The Duke had begun to mend rapidly ever since the Marquis consented to
his union with Amelia; the letter of the Countess restored his health
entirely. No mortal could be more happy and cheerful than the Duke of
Cami*a. It was natural that Alumbrado, who, as the author of his
happiness, had no small claim to his gratitude, should acquire in his
eyes a value, which entirely dispelled the antipathy he at first had
conceived against him. I soon was made sensible of that change, when I
took one time the opportunity of dropping a few words concerning
Alumbrado. “I cannot conceive,” the Duke replied warmly, “why you are so
much prejudiced against that man; it is true his physiognomy does not
speak much in his recommendation; it is, however, very unphilosophical
to condemn a person merely on account of his features.” “Say whatever
you will,” I replied, “an undescribable repelling sensation, which
certainly does not deceive me--” “You have conceived an antipathy
against him,” the Duke interrupted me, “and that cannot be refuted by
arguments; however, I will remind you of a fact, which here will be in
its proper place. Socrates, whose physiognomy, as you will recollect,
was very much to his disadvantage, happened once to be in a company of
friends, when a philosopher, who pretended to be a physiognomist, took
the word; he was requested to delineate the character of Socrates, who
was a stranger to him. The philosopher named several vices which he
pretended to read plainly in his face. A general laughter was the effect
of his judgment; however, Socrates remained serious, and declared that
he really had felt a natural propensity to those vices, but had got the
better of it by unremitted assiduity. The application of this instance,
I leave to your own good sense.”
“How?” I exclaimed with surprise, “you compare Alumbrado with Socrates,
an absurd ascetic with a reverend sage, hypocrisy with virtue?” This
enormous infatuation vexed me to such a degree, that I could not help
giving vent to my just resentment. However, I perceived soon that my
words did not make the least impression on my misguided friend. Being
therefore obliged to desist from my endeavours to change the opinion of
the Duke, I strove with additional assiduity to cut off his connection
with Alumbrado, at least till he should be united to Amelia, expecting
that this angel would soon drive away that demon of darkness. I proposed
to the Duke a journey to **ina, for the benefit of his health, and
offered to accompany him. He consented to it without difficulty,
expecting to beguile by exercise and diversions, the time which, from
his impatience of seeing Amelia arrive, appeared to him to creep on with
snail-like slowness. My aim would however have been attained without
this expedient, Alumbrado leaving Li*bon unexpectedly; yet we set out on
our proposed journey.
We had not been seven days at **ina when the Duke was already impatient
to leave that place. However improbable it was Amelia could arrive so
soon, yet this idea left him no rest. We returned on the eighth day, and
travelled day and night.
It was five o’clock in the morning, when we alighted at his palace.
Scarcely had we entered his apartment when his Secretary brought a
letter which he said had been left by a pilot at a late hour last night.
The Duke reddened and grew pale alternately, while he opened it.---“She
is arrived, she is arrived!” he exclaimed, and the letter dropped out of
his hand trembling with rapture. “She is arrived!” he repeated, taking
it up and re-perusing the gladful lines. The emotions of his mind were
so violent, that he was obliged to sit down. “Amelia is arrived!” he
exclaimed again, rising and straining me to his bosom. The letter was
couched in the following words:
“Has not your heart told you, my dearest Duke that I am near you?
I should already have pressed you to my panting heart, if the Captain
had suffered me to go in the boat which will set the pilot on shore. But
he has opposed my design, on account of the swelling sea and the great
distance. If Heaven favours us you will see me to-morrow.