The Fate of a Crown
ange visitor. He did not wear a mask, as did so many of the conspirators, even in the
t in height and finely proportioned, so that his presence fairly dominated us and
Dom Miguel, whose face wore a sad and tired expression. I immediat
"I present you to General
al of the forces of the Revolutionary party. I had never seen the great man before, as his duties required
lack eyes as I stood before him. It seemed to search out my every thought, and I had the sensatio
ment he had seized my hand and gripped it
e rest of your
s learned my secret, it is true; but she i
her estrangement from that scoundrel, Leon de Mar. Men are seldom traitors, for they dare not face t
d sudden
h for Senhora Izabe
I an
m smile. "Never trust a woman in politics. But
startled by
me!" he
eneral," said I, nettled by his manner. "I am here to se
ed my back upon him, facing Dom Miguel, ov
king beneath his cloak, 95and his spurs clicking like cas
"your daughter and your friend. They a
a's face
cluding yourself, General-has done more to serve the Cause. I have l
d drew a folded paper
Miguel's hand. "It is a copy of the report
then gave it to me, at the same t
contained 96important records of the conspiracy. It was built of double plates of steel, and the entrance was guarded by a cleverly constructed door, which could only be unlocked by means of a stone set i
Francisco Paola now?" inquired
f invent the secre
did,
long
years. Is it no
hief
la has kept this s
the vault was stored with all our funds a
Minister of Police, has been driven to mak
, and the huge general snorted and
mean?" dema
arded to the Emperor or is on the way to him. Therefore he has forestalled Madam Izabel's report, in order that he may prove his department vigilant in serving the government, and so protect his high office. Can you not see that Paola's claim that he is working to secure the r
Then the general's brow unbent
r Paola to get himself deposed, or even suspected, at this j
this copy of the rep
e of our
it to you. It is a warning, gentlemen. We must not delay in acting
is that?" a
He sat thoughtfully c
event. To-morrow we will pack everything in chests and carry them to 99Senhor Bastro, who has a safe
uarding the usual appr
to me in the morning. I will also summon some of our nearby patri
not abandon too soon the vault we constructe
r apar
nd put a guard at her door. We must not le
igh. "It may be," he continued, hesitatingly, "t
k about him, glanced at the clock, 100and str
one Dom Migue
?" sa
ke Fonseca,"
st valuable leader the Cause can boast. Moreover, Fonseca has risked everything in our enterprise, and may be implicitly trusted. When at last we strik
tired to my little room next the study. Dom Miguel slept in a
ft me nervous and wakeful, and it was some
on my should
Dom M
" he cried, in trembling ton