The Fate of a Crown

se order. At least a half-mile separated the scattered mansions from one another, and the grounds were artistically planned and seemingly well cared for. At this season

these were peasants, who touched t

ve than its neighbors, for the hedge of blooming cactus that divided the gr

o the grounds, where magnificent trees shaded a windin

ted from the cart he came down the steps to meet me, bowing very courteously, and giving my hand a friend

ght.” He paused to give me a keen look, and then smiled—a sweet, winning smile such as I have seldom seen. “Ah! may you not be a

ssion, were black. His smile, which was not frequent, disclosed a line of even, white teeth. His dress was a suit of plain, well-fitting black, supplemented by irreproachable linen. Taken altogether, Dom Miguel appeared a model of the old school of gentility, wh

he question his politeness would not permit

swept over his dark face. He s

his own nephew, the son of my dear old friend?

er embarrassed, for the fathomless eyes

would bring my secretary to Brazil. But whom he might be I could not even guess.” He paused a mo

ou seem not to lack loyal friends. On my way hither from Rio de Jan

the Castina and to forward him to me in safety. They know, therefore, that you came to assist the Re

had suspected,” I remarked, thinking o

is now the time of intrigue, of plot and counterplot, of petty conspiracies and deceits. These would discourage any honest heart were not the great

to understand why my father and my stern Uncle Nelson had

cozy room on the ground floor, which, he told me

” said I, and then related to him the details of my a

ly and without interruption; bu

we will see whether your baggage cannot be saved.

what

Guarde, and he smiled when I related the m

tinued, reflectively, “the man will be your bitter enemy; and although you have outwitted him once he is a foe not to be despised. Indeed, Harcliffe, your post is not one of much security. If, when I have taken you full

th many cordial expr

the beauties of the shrubbery, and the stately rows of ancient trees. The quiet of the place suggested nothing of wars and revolutions, and it was with real

o face with a young girl, who recoiled in surprise and met my gaze wit

!” I exclaimed, and sto

her fair face and the nervous tension of the little hands that pressed a mass of flowers to her bosom. Evidently she was struggling for

hsafed beauty in addition to the charm of womanhood. And here before me stood the most beautiful girl

nts that I stood watching her lips tremble i

merican?” she

mit me to introduce mysel

ected you,” s

ur un

o call him so, since he is my guardian. Yet it was not from him I learned of

ed that I was puzzled,

se. That is why I felt that I must speak with you, why I must welcome you to ou

her former hesitation, and to my delight her e

intuitions, and they tell me you will be faithful to the cause of f

51and vanished around the hedge befor

impersonally, as an affair in which I had engaged at the request of my good uncle. But now that I had met this fellow-conspi

to me. But she was a rebel; Francisco, her brother, was a rebel; and Do

find my trunks there, they having arrived in

rawing-room, where my host—or my employer, rat

dainty folds of soft white mulle. But she had no intention of allowing her chance meeting to stand for a formal introduction, and as Dom Miguel presented me sh

peaking the name with evident tenderness. Then he t

an his bewitching sister, his features were not without a sort of effeminate beauty, of which he seemed fully aware. At once I conceived him to be a mere popinjay, and had no doubt he 53would prove brainless and well-nigh ins

lady entered the room. She gave a slight start at sight

abel de Mar,” said he, and gave me a cu

ause of their absolute lack of expression—a lack caused by repression more than a want of mobility. Her face seemed carved of old ivory. Even the great eyes were impenetrable, reflecting n

r, in view of the supposedly private nature of my mission to Brazil. Inwardly I blamed Dom Miguel for not telling me how far his daughter and his guests were in his confidence; but before I blundered more than a fe

t her frown, took the fan from her hand, and wielded it in a mincing manner, pouring int

lady in to 55dinner, and to my surprise Madam Izabel took Paola’s

afternoon. De Pintra, indeed, courteously endeavored to draw the ladies into a general conversation; but his daughter was cold and unresponsive, and the host himself appeared to be in a thoughtful mood. For my part, I was glad to have t

d we three men were alone, Dom Miguel a

of our revolutionary moveme

indeed,” I res

his advisors leave him no exercise of his own royal will. Spurred by the nation’s distress, the Revolution has at last taken definite form, and at present centers in me. But as our strength grows our danger increases. The existing government, knowing itself threatened, has become keen to ferret out our secrets an

It seemed strange that Dom 57Miguel should spea

t I caught a gleam in his eye so shrewd and comprehensive that it positively startled me. Instantly his face was shrouded in a cloud of smo

rom one to the othe

in our counsels or more thoroughly esteemed by all classes of patriots t

. I stared at him with an astonishment tinged with disgust. His eyes were now gla

Miguel, who gravel

serve you to the best of my ability. This, by way of gratitude for many favors shown our house by you in the days when a friend counted largely for success. Being an

d my hand warmly. Paola poured himself a glass

y possession are papers wherein are inscribed the 59names of the patriots who have joined our Cause; to me has been intrusted the treasure accumulated for years to enable us to carry out our plans. Even those plans—carefully formulated and known to but a few of my associate

tly. His eyes, so gentle in repose, no

d of treason to the Cause. There are spies everywhere, of both sexes, among the lowly and the g

n the sincerity of his speech, and it succeeding in

aking the tense pause, “l

tion and its advocates through a process of absorption. This would require time, as well as personal contact with Dom Miguel and his confrères, and my only hope of mastering the situation lay in a careful study of each personage I met and a cautious resistance of any temptation to judg

ace drew me to her side, and I straigh