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town where he may present himself. I can well believe it, replied the captain ; his piteous case will require further deliberation; in the mean time, let nothing transpire on your part; and keep yourself out of his sight as carefully as you can.— This said, the captain left the cabin, and both parties repaired to their several occupations.
As soon as the frigate and her prize cast anchor in the Tagus, Don Manuel de Cassafonda impatiently reminded our captain of his promised parole. The painful moment was now come, when an explanation of some sort became unavoidable: the generous Englishman, with a countenance expressive of the tenderest pity, took the Spaniard’s hand in his, and seating him on a couch beside him, ordered the centinel to keep the cabin private, and delivered himself to the following effect:—
Senior Don Manuel, I must now impart to you an anxiety which I labour under on your account; I have strong reasons to suspect you have enemies in your own country, who are upon the watch to arrest you on your landing ; when I have told you this, I expect you will repose such trust in my honour, and the sincerity of my regard for you, as not to demand any further explanation of the particulars on which my intelligence is founded.—Heaven and earth! exclaimed the astonished Spaniard, who can be those enemies I have to fear, and what can I have done to deserve them! So far will 1 explain myself to you, answered the captain, as to point out the principal enemy to you, the Inquisitor-general. The best friend I have in Spain, exclaimed the Governor,
