Page:Madrid shaver's adventures in the Spanish Inquisition (4).pdf/19

19 testify to her external charms; I alone can witness to the exquisite perfections of her mind.—Senior Don Manuel, replied Pedrosa, I have seen Donna Leonora, and your Excellency is warranted in all you can say in her praise; she is of incomparable beauty. These words threw the uxorious Spaniard into raptures; his eyes sparkled with delight; the blood rushed into his emaciated cheeks, and every feature glowed with unutterable joy: he pressed Pedrosa with a variety of rapid inquiries, all which he evaded by pleading ignorance, saying that he had only a casual glance of her, as she passed along the Prado. The embarrassment, however, which accompanied these answers, did not escape the English captain, who, shortly after, drawing Pedrosa aside into the surgeon’s cabin, was by him made acquainted with the melancholy situation of that unfortunate lady, and every particular of the story as before related; nay, the very vial was produced, with its contents, as put into the hands of Pedrosa by the Inquisitor.

Can there be such villainy in man? cried the British captain, when Pedrosa had concluded his detail: alas! my heart bleeds for this unhappy husband; assuredly, that monster has destroyed Leonora; as for thee, Pedrosa, whilst the British flag flies over thy head, neither Spain, nor Portugal, nor inquisitors, nor devils, shall annoy thee under its protection; but if thou ever venturest over the side of this ship, and rashly settest thy foot upon Catholic soil, when we arrive at Lisbon, thou art a lost man.—I were worse than a madman, replied Nicolas, should I