their majes- 
 ties, the queen ordered him to be arrested, 
 
 and
 
 208 :.„. ,,;fhe brazen mask. ^fy^p„.;^'q[ 
 
 and he was taken, without a moment's 
 notice, conveyed under a strong guard to 
 Madrid, and lodged in the Inquisition. 
 He was at first treated with great rigour, 
 being placed in the lower dungeon I men- 
 tioned before, where the name of Leonardo 
 de Guzman was carved on the wall. He 
 was several times taken before the grand 
 inquisitor, who sat as chief judge in the 
 great hall, and interrogated him about his 
 son. My father resolutely refused to an- 
 swer any questions — " For," said he to 
 me, " how could I exonerate myself with- 
 out criminating my boy ?" 
 
 The inquisitors pointed to the various 
 instruments of torture which lay scattered 
 around ; but parental affection smiled at 
 them all, and rose superior to their me- 
 naces. Extreme illness shielded him at 
 fest from these kind of persecutions; for 
 it being supposed he could not long sur- 
 vive, his enemies were fearful he would 
 die before they could obtain the wished- 
 &r intelligence respecting me, and doctor 
 
 Fernandez
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 209 
 
 Fernandez was ordered to attend hini, 
 who desired him to be removed out o£ 
 that loathsome dungeon, and placed in 
 the one he was now in. The good physi- 
 cian procured him many comforts, pre- 
 scribed for him with the greatest ski^ 
 and poured into his wounded mind the 
 healing balm of sympathy, w nsoisuii eb 
 What went nearest his heart was, my 
 not assigning any reason for my refusal, 
 which left him totally in the dark respect- 
 ing my conduct, and caused him much 
 perplexity ; for he dared not clear himself 
 lest he should involve me in still greater 
 difficulties. — " Thus," continued he, '* have 
 I suffered the storm to batter on this aged 
 head, and blanch these locks, which are 
 whitened more by suppressed feelings than 
 by the hand of time, in the hope of shield- 
 ing my beloved Acasto from the bitter 
 persecution of his powerful enemies, being 
 confident he had good reasons for his con- 
 flict." vi«>vr R^rffisffs .^airf ivavrv 
 j^The duke paused, expecting a reply.
 
 210 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 which I endeavoured to avoid ; for I knew, 
 if an eclaircissement took place, that his 
 life would be the forfeiture; for his ex- 
 treme honour was such, he would have 
 suffered death in any shape rather than I 
 should sacrifice the happiness of an indif- 
 ferent person, much less a woman possess- 
 ed of the sweetness and fortitude of my 
 Kora. 
 
 I changed the subject, by delivering 
 Alvaro's message, in which he desired to 
 be sent for in case of an emergency, when 
 jbe would rase the Inquisition to the 
 ground, or spill his last drop of blood, but 
 he would set my father free. 
 
 The duke was pleased with the invari- 
 able attachment of his adopted son, but 
 said he had more valour than prudence ; for 
 the jealousy of Isabella would never suffer 
 an African chief to set foot in Madrid. 
 
 I next adverted to my marriage with 
 Isidora, which, though I recoiled at, was 
 determined should take place as speedily 
 as possible ; for I plainly saw that was the 
 
 only
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 211 
 
 only way I could procure my father's li- 
 berty. He amazed me by saying — " I do 
 not know, my son, whether that union 
 ought to be solemnized or not, for it re- 
 quires much consideration." ' 
 
 " What means my father ?'* I eagerly 
 demanded. 
 
 " Listen, and I will tell you," he replied. 
 " On the second night after I was brought 
 to this horrible prison, some one entered 
 my dungeon, which, by the reflection of 
 the lamp he held in his hand, I perceived 
 to be the Brazen Mask. I instantly sprang 
 upon him, when he disengaged himself 
 from my grasp, saying — ' Hold, Andalu- 
 sia ! I do not mean to resort to hostilities 
 against you, unless your future conduct 
 drives me to do so ; I am come to make a 
 proposition to you, which if you will agree 
 to, you and I may be good friends yet.'^-*- 
 ' Think you,' I exclaimed, * Acasto, duke 
 of Andalusia, will make friends with a vil- 
 lain ? No, wretch ! sooner than coalesce with 
 thee, he would suffer a thousand vipers to 
 
 u^ tear
 
 212 THE BRAJZEN MASK. 
 
 tear out his vitals. Away ! and thy pro- 
 posal perish with thee !' — ' Hear me,' said 
 the Mask, * if you wish to preserve the 
 
 life of young Acasto, your son ' — ' Ah i 
 
 what of him ?' I asked. — * I will,' he an- 
 swered, * guarantee his life and your own, 
 with the possession of all your estates, and 
 fifty thousand doubloons out of my own 
 purse, provided he does not marry the 
 lady Isidora, or any other woman.* — * Who 
 is it,' said I, ' that dares to insult the duke 
 of Andalusia with the offer of a bribe ?' — 
 * Time will shew,' he replied. — * Who is 
 it,' I demanded, ' that ventures to make 
 me a base offer, and dares not shew his 
 face?'—* It is one who can destroy thee, 
 root and branch,' he answered ; * reject my 
 proposal, and you die ! ay, and your son 
 dies with you !' — * My son !' I exclaimed. 
 — * Ay,' continued he, * that son on whom 
 you doat shall you behold stretched on 
 the rack, and in the last agonies of death 
 he shall be convinced his father might 
 have saved him, and would not !' — ' Mon- 
 iii>jic*:j^^ ster,'
 
 THE BRAZEN MASKt SIS 
 
 ster,* I cried out, * no more, lest madness 
 sets my brain on fire^ and I tear thee 
 piecemeal !' — ' Rave on,' he calmly said ; 
 ' but you will find you must come to my 
 terms at last.' — * Never !' I replied, kneel- 
 ing — * never, so help me Heaven !' — * We 
 shall revoke that oath ere long,' he ob- 
 served ; ' at present I leave you to reflect 
 on my offer, and shall return in a few: 
 days to know your determination, whe- 
 ther you choose life or death.' 
 
 " He quitted me, locked my dungeon 
 door, leaving me almost in a state of distrac- 
 tion- I in vain attempted to discover this 
 mysterious villain ; for the more I racked 
 my imagination, the further off I seemed 
 to be from finding him out; and the only 
 diance there was left was, to observe the 
 tone of his voice ; but even in this I was 
 disappointed, as he spoke in a falsetto 
 voice, and not in his natural tone. 
 
 " On the next day I was taken before 
 the grand inquisitor, when the first ques- 
 tiou he asked me struck upon my ear as 
 
 spoken
 
 314 THE BRAJ2EN MASK. 
 
 spoken in the same falsetto as that in 
 which the Brazen Mask spoke. I did not 
 reply, in order to make him speak again, 
 when he repeated his question, and his 
 voice completely confirmed me in my opi- 
 nion, that the grand inquisitor and the 
 Brazen Mask are one and the same per- 
 son ; but who he would prove to be when 
 divested of his inquisitorial habiliments, 
 and the disguise he wore whenever I had 
 seen him in the brazen mask, I was still 
 at a loss to determine. Though he was 
 at this time without a mask, I could not 
 get sight of his face, for he wore a large 
 cowl, which hid him from my penetra- 
 tion; and there was a shade placed be- 
 tween him and the lamp, that prevented 
 the light from falling on any part of his 
 features which the cowl might not have 
 concealed. 
 
 " Finding I was not to be awed by his 
 menaces, and that I persisted in my reso- 
 lution of not answering any questions, he 
 ordered me back to my dungeon, where I' 
 *^ '^ i • passed
 
 THE BKAZEN MASK. 215 
 
 passed the night with my old companion, 
 the skull.—* And this,' said I, taking it 
 up in my hand — ' this is the end of all 
 human grandeur! Poor skull,' addressing 
 it as though it understood me, * whatever 
 thy sufferings were, at least thou art at 
 peace now, and I would my persecutions 
 were as completely finished as thine ! En- 
 viable state, to be thus insensible to all 
 the miseries around ! And these sockets, 
 where perhaps the frenzied eyes have roll- 
 ed, lighted by ambition or revenge, what 
 are they now but cavities for worms to 
 gambol in? what are pleasures, riches, 
 honours, titles, to thee now ?' 
 
 ** I was moralizing thus, when four fa- 
 miliars entered my dungeon, with ponde- 
 rous chains, with which they loaded me, 
 and fastened me to the wall. The reason 
 of this I knew not, for neither si^e spoke 
 a word ; but I still retained hold of the 
 skull, and these wretches, having finished 
 their work, left me. Notwithstanding 
 this last mark of malice, my spirits were 
 
 not
 
 216 THE BRAZEN MASK* 
 
 not SO depressed as usual ; for being confi- 
 dent that my unknown enemy and the 
 inquisitor were the same, I hoped that 
 time would develop the mystery. a 
 
 " Many houra elapsed, and the night 
 being far advanced, I began to think it 
 would pass without interruption, when 
 the door opened, and my unfriendly vi* 
 sitor stood before me. Forgetting my 
 chains, 1 attempted to spring upon him; 
 but finding it ineffectual, I dashed the 
 skull at him, which hit the mask, and 
 bounded back again. — ' 'Tis well,' said he, 
 
 * I took the precaution to have you chain- 
 ed, or you might have pounced upon mf 
 like an old tiger, as you did aforetime.' — 
 
 * Villain,' I exclaimed, * behold that !' 
 pointing to the skull ; * to such a state 
 must thou come at last, and where — wher^ 
 win thine immortal soul be? when the 
 iron grasp of death seizes thee, which not 
 all thy dark, contrivances can aid thee to 
 escape, what wouldst thou give to ex- 
 change conditions with the poor perse- 
 cuted
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 217 
 
 cuted being thy villany is crushing to the 
 grave ! But there thy power ceases, for 
 none of thy fetters can confine my free- 
 born soul, which, when disencumbered of 
 this tenement of clay, will, soaring, wing 
 its flight to Him who gave it.' — * Hold !' 
 he said, * no more of this : I came td 
 know what your determination is respect^ 
 ing my proposal.' — ' It is, to defy thee,' I 
 answered. — * Take care how you do that,' 
 he observed ; * for no one ever did that, 
 and lived.'-—* Think you I fear to die?' I 
 asked. * No— it is such a guilty wretch 
 as thee who fears the approach of death ; 
 I should hail him as the harbinger of joy.' 
 — ' Curse on thy stoicism !' he ejaculated ; 
 * is there no kind of torture can make thee 
 tremble ?' — • None !' I replied. • Look at 
 these massy chains — have they made me 
 more pliant to thy will ? take a survey of 
 this unwholesome dungeon — has it in- 
 duced me to accept thy base proposal? 
 have the threats of the grand inquisitor 
 shaken my resolution ? No ! I never yet 
 VOL. I. L was
 
 218 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 was awed before my fellow worm !' — * By: 
 Heaven,' he exclaimed, 'I must hear no 
 more! for if my determination was not 
 firmly fixed, you would gain your point. 
 I will pursue a different line of conduct, 
 and use persuasives to induce you to com- 
 ply ; I will not insist upon it as a right, 
 but ask it as a favour. Shall I entreat you 
 not to reject my ofifer, for the sake of your 
 inestimable son ?* — ' You have touclied a 
 cord that vibrates to my heart,' I replied, 
 * but it cannot lead me to be guilty of dis- 
 honour : my word is passed to the king 
 and queen that my son shall marry the 
 lady Isidora, and I will never revoke it.' 
 — ' I would overturn kingdoms to prevent 
 that marriage taking place,' he said; 
 ' therefore, as milder means have failed^ 
 force must prevail. I will not leave you 
 till you have sworn that your son Acasto 
 never shall marry Isidora, or any one else.' 
 — * Then you will stay with me a long 
 time,' I observed; ' but pray what is yoar 
 reason foi' prohibiting him from marrying 
 
 at
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 219 
 
 at all ?' — • My motive I shall not make 
 you acquainted with,' he answered : * will 
 you take the oath ?' — ^ Never!' I replied.' 
 — ' Will you swear ?' said he, putting a 
 missal into my hand, and holding the 
 point of his sword to my breast. — ' No,' I 
 answered ; * plunge your weapon to my 
 heart, for I never will comply !' — * May 
 miseries greater than can be found in the 
 Inquisition fall upon you !' said he, stamp- 
 ing. * I shall speak to you on this sub- 
 ject no more; but mark me, if Acasto 
 marries Isidora, he dies !' 
 >'^* The Mask ceased speaking, and in- 
 stantly rushed out of my dungeon. I 
 have not been troubled with a visit from 
 him since, but have been taken several 
 times before the grand inquisitor, and in- 
 terrogated about my son ; yet, persisting 
 in my resolution of not answering any 
 questions on the subject, I was remanded 
 back again till my final examination, 
 which, owing to my extreme illness, has 
 not yet taken place. I have been treated 
 L 2 with
 
 S20 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 with more lenity since my indisposition ; 
 my kind friend Fernandez has procured 
 many comforts for me, and through his 
 means I have once more been blessed with 
 the sight of my beloved son." 
 *'' My father paused, and silently raising 
 his eyes to heaven, gave thanks for our 
 unexpected meeting, ^ne ^en^sob -^ sib 
 The rays of mom shot down the air- 
 hole, or chimney of his dungeon (for there 
 were no windows in it), which warned 
 me to depart. Think what my feelings 
 were at leaving such a parent, in such a 
 situation ! I promised to see him the next 
 night, if Fernandez thought it prudent, 
 took leave of him again and again, but 
 still returned, till his fears for my safety 
 surmounted every other consideration, and 
 he entreated me to be gone, a^^ wo i *- 
 »' I made the signal w^hich our friend the 
 •physician had directed me, and the door 
 was opened by one whom I had not seen 
 before, and being more loquacious than 
 the rest, said — " Our prisoner is worse, I 
 
 suppose.
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 2^1 
 
 suppose, doctor, as you have staid so long 
 Ivith him ? I cannot think why one body 
 is to be better attended to than another, 
 when they come to such a place as this; 
 for if they deserve to come at all, they 
 ought not to have any pity after. You 
 look surprised ; but, Lord bless you! they 
 die by dozens, and nobody takes any no- 
 tice, except, when we enter their cells, 
 and find them dead, we carry the bodies 
 to the burying-ground that belongs to the 
 Inquisition, which, in my opinion, must 
 make them amends for coming here, be- 
 cause, you know, it is consecrated ground, 
 and they get as good Christian burial as 
 any Catholics in Spain : we have three to 
 put into the ground to-day." 
 
 I stopped suddenly, and sighed.,f^rniri? 
 
 " You seem to doubt the truth," said 
 he\ " but come along with me, and you 
 ^shall see them, for they all died while you 
 ;Was shut up with the duke." 
 riGfl quickened my pace, in order to shake 
 off such an odious companion, when he 
 ^v>i|MMc: l3 , burst
 
 222 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 burst into a laugh, saying — " Do not run, 
 doctor, the dead men cannot catch you. 
 I thought men of your trade were pretty 
 well acquainted with the dead." 
 
 By this time I was arrived at the door 
 which the second familiar opened, and I 
 gladly escaped from the horrid wretch 
 who, by his barbarity, had struck me with 
 detestation of my own species. When 
 ' the door was closed, I leaned against the 
 wall for support, my agitation being so 
 great, I could not proceed a step further. 
 The keeper of the iron door took hold of 
 my arm, and seated me on a bench, say- 
 ing — " You seem very ill, doctor, and I 
 suppose it is with sitting up with yonder 
 prisoner. But never mind, the Holy Vir- 
 gin will reward you, if it was to cost you 
 your life." 
 
 ** Is it possible ?" I asked, looking wild- 
 ly at the man. 
 
 " What do you mean?" said he. 
 
 " Is it possible, that the least sense of 
 true religion, the least spark of humanity, 
 
 can
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 9SS 
 
 can be found in the breast of a familiar of 
 the Inquisition?" I demanded. 
 
 " Wo be to me," he replied, " if I did 
 not possess both !" 
 
 ** Then why are you here ?" I asked. 
 
 " Because I cannot get away," he an- 
 swered. " I was brought here by mistake, 
 and imprisoned for a crime I never com- 
 mitted. A neighbour of mine had given 
 ofifence to some of the agents of the In- 
 quisition, on the score of religion, when 
 he was ordered to be arrested ; and as I 
 resembled him in height, they by mistake 
 seized me, and conveyed me hither, tearing 
 me away from the best wife in JNIadrid. 
 I was left to pine four days in one of the 
 lower dungeons, then taken into the great 
 hall to be examined, when the mistake 
 was found out; but they would not let 
 me have my liberty, promise what I 
 would, binding me by the most dreadful 
 oath, that I would not leave the Inquisi- 
 tion, even if an opportunity should offer, 
 lest I should tell tales, and appointed me 
 L 4 keeper
 
 224 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 keeper of this door, which I look upon as 
 an act of mercy, for I am far remove^j 
 from the scenes of horror which daily oc^, 
 cur, and would be death to me to witness.'*^ 
 
 " Yours is indeed a pitiable case," L 
 said;," but what became of your wife?" 
 
 " Alas !" he replied, " that is what 
 
 weighs me down ; for I have never been 
 
 able to let her hear from me since I nave 
 
 been here." .^^^ 
 
 ^^' Your name?" said I. , g^jgj 
 
 8jf Manillo," he answered. , .j- ^jj| 
 
 3/* Enough," I observed; "she sh^4 
 
 know you are alive ; for as I am not able 
 
 to go, I will send to her by a friend in the^ 
 
 QQurse of a few days." 
 
 ^ The poor man was almost frantic with 
 
 joy at this unexpected offer, and knev^r^ 
 
 not how to thank me enough. I began 
 
 to recover from the agitation the other^ 
 
 unfeeling monster had thrown me into,^ 
 
 and described him to Manillo, who said — 
 
 " That is Bernardo, a being not worthy 
 
 the name of man, though a fit instrument
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 225 
 
 for those who employ him. But yet I am 
 inclined to pity the mistaken wretch, for 
 all his conduct is governed by the grossest 
 bigotry, which he mistakes for true reli" 
 gion." 
 
 I took my leave of ISIanillo, having 
 made him repeat the direction to his wife, 
 and retraced my way to the iron door, 
 which led into the vaults beneath the pa- 
 lace, which was guarded by a ferocious 
 being, who resembled Bernardo. I passed 
 him in silence, and entered the vaults, 
 where I could not help stopping to invoke 
 the protection of Heaven for niy suffering 
 father, at the same time giving thanks 
 that he was alive, and so singularly pre- 
 served, notwithstanding he was placed in 
 such hands. 
 
 I regained the avenue which led into 
 the palace, and arrived safe at the door of 
 my apartment, where I heard the voice of 
 Carlo lamenting my absence. — " I tell 
 you," he said, " he never will return alive. 
 Oh that I had persuaded him not to go, 
 L 5 for
 
 226 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 for I fear by this time, every limb of his 
 has been stretched on the rack ! — Oh, my 
 master, whom I loved as if he were my 
 own ch ild ! " ?dm i too sfi b^ns : 
 
 I could not bear to hear mdre, dnd en- 
 tered hastily, to put an end to the poor 
 fellow's uneasiness. He was as extrava- 
 gant through joy as he had been from 
 gfiefjV turning me round and round, to 
 assure himself I was unhurt. 
 
 Fernandez took my hand, saying — 
 " My young friend, I am not going to 
 chide you for causing me so much unea- 
 siness, as it was natural for you to stay 
 till the last moment with your father, con- 
 sidering what you have suffered from se- 
 paration. You left the duke " 
 
 " Better than I found him," was my 
 answer. " 01>, Fernandez, that I could 
 learn a language which could convey my 
 thanks !" 
 
 " That would be unnecessary," said the 
 
 doctor, ** for the pleasure is not all your 
 
 own — do not think but I ccane in for my 
 
 . . d -i share;
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 227 
 
 share ; for those who are acquainted with 
 the inestimable duke of Andalusia and his 
 son will always find their own felicity 
 augmented by contributing to theirs." 
 
 I silently admired this disinterested 
 man; but the faithful Carlo shook him 
 heartily by the hand, saying — " I shall 
 esteem you, doctor Fernandez, as long as 
 I live, for your goodness to both my mas^ 
 ters." 
 
 The next night, our friendly physician 
 told me, I must not think of going there, 
 as he wished to ascertain the state of my 
 father's health — " For," said he, " joy 
 sometimes does as much mischief as sor- 
 row, especially where there are strong 
 feelings; but to-morrow night you shall 
 take your turn." 
 
 I felt the force of his observation, and 
 still more grateful for his unparalleled 
 kindness. He told me, on the following 
 morning, that he found his patient better 
 than his most sanguine hopes could lead 
 him to expect — " But," added he, " no 
 L 6 wonder*
 
 ggS THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 wonder, since you have administered to 
 him that peace of mind it was out of my 
 power to procure without you." 
 
 Fernandez and I visited my father al- 
 ternately, and his recovery was incredibly 
 rapid ; but I was not so thankful for his 
 convalescence as I ought to have been, 
 having a considerable drawback on my fe- 
 licity, owing to the dread of his being 
 taken before the head inquisitor, for hi& 
 final examination. I entreated Fernandez 
 to inform the king and queen of my per*- 
 feet sanity, that I might have an oppor-t 
 t unity of hastening my marriage with Isias 
 dora. He was fearful of new persecutions 
 taking place against me, as soon as it was- 
 understood I was able to endure them pi 
 and Carlo was loud in his remonstrances^v 
 lest I should endanger the happiness we- 
 had but just tasted. — " At least, my dearA 
 master, remain quiet while your enemies 
 will suffer you to be so," said the feeling 
 creature^ *' and do not expose us to fresh^B 
 
 ioii use, ^ ,9^q. , alarmsi^riJ 
 
 ' bsrfoBOKqq^
 
 1?H£ BRAZEN MAS:b:. 2^9 
 
 alarmsr*by sending Woffl to ner 'cAiel maT 
 
 jesty that you are well." ' '' ' 
 
 I smiled at his method of pleading, but 
 
 remained firm in my resolution; for 
 
 though the recollection of my beloved 
 
 Kora struck to my heart, yet 1 saw no 
 
 way of liberating my father, without 
 
 making such a sacrifice, and I knew she, 
 
 would not consent to live, if he v^as to re-^ 
 
 main in captivity. Whichever waiy X^ 
 
 viewed these unfortunate circumstances, 
 
 - 1 
 there was nothing for me to do but to 
 
 marry the woman whom I loathed, and 
 
 abandon the one I fondly loved. ^^ ^ 
 
 v^ ' nob 
 ?i was deeply reflecting on my wretchea 
 
 situation, when Carlo, who had left'tKe' 
 
 room, returned, and interrupted my re-' 
 
 verie, saying — " Master, master, remerh- *^ 
 
 ber you are mad ! oh, for the sake of StT 
 
 Anthony^ do not let them know but you 
 
 are mad, for they are coming to see you!" 
 
 He had scarcely done speaking when 
 
 Sebastian entered, conducted by one of 
 
 the queai's pages, and with open arms 
 
 approached
 
 SSO THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 apprciached me. — ** My dear Acasto,*' said 
 he, " sorry am I to see you thus ! whyr**T 
 oh, why did not you send for me ?" ^ 
 d^ Because, and please your honour's 
 greatness, he was mad," said Carlo, bow^ 
 mg low. J 
 
 " I have heard it all," replied Sebastian. 
 
 ** My friend and kinsman, glad am I to 
 see you," I said ; " true it is I have been 
 ill — very ill, but am now recovering." 
 -i'i* Do not believe him," interrupted my 
 servant, " he is mad now — as mad as any 
 lunatic in an hospital. Ob, if you had 
 but heard what ugly names he called her 
 gracious majesty, you would have been 
 sure he had lost his wits !" m sd LUw siailJ 
 
 " The fears of my attached '«ervint," 1 
 said, " make him suppose I am not so 
 nearly recovered as is really the case. Be- 
 lieve me, Sebastian, I am thankful you 
 are come, for my poor father's sake." 
 1 1:^* The duke is '' said he. 
 
 -^ A prisoner in the Inquisition i" I re^. 
 0ied. 1 
 
 Ai^uoid^ " Infamous !"
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 231 
 
 " Infamous T* he exclaimed, " to think 
 my noble relative, who is integrity itself, 
 is to be immured there ! I do not wonder 
 you lost your senses, for I can scarcely 
 keep mine. However, let me entreat you 
 to be as collected as possible, and excuse 
 the shortness of this visit, for business 
 presses ; but I will return to you the first 
 moment I can, when we will talk over 
 your affairs, and see what can be done."i;i 
 
 He abruptly left me, amazed, and mor- 
 tified at his short stay, for I wanted his 
 advice in many things, when Carlo broke 
 silence, saying — ** There now, you would 
 not be mad, all I could say; and now 
 there will be more mischief hatched, and 
 then I shall be crazed myself — Oh, St. 
 Anthony, preserve my poor master, for 
 he is mad when he ought to be in his 
 senses, and in his senses when he ought 
 to be mad !" u^ 
 
 I could not help smiling at his strange 
 
 remark, and taking his hand, said — " My 
 
 faithful fellow, depend on it we shall get 
 
 •^^oomEini ** through
 
 232 THE BRAZEN MASK, 
 
 through this affair without artifice; but^ 
 should it prove otherwise, I have too 
 great a value for thine honest heart to^ 
 give thee cause to say thy master has act^^ 
 ed dishonourably." ^ 
 
 ^ There you will ruin us," he exclaim^" 
 ed, " by having too much of that con- 
 founded thing called honour. I would 
 give all the money I have saved, and 
 every thing I am worth in the world, that , 
 you had not one grain of it ; for a man 
 who has too much had better have none 
 at all." 
 
 I endeavoured to argue the point, but 
 found it impossible to bring him over to 
 my opinion, he was so fearful I had in- 
 jured myself for want of what he called , 
 policy. 
 
 Two hours elapsed, and my uneasiness 
 increased, when Sebastian returned, lead^ 
 ing in — my father ! The rapture this un-^ 
 expected blessing threw me into can hard- 
 ly be described; I embraced my father, 
 then Sebastian, but could not articulate a 
 
 syllable. —
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 233 
 
 syllable. — " My son !" said the duke, " if 
 once more clasp my son !" ^"^ 
 
 Carlo threw himself at the feet of m^^'' 
 father, and then gave Sebastian one of hi^ - 
 friendly hugs, which almost deprived him 
 of breath. Sebastian was the only one of 
 the quartetto who seemed to possess com- 
 mon sense, and addressing me, said — 
 " You, doubtless, are surprised at the sud- 
 den change in your favour, but I will in-^ 
 form you by what means I have procured^ 
 your father's emancipation. On seeing 
 your altered looks, I abruptly left you, 
 determined to befriend you, or share your 
 misfortunes, and repaired to the chamber 
 of your mistress, into whose ear I poured 
 volumes of adulation, swearing there was 
 but one proof of her friendship which i^ 
 would accept. She asked me what it was!' 
 — ' The liberation of my kinsman, the 
 duke of Andalusia P I answered. — ' You 
 have asked for a strange mark of my fa- 
 vour,' she said ; * but it shall be done*^-*' 
 follow me.' She led the way, and I fol-' 
 , , ., lowed
 
 234? THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 lowed her to the queen's apartment, which 
 she entered, saying—* I have brought a 
 poor beggar, who has a boon to crave of 
 my good aunt ; and I am come to attend 
 as his special pleader.' The queen laugh- 
 ed, and said — * What wild scheme are you 
 planning now, Isidora? — Pray, Mr. Beg- 
 gar, what is your request ?' — ' The free- 
 dom of Andalusia,' I replied, dropping on 
 one knee. — ' Upon my word, but it is no 
 trifle that you ask,' said her majesty — 
 * Do you second him in his motion, niece ?' 
 — * I do indeed, with all my heart,' an- 
 swered the lady. — ' Then he is free,' ob- 
 served the queen ; * or at least, free from 
 the power of the Inquisition. But re- 
 member, Sebastian, we commit him to 
 your care, and at your hands shall require 
 him whenever he is called for.' I arose, 
 making my obeisance to the ladies, and 
 taking with me the mandate of the queen, 
 steered my course to the dungeon of the 
 duke, whom I instantly released, and es- 
 corted hither. You are now made ac- 
 ;c.; quainted
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 235 
 
 quainted with all the spells and witchcraft 
 I have used ; and believe me, Acasto, my 
 satisfaction is little short of your own. As 
 I do not mean to turn gaoler myself, I 
 shall place your father in your care, being 
 confident he will not go beyond the 
 bounds of the palace without further or- 
 ders. I must now hasten to return my 
 thanks to the ladies, and will see you 
 again the first opportunity." 
 
 Sebastian gaily took his leave, loaded 
 with the blessings of us both. I felt his 
 extreme delicacy, in committing my fa- 
 ther to my care : there was something in 
 the action which a grateful heart would 
 know how to appreciate. — " And this is 
 the man," said I, " which I have looked 
 upon with an eye of suspicion, who I ac- 
 cused of meanness, hypocrisy, and selfish- 
 ness! Oh, how I have wronged him! 
 Could I, if we had exchanged situations, 
 have acted more nobly, with more disin- 
 terestedness ?" 
 
 " No," answered the duke, " you could 
 
 not,
 
 2^6 THE BRAZEN MASIT* 
 
 not, my son ; and let this be a warning to 
 you, not always to judge by appearances.** 
 f : We seemed, comparatively speaking, to 
 pass our time in heaven, and our friend 
 Fernandez shared our felicity. He told 
 her majesty of my recovery, who said she 
 would turn her attention to me as soon as 
 other business would permit. He said 
 he had not been negligent respecting poor 
 Manillo, and had found out his heart- 
 broken wife, who could not believe^ for a 
 long time, that her husband was alive. 
 The doctor staid with her till she was 
 more composed, and able to write to Ma- 
 nillo, to whom he delivered the letter. 
 
 " We must try what Sebastian can do 
 for him," I said; " for, without interest^? 
 there is np favour can be obtained in a 
 courtJ ^|gri;j i9l;t9d fim bfifijaiabnu uo/ 
 Sebastian frequently visited u^, "and w6^ 
 looked upon him as our guardian angel. 
 I one day urged him to hasten my union 
 with Isidora, that my father might be 
 Vgeq fi nedw .flBraow eldiened^iq free
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 237 
 
 free from the danger of being again im- 
 prisoned, qfi yd osfciif o* ?Ysw iB ^oa ^iioy 
 6j" What," he demanded, " are you so 
 much in haste ?" *^^^ i 
 
 " I am indeed," was my answer, ni.^i 
 ** You love her then?" he asked. " led 
 '2f" I loath her," I replied; " but my fa- 
 ther pines while the least suspicion breathes 
 upon his character." 
 
 " I was in hopes," said Sebastian, " of 
 freeing you from that match ; but the lady 
 gives way to such capricious humours, 
 that I cannot positively say whether I 
 stand any chance or not ; but 1 will pro- 
 pose you shall visit her, and then we may 
 be able to find out her intention. Some- 
 times I think she is very fond of me, and 
 at others she seems to hate my presence. 
 You understand her better than I do, 
 though I believe she intends to marry one 
 of us, but which, it is impossible to deter^ 
 mine." 
 
 ^We were amusing ourselves with this 
 incomprehensible woman, when a page 
 
 came
 
 238 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 came to the door, with a message from 
 donna Isidora, inquiring after the heahb! 
 of the duke and his son. 1** 
 
 I returned a suitable answer, saying, 
 we should be happy to pay our respects to 
 the lady, if she would grant us permission. 
 . :.cS^ So," said Sebastian, " what is in the 
 wind now ? some neiv whim, beyond all 
 doubt I suppose I have offended this 
 high-bred nymph, and she intends to mor- 
 tify, me with behaving a little dvUiy to 
 
 a,The page returned, with his mistress's 
 wish that my father and I would wait on 
 her on the following morning. ijjj /i^ 
 
 When the boy was gone — " Yoix may' 
 wait on her, and welcome, to-morrow" 
 said Sebastian ; ** but I have not a drop 
 of Spanish blood in me if I do not see her 
 to-night." o: Mn^xi^k 
 
 I advised him to go by al! means, tio 
 gain admission if he could, and laughing, 
 S2iid-^" I do not know whether the lady 
 
 hates
 
 THE bra;?en mask. 239 
 
 hates you or no, but I am certain you 
 love her." 
 
 " Pshaw ! no such thing," he replied ; 
 " though I am determined to marry her, 
 and will go and tell her so directly." 
 
 He left me, diverted at his chagrin ; 
 and after being absent some hours, he re- 
 turned, mortified, and with downcast 
 looks. — " She will not see me," he sighed ; 
 " the jade has refused me admittance. If 
 there is a devil in a female form, its name 
 is Isidora ! Should she marry you, Acas- 
 to, after the hopes she has given me, she 
 is, of all women, the greatest jilt that ever 
 lived. But, no, I cannot think that is 
 her intention either. To-morrow per- 
 haps will throw a little light on the busi- 
 ness, and till then, adieu !" 
 
 The duke and I waited on the lady, 
 agreeable to appointment, who behaved 
 with more affability than w^as her usual cus- 
 tom, and his grace shortly after withdrew, 
 leaving me to court her in the best manner 
 I could. The form of my adored Kora 
 
 started
 
 240 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 started to my imagination, increasing my 
 embarrassment ; but there was no avoid- 
 ing the sacrifice, and I came to the point 
 at once, by desiring the arbitress of my 
 fate to name an early day for the celebra- 
 tion of our nuptials. 
 
 " This is somewhat sudden," she ob- 
 served ; " I thought you wished to put off 
 that evil day as long as possible.'* 
 
 " By no means," I replied ; " believe 
 me, my future happiness depends on my 
 marriage with the lady Isidora." 
 
 " Believe him not !" exclaimed Sebas- 
 tian, rushing into the room. 
 
 "Sebastian!" I said. ./ *., a<.-,v.. 
 
 " Acasto," he answered, " you >know 
 you never loved this lady !" 
 
 " Pray, sir," she asked, " who sent you 
 here to tell me so ?" 
 
 "Friendship," he replied; " I could 
 not bear to see you throw yourself away 
 upon one who detests you." 
 
 " For whom do you shew most friend- 
 ship
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 241 
 
 ship in this affair, yourself or me?" she 
 demanded. 
 
 He looked confused, but remained si- 
 lent, and Isidora, turning to me, said — 
 " It is true, Acasto, I have had many 
 proofs of your indifference, which perhaps 
 no woman but myself would have over- 
 looked, and probably you will be the first 
 to blame my weakness ; but now I entreat 
 you for once to use a little candour, and 
 tell me frankly whether I possess your 
 heart or no ?'* 
 
 I knew not what reply to make, for 
 hope whispered that the moment was 
 come to shake off the dreaded yoke, and 
 fear for my father's safety deprived me of 
 courage to speak the truth. — " If this 
 union," I answered, " does not take place, 
 lady, the refusal must come from you." 
 
 ** That is as much as to say," she ob- 
 served, " you should be glad if I would 
 reject you — is it not?" 
 
 " If our marriage is in any way disa- 
 greeable to you, I certainly should," I re- 
 
 voL. I. M plied;
 
 2t^ THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 plied ; and the words had no sooner passed 
 my lips than I saw my error, for her eyes 
 flashed fire. t^jO io 
 
 •^ ' " I believe you," she said, Tvith a mali- 
 cious smile; "and, to shew you how 
 strong my regard is, I will marry you to 
 plague you !" sffc itkgun 
 
 >•** Isidora," said Sebastian, " you never 
 Mil do that ! is this to be the end of all 
 my hopes?" 
 
 " Indeed it is," she answered ; " for if 
 the mind of man is so weak as to let his 
 hopes aspire to matrimony because a wo- 
 man condescends to smile upon him, e'en 
 let him suffer for his presumption ! — 
 Acasto, I expect you to meet me at the 
 altar on the third morning after this : Se- 
 bastian may be there if he chooses. Till 
 then, farewell to you both." 
 
 She scornfully left us, staring at each 
 other with amazement. Sebastian first 
 recovered his speech, and cursed his mad- 
 ness in rushing into the room.-^" Btrt," 
 said he, "T knew your aversion to the 
 
 . ; match.
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 243 
 
 match, and determined if possible to pre- 
 vent it. I knew, for your father's sake, 
 you dared not but marry her, and thought 
 to induce her to refuse you ; but instead 
 of that, I have driven her on to complete 
 your misery. Blind fool that I was, I 
 might have foreseen Isidora would act 
 diametrically opposite to any other wo- 
 man. You will have occasion to execrate 
 my officiousness to the last hour of your 
 life." 
 
 /! *f My doom is fixed," I said; "but I 
 b^g you .will conceal from my father what 
 has just occurred between Isidora and me. 
 I do not blame you, Sebastian, for your 
 intention was good, though the affair has 
 turned out differently to what we ex- 
 pected." 
 
 He pressed my hand, leaving me with- 
 out speaking. 
 
 I bent my way to my chamber, and 
 drew comparisons between the angelic 
 creature who was pining for me at a dis- 
 tance, and the vindictive woman who was 
 iii>iv,a M 2 determined
 
 / 
 
 244 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 determined to mairy me, in spite of the 
 marked indifference I had always shewn 
 her. My father entered, and smiled with 
 heartfelt pleasure, when I told him in 
 three days I was tq unite myself with 
 donna Isidora, o Jmitipst i?jlieiq adi oi. 
 .giff I give thee joy, my boy !" he said, 
 «^for then our troubles will cease — then 
 you will be envied by all the nobility in 
 Spain, for monarchs would give their ears 
 for such a woman. We are sent for to 
 the presence-chamber, and, no doubt, shall 
 see your mistress there. Hasten, boy, 
 hasten !" 
 
 ' The duke was so delighted himself, he 
 did not perceive the chagrin which preyed 
 on me, and I followed him to the audience 
 room, where were their majesties. The 
 king took my father's hand, saying — " An- 
 dalusia, let all animosities be buried here.** 
 " Be it so," my father answered; 
 " though I must confess myself a little 
 obstinate; but it was a parent's feelings 
 made me so." ' ^ 
 
 " Enough,
 
 THE BEAZEN MASK. 245 
 
 ** Enough, enough !" interrupted the 
 king; then turning to me, asked what 
 new compliment I intended to pay her 
 majesty? 
 
 'I took the hint, perceiving he alluded 
 to the pretty names I called her the last 
 time I was in her presence, and kneeling, 
 said — " I will trust to the goodness of her 
 majesty's heart, to pardon whatever errors 
 I was guilty of during a violent paroxysm 
 of my disorder, for I was not then master 
 of myself*"^ on ,h ..ft 
 
 " It is granted," said the queen, ex- 
 tending her hand. ri 
 
 " Well done, young man ! you know 
 how to manage the ladies, I see," said the 
 king ; " but what arguments did you 
 make use of to gain the hand of our niece 
 so unexpectedly ? for we are to have a 
 wedding all in a hurry I hear." 
 
 " I took the lady when she was in the 
 humour," I replied. 
 
 " The best time of all," said the king, 
 
 laughing ; " I give you joy for being the 
 
 M 3 most
 
 246 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 iaost fortunate youth at court. Well, 
 well, this long-projected union di'aws ta^ 
 dose, which I have for many years set my 
 heart upon." 
 
 "May I request your majesty's inter- 
 cession in my behalf," I said, addressing 
 the queen, " with the lady Isidora, to 
 grant me an interview each day till the 
 happy one of our nuptials arrives?" 
 
 "By no means," replied her majesty; 
 " I should be sorry if my niece was to be 
 guilty of so great a weakness; for when a 
 young lady has given her consent to be- 
 come the wife of her suitor, there is an 
 impropriety in any further visits between 
 the parties, which I am confident Isidora 
 will never stoop to." 
 
 " Ay, ay, that is perfectly right, I be- 
 lieve," said the king, " for that was the 
 way you served me, Isabella : you ladies 
 think so much of your maiden modesty, 
 that there is no surmounting your resolu- 
 tion." 
 
 « Then
 
 THU BRAZEN MASK. 247 
 
 17" Then I have nothing to do but to bow 
 submission," I observed. 
 
 " That is the only thing you will have 
 to do all the rest of your life," said his 
 majesty, smiling. ^ *> 
 
 We had some further conversation, and 
 took our leave ; but I cannot say whether 
 my father or tlie king was the most plea- 
 sed, and at the same time observed, that 
 the queen was not so much elated as they 
 were. 
 
 The whole palace was in an uproar in 
 making preparations, and the attendants 
 frequently ran against each other, the 
 hurry and confusion was so great, for our 
 wedding was to take place much sooner 
 than was expected. Sebastian and I spent 
 the intervening time together, and endea- 
 voured to console each other; but I did 
 not confide to him the history of my ado- 
 red Kora, lest he should inform my fa- 
 ther ; and if it got to his ears, complete 
 ruin would ensue to all parties : for few 
 M 4 men
 
 248 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 %en equalled, and no man surpassed, the 
 duke, in delicate points of honour. '^^^*>^ 
 b: We sent each day to inquire after rny 
 "tyrant's health, and received no other an- 
 swer than that she was well. nnd^ 
 ir The dreaded morn arrived which was 
 io complete my miseries, which was to 
 separate me from the beloved object of my 
 heart, to chain me to an ungovernable, 
 haughty woman, to give freedom to my 
 valued father. The last thought was my 
 only consolation, and helped to support 
 me to the altar. ikx)^ ik odv< 
 i The ceremony was to be performed ill 
 the chapel belonging to the palace, which 
 was fitted up in a style of grandeur scarce- 
 ly to be imagined. The great entrance, 
 through which the procession was to pass, 
 was covered with blue cloth, as well as 
 the front aisle leading up to the altar ; the 
 chapel on all sides was covered with the 
 same kind of cloth, studded with gold 
 stars,' forming a kind of drapery, the fes- 
 toone of which were supported by golden 
 
 doves.
 
 . , THE BRAZEN MASK. 249 
 
 doves, with an olive-leaf in the beak of 
 each; and being brilliantly illuminated 
 by large wax candles, in twelve silver 
 chandeliers, formed the most glittering 
 scene I ever beheld. The altar was co- 
 vered with white, and loaded with the 
 massy gold utensils belonging to the chapel. 
 
 I entered the grand avenue, supported 
 by my father on one side, and Sebastian 
 on the other, followed by an immense 
 number of nobility, in splendid dresses, 
 who all took their respective places. The 
 king, who was to perform the pait of fa- 
 ther, was seated on one side the altar, and 
 the queen on the other. As soon as his 
 majesty saw we were all ready, he went, 
 attended by some of his courtiers, to fetch 
 the intended bride, who was in a closet 
 adjoining the chapel. During this lapse 
 of time, a voluntary was played on the 
 organ, and I stood the most envied, and 
 yet the most to be pitied, object of the 
 group. 
 
 The loud swell of the organ died away, 
 M 5 and
 
 250 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 and all eyes were turned to the doorf^ 
 the closet, from wtence issued the most 
 pleasing sight that painters ever fancied. 
 Twelve beautiful nymphs, clad in white, 
 with baskets in their hands, came first, 
 strewing the path with flowers, and 
 dianting an anthem ec«nposed for the 
 occasion, the soft melody of whose voices 
 seemed almost celestial. Isidora came 
 Bext, led on by the king, and supported 
 by donna Carletta on one side, and donna 
 Elvira on the other. If ever a fine woman 
 was assisted by dress, it was Isidora, for 
 she had on a robe of silver net-work, the 
 train of which was supported by six dukes' 
 daughters. The robe was fastened round 
 the waist with a girdle of diamonds, from 
 which was suspended a large diamond 
 cross. A bandeau of diamonds, with a 
 plume of white ostrich feathers, composed 
 her headdress, and a broad necklace of 
 diamonds, which formed a kind of tippet, 
 covered her bosom. There never was a 
 dress so simply beautiful as this, and she 
 
 charmed
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 251 
 
 charmed all hearts but mine. A number 
 of Spanish ladies, picked from the nobi- 
 lity, closed the train. ^^PB^fr 
 
 Isidora was placed at my right hand, 
 and a dead silence ensued. I stood a prey 
 to despair, with my desolated heart wan- 
 dering back to my first marriage, when 
 the voice o£the archbishop of .Toledo, be- 
 ginning the awful ceremony, aroused my 
 attention. He proceeded, without interv 
 ruption, to the part where he said to the 
 lady — " Wilt thou have this man fpr thy 
 wedded husband ?" *r28g e^vz 
 
 -:yfj^' No !" answered the lady. o hnd sd^ 
 -; The priest, confounded, repeated the 
 question. ci .b 
 
 "No!" answered Isidora; " not this 
 man — not Acasto, son to the duke of An- 
 dalusia, have I chosen, but Sebastian, his 
 kinsman !" 
 
 The whole assembly started as if they 
 
 had had but one nerve, amazement was 
 
 depicted on every face, and Sebastian was 
 
 not more composed than the rest The 
 
 M 6 king
 
 252 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 king knew not how to conduct himself; 
 the poor priest stood speechless and trem- 
 bling before them, till the queen, who, I 
 believe, was the only one in the plot, 
 spoke to him, and brought him back to 
 his recollection, when the ceremony pro- 
 ceeded, and Isidora was united to the ex- 
 ulting Sebastian, while the poor, perseu 
 cuted Acasto was left free — free to return 
 to the wife of his bosom. im ^Atkityf^a 
 .rJ never could conceal from Isidora ray 
 extreme indifference, and she took ther 
 strange method of mortifying me, by re- 
 fusing my hand in the face of the nobilit)' 
 of Spain. jNIy father felt the disappoint- 
 ment through every limb, and the whole 
 country was engaged by this extraordinary 
 topic, but I alone was satisfied. 
 
 In a few minutes after we had left the 
 chapel, and retired to our own apartments, 
 for we attempted not to follow the guests 
 to the banquet, a page presented my 
 father with a paper from the king, con- 
 taining full hberty for the duke of Anda- 
 lusia
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. S53 
 
 lusia and his son to leave the palace. I 
 need not tell you that we used dispatch, 
 for my father thought every moment an 
 age till we were out of it; and in less than 
 ten minutes we mounted our mules, and 
 turned our backs on the Escurial, where 
 we had been treated with refined barba- 
 rity, and unexampled scorn. 
 <if The duke spoke little during our jour- 
 ney to the castle of Andalusia ; the morti- 
 fication, he received was so great, I trem- 
 bled for his health, and endeavoured to 
 soften the affair by representing how unfit 
 a woman Isidora was to call hivi father, 
 -j" True," said he ; "I should not have 
 prided myself much m a daughter-in-law 
 possessed of a heart like hers." 
 
 I told my father I would present him 
 with one he would glory in ; and then in- 
 formed him of my union with my mag- 
 nanimous Kora, who had resigned me, the 
 object of her affection, to release him from 
 confinement. 
 
 " Glorious woman !" exclaimed the duke 
 
 — " unparalleled
 
 SiSA THE BRA^ILN MASK. 
 
 4-" unparalleled fortitude! — But how is 
 this, my son — would you have married 
 Isidora, having previously united yourself 
 to another ?'Vi;ir>i v^. t. .-> vi ;?. 
 
 " To secure the freedom of my father I 
 would," I replied. 
 
 " Mistaken boy !" said the duke, " would 
 you have brought dishonour on my name? 
 would you have left your angel wife to 
 pine in secrd: ?" . . i vi 
 
 ** On this condition only my Komcon^ 
 sdited to live," I answered. tTTr V 
 
 "Sooner (would I have died ten thotu- 
 sand deaths than this should have taken 
 place !" said my father ; " she must be 
 more than mortal, and a son whose filial 
 affection equals yours alone can be worthy 
 of her. Ride on, for Andalusia will not 
 rest till he acknowledges a daughter-in-law 
 so much his superior." 
 
 We stopped at our castle only while a 
 vessel was preparing, which, in a few hours, 
 we went on board, and crossed the Strait, 
 
 landing
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 255 
 
 landing at the usual spot on the Africaa 
 eoast. ' ' - 
 
 I was thankful to see the change which 
 had taken place in my father's raind^ for 
 the disinterestedness of Kora had given a 
 check to the mortification he had received 
 in the chapel of the Escurial. He did not 
 fail to reprehend me for the rashness I was 
 guilty of, in uniting myself to Alvaro's sis- 
 ter, at a time when I was betrothed to Isidora. 
 
 " I have nothing to offer in extenuation 
 of my folly," I said, " but the irresistible 
 charms of her I madly made my wife." 
 
 I sent some of the blacks, who constants 
 ly paraded the coast, forward, to desire 
 their chief to meet me in the forest ; and 
 the rapidity with which I hastened on 
 often occasioned the duke to remind me 
 there was some difference between his age 
 and mine. We had not advanced half 
 through the forest ere I saw my friend, 
 mounted on his favourite Achmet, who 
 instantly alighted, when I felt myself in 
 the warm grasp of friendship. 
 
 The
 
 256 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 The joy and consternation he expressed 
 at seeing the duke were great ; but I in- 
 terrupted him, saying — " My wife — does 
 she live? oh, if mercy is still an inhabi- 
 tant of thy breast, tell me she is alive !" 
 : " She is," he replied; " but how dare 
 you come here, and ask the question, now 
 you have given your hand to another ?'* 
 '^ " My heart and hand are still Kora's," 
 I answered. 
 
 He turned to the duke, saying — " Solve 
 this enigma, my father, for Acasto seems 
 incapable." ^ 
 
 " It is a fact," said the duke; " and I 
 am come to claim her as my daughter." 
 He then informed Alvaro of the strange 
 conduct of Isidora, whereby she released 
 him from imprisonment, and me from the 
 chains of a double marriage. 
 
 Alvaro said to my father — " Is my sis- 
 ter the wife of Acasto with honour?" > 
 
 " She is, in the strictest sense of ho* 
 nour," my father answered ; " and conse- 
 quently she is the daughter-in-law of the 
 
 duke
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 257 
 
 duke of Andalusia, and as such he is come 
 to acknowledge her." 
 
 "I am satisfied," said Alvaro, taking 
 my hand ; " my sister shall not be with- 
 held from the friend of my heart." " ^ 
 
 This was almost too much for me, and 
 a tumult of rapture rushed through my 
 veins ; for I was apprehensive that Alvaro, 
 owing to his extreme sense of honour, 
 would not restore his sister to me so long 
 as Isidora lived. I could not conduct 
 myself with the least propriety, and Al- 
 varo and my father frequently called me 
 back, for they could not keep pace with 
 the impatient delight which urged me on ; 
 they insisted on preceding me, to prepare 
 Kora for my arrival, which was a precau- 
 tion I had not the sense to think of They 
 entered the house first ; but I could not 
 resist the impulse of going to the garden 
 of my beloved, and peeping through the 
 lattice of her chamber, where I saw a sight 
 enough to rob any man of his senses — I 
 
 saw
 
 2r58 THE BRAZEN MAJSX. 
 
 saw ray Kora, with an infant at her breaslj 
 whom she was sucklincr f 
 
 You will recollect, I told you she was 
 far advanced in pregnancy when I tore 
 myself from her; but as Alvaro did not 
 mention the child, I forbore to ask him 
 about it, fearing an abortion had taken 
 place, owing to the grief Kora was in 
 when I left her. The last words she spoke 
 to me were, a promise to try to live, and 
 rear her then unborn infant, as became 
 the child of her loved Acasto. How truly 
 she had kept her word I had now an op- 
 portunity of seeing, for she held the child 
 clasped close to her breast, ^with her eyes 
 intently fixed on its little face, and with 
 a deep sigh, said — " When wilt thou 
 share a father's love ?" 
 
 " Noiv r said I, opening the lattice, 
 and leaping through the window — " now 
 will the child of my Kora have the love 
 of its long-absent father !" 
 
 She shrieked, and fell lifeless into my 
 arms. My ungovernable feelings had, for 
 
 aught
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 259 
 
 aught I knew, deprived her of life, at a 
 moment when I thought to live for her 
 alone. 
 
 The door opened, when Leonetta en- 
 tered, followed by Alvaro and my father. 
 They heard the shriek, and came in has- 
 tily, guessing the cause. Leonetta flew 
 to her daughter ; my father took the child, 
 and Alvaro, with a frown, attempted to 
 drag me out of the room. — " No ! ' I ex- 
 claimed ; " I am convinced I have killed 
 her — I know my unrestrained passion has 
 caused the death of your sister; but you, 
 Alvaro, know not what it is to be a hus- 
 band — you are a stranger to the feelings 
 which made me commit this rash act — 
 you know not what it is to first behold 
 the infant of your fond aflfections; and 
 sooner than leave the corpse of my loved 
 Kora, I will sit and watch by it till it is 
 reduced to the dust from which it sprang !" 
 
 " Let him remain," said the duke ; " I 
 have been a father, and can guess his 
 feelings." 
 
 Leonetta,
 
 260 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 ' ,j Leonetta, with the assistance of Zamba, 
 restored Kora to herself sooner than they 
 hoped ; and the sufferer opening her 
 eyes, sighing, said — " Alas^ joaothery jafie.- 
 thought I saw Acasto !" T ^VM? rr ^H^* 
 
 ** My daughter must summon the for^ 
 titude I know her to be possessed of ere I 
 can explain what it was she saw," replied 
 Leonetta. 
 
 " Then my dear mother knows some- 
 thing she dare not communicate," said 
 Kora ; " but she may trust me now," ta- 
 king the child out of Zamba's arms ; " for 
 with this pledge of Acasto's love, who 
 looks up to me for nourishment, I can^ 
 endure the worst. Speak — does my hufc 
 band live?" 9TOw 
 
 " He does," answered Leonetta ; " and 
 lives for thee alone." .^i.yrLii ^; : 
 
 " Is it possible ? how can tbus^ }ml?h 
 asked Kora. r^o-fsn 
 
 ^ !'" He has not been forced to marry the 
 lady you resigned him to," replied hei>/ 
 
 mother.- yfioniaieo ^mli goioiioi ^^ 
 
 « Oh
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 2^1: 
 
 " Oh Heavens, is that true ? what is 
 become of him ? where is he ? when shall 
 I see him ? will he return to his half-fran- 
 tic Kora ?" she demanded in a hurried tone. 
 
 " He will," Leonetta observed, " as soon 
 as you are able to bear the meeting." 
 
 " Do not keep us one moment apart," 
 exclaimed Kora ; " let me see him this in- 
 stant : oh, why do you delay ?" 
 
 " Be firm then," said her mother, " and 
 he shall be with you in a moment." 
 
 My father and I had concealed our- 
 selves behind a large flower- stand which 
 was at the upper end of the chamber, and 
 Leonetta led us forth, when I once more 
 clasped my angelic wife. As soon as we 
 were a little composed, she put the babe 
 into my arms, saying — " Your son !" 
 
 It is impossible to make you under- 
 stand what my feelings were, as I alter- 
 nately embraced my wife and child. 
 
 My father, smiling, said — " As no one 
 will introduce me, I am under the neces- 
 sity of performing that ceremony for my- 
 self;"
 
 262 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 self-,** and taking the hand of Kora, added 
 ^** May an old man share the affectiAi 
 of Acasto's wifer^'^^^Ai 6»fri sL^fn c^d li loL 
 
 " Who is this striSiger?^ asked Kora. 
 -.- " My father,^ I told her. > 
 
 ' r:She attempted to kneel, but the duke 
 prevented her, isaying — " Not so, angelic, 
 glorious woman ! proud am I to add, the 
 endearing title of daughter; for to thine 
 unexampled fortitude and affection I owe 
 my liberty and life, and what is still dear- 
 er to me, the happiness of my son. If 
 Acasto had acted contrary to what he has 
 done, and remained insensible to thy peer- 
 less beauty and virtue, he should never 
 have called me father again." 
 
 The duke joined our hands, saying — 
 "Long, long may my children live, to be 
 the delight of all their relatives !" 
 
 Kora's eyes glistened with a silent tear, 
 but she did not speak, and taking the 
 child from me, placed it in my father's 
 arm^.'— ^*^ I understand the delicacy of your 
 feelings," said the duke ; " this child is 
 
 the
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 263 
 
 5the| acknowledged heir of the house of 
 Andalusia ; for this gift receive my thanks, 
 for it has made me rich indeed." 
 
 Alvaro saift — " My kind, generous 
 friend, this condescension is greater than 
 could be expected by any one, except 
 those who are as well acquainted with the 
 generosity of Andalusia as his adopted son 
 is. I know^ not but extreme kindness 
 wounds deeper than the most hardened 
 scorn." 
 
 " Spoken just like my noble-spirited, 
 youngest boy," said the duke ; " but I 
 will have this child registered in due form, 
 and all my estates secured to him, as heir 
 to my son." 
 
 We w^ere almost too happy; and Leo- 
 netta was no less pleased with the duke 
 than he was with her. He asked how she 
 contrived to prevent so beautiful a crea- 
 ture as her daughter from being stolen by 
 the chiefs who surrounded her ? 
 
 ** That action was left for your son to 
 perform," answered Leonetta ; " for none 
 
 of
 
 264 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 of our chiefs had courage enough to com- 
 mit so great a theft." 
 
 My father proposed leaving us in a few- 
 days — " For," said he, " a*soldier knows 
 his duty to his sovereign, though a mo- 
 narch may forget his duty to a soldier." 
 
 He confessed his time had not passed 
 so agreeably for four-and-twenty years, but 
 could not be persuaded to stay, and ne- 
 glect his military avocations, notwithstand- 
 ing he had been treated with such unex- 
 ampled rigour by the royal family, but 
 said he should do his duty, whether they 
 did theirs or no, and in two days left us. 
 — " Observe one thing," said my lather 
 on taking leave — " I shall not be glad to 
 see any of my children at the castle of 
 Andalusia." 
 
 We looked at him for an explanation, 
 when he continued — " No, neither of my 
 sons, nor my lovely, heroic daughter, nor 
 yet my cherub grandson, the pride of my 
 grey hairs, do I wish to see there, lest 
 they meet with the troublesome compa- 
 nion
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 265 
 
 niaB in the brazen mask. Here, my chil- 
 dren, you are safe, and here it is my wish 
 you should remain." 
 
 Alvaro burst into a hearty lau^h at the 
 care the duke was taking of us, but coukl 
 not alter his determination; and in bid- 
 ding us adieu, my father said he knew 
 not which possessed his affection most. 
 
 His absence not a little damped our fe- 
 licity, and Leonetta particularly regretted 
 it; for the duke and her possessed strong 
 minds, with amiable dispositions, which 
 rendered them fit companions for each 
 other. I must say, with truth, we were 
 the happiest family in the whole world, 
 having nothing to wish for but the com- 
 pany of my father. He frequently sent 
 Carlo to us with intelligence, and we as 
 often sent Muley to him, with affectionate 
 inquiries after his welfare ; and we were 
 not much surprised with news from the 
 court of Spain respecting Sebastian and 
 Isidora, who strove with equal resolution 
 
 VOL. I. N for
 
 266 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 for the mastery, and were equally deter- 
 mined to torment each othen »>nB ^ts^^Bf^ 
 
 Sixteen months rolled on iri mninter* 
 rupted joy — delightful period of my ex- 
 istence ! I was sitting in the alcove which 
 was destroyed by a thunderbolt on the 
 night of my marriage, which I had had re- 
 built, with my Kora and my dimpled boy^. 
 when Alvaro entered, conducting a ser^ 
 vant of my father's, and I was much sur- 
 prised to find it was not Carlo, who had 
 constantly been sent to us by the duke*' 
 The servant presented me a letter, which 
 was in the handwriting of Carlo. 
 
 He informed me, my father was arrest- 
 ed by order of the queen, and conveyed 
 to Madrid ; that our castle was filled with 
 soldiers ; that he had sent me this intelli- 
 gence by a trusty servant of our house- 
 hold, who was made acquainted with the 
 subterraneous passage which led to the 
 bastion beneath our castle ; and that it was 
 my father's wish I should remain on the 
 African coast. Carlo added, he was de- 
 termined
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 26? 
 
 termined to follow the fortunes of his old 
 master, and set off after him, advising me 
 to send back Martino to our castle, who 
 would convey me what information he 
 could gather. 
 
 Such was the blow I received at a time 
 I looked not for it — at a time when I was 
 in the height of my felicity. Alvaro, 
 Leonetta, and my lovely wife, were equal- 
 ly afilicted with me, and at a loss to guess 
 what crime could be imputed to the duke, 
 whose conduct on all occasions had been 
 irreproachable. I was dashed from the 
 highest pinnacle of earthly bliss, to ago- 
 nizing depths of misery. 
 
 We sent back Martino to Gibraltar. 
 Alvaro summoned his troops, proposing 
 to cross the Strait, to take possession of 
 the castle of Andalusia by force, and ex- 
 pel the soldiery ; but while we were de- 
 bating what course to take, Martino re- 
 turned with information from Carlo. He 
 said, my marriage with Kora was known 
 to the queen ; that my father was arrested, 
 N 2 and
 
 268 THE BRAZEN MASK. 
 
 and accused of aiding and abetting his son 
 to form an union with the niece of the 
 queen, he being previously married to an 
 African woman. Carlo further said, that 
 her majesty and Isidora thought, as soon 
 as they got possession of the duke, I 
 should follow ; but finding I did not ap- 
 pear, orders were issued for a great army 
 to land on the African coast, to seize me, 
 and convey me to Madrid ; likewise, that 
 several regiments were on their march to 
 Gibraltar, where they were to embark for 
 Africa. 
 
 Alvaro had scarcely time to arrange his 
 troops, and place them on the defensive, 
 ere the vessels of the Spaniards made their 
 appearance. The Africans made a despe- 
 hite resistance, but the numbers of the 
 Spaniards overcame them so far as to effect 
 a landing. 
 
 In the midst of all this confusion and 
 distress, Kora exhorted us to be calm; 
 but I saw, though she tried to conceal it, 
 
 the
 
 THE BRAZEN MASK. 269 
 
 the inward agony of her soul shook her 
 frame. 
 
 The Spaniards prepared to give us bat- 
 tle, arranging themsplves accordingly: 
 foe drew nearer to foe, when Alvaro and 
 I perceived from an eminence, that a per- 
 son was bound hand and foot, belonging 
 to the Spaniards, being placed in the front 
 of the battle, and it was no other — oh 
 God ! do I live to tell it ? — it was no other 
 than — my father !" 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
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