SKETCHES IN 1'ORTUGAL. 417 



caught sight of him from a reclining posture on a couch formed of 

 cloaks, and elevated a little from the floor, and before him was an 

 old wooden box, on which the servants placed his frugal meal. With 

 the exception of the padre, who was extended on a heap of cloaks at 

 his feet,, the persons I have named were some walking up and down, 

 others standing still. I have frequently observed Don Pedro conceal 

 a feeling of despondency (when I knew from what had transpired he 

 he must have been greatly depressed), and affect to be in the highest 

 spirits, in order that his example might infuse courage and fortitude 

 into the hearts of those around 1 him, whom he always liked to see 

 cheerful and happy. When the door opened I heard him, as he 

 raised himself, say (in reference to what I could not tell), 



te I'll stake this ring against your head, padre, that you don't/' 

 pulling it off his finger and laying it on the box. 



" The risk is rather disproportioned," replied the old gentleman ; 

 " but with the help of our Lady * I feel persuaded that I shall ; and 

 therefore " 



" Oh ! oh !" interrupted his majesty, " if she is your ally, I'll 

 beg leave to decline the bet ;" and taking up the ring, he slipped it 

 on his finger again, amidst a most uncourtly roar of laughter. 



" But," said the padre, " in regard to the battle which is expected 

 will be fought to-morrow, I predict that if we are victorious, I shall 

 see our gracious queen in Lisbon." 



" I trust your prophecy will be verified, my good friend," the 

 emperor exclaimed. 



" If it depends on the result of to-morrow's operations," observed 

 Villa Flor, " I think it will be ; for I have a very strong presenti- 

 ment that we shall beat them." 



" Your excellency's declaration is very cheering," replied the 

 emperor, and added " Come, gentlemen, will you not partake with 

 me?" The courteous invitation was, however, declined by all but 

 the confessor, whom his majesty assisted himself. During the com- 

 mon-place remarks which were now made, his majesty appeared 

 quite lost in abstraction, and I should certainly have supposed he 

 was merely pondering on the toughness of the fowl's leg, which he 

 held in both hands, and gnawed with laudable perseverance, had he 

 not suddenly looked up and said, 



" However ridiculous it may seem, I cannot divest myself of a 

 strange fancy that I have before been in precisely the same situation 

 I am in at this moment. The very scene is impressed as it were on 

 my mind from a former recollection of it; but as this is not only im- 

 probable, but actually impossible, I must doubtless have witnessed 

 it in a dream, or my imagination has pictured it at some time or 

 other, when in one of her wildest moods." 



" I should rather conceive the latter to have been the case," ob- 

 served Almeida. 



" The padre's prediction, too," continued the emperor (without 

 apparently noticing the above remark), " recals to my mind a very 

 extraordinary one which was foretold me many years ago by an old 

 woman, when I was in company with my of a brother ; and 



* Meaning the Virgin Mary. 



