in question has been in my hands for the past hour, that I have
closely questioned him, and that I am satisfied that whilst he has
been guilty of conduct which might compel me to deprive him of his
Majesty's commission and dismiss him from the army, yet that conduct
is not such as to merit death. He has chiefly sinned in folly and
want of judgment. I reprove it in the sternest terms, and I
deplore the consequences it had. But for those consequences the
nuns of Tavora are almost as much to blame as he is himself. His
invasion of their convent was. a pure error, committed in the belief
that it was a monastery and as a result of the, porter's foolish
conduct.

"Now, Sir Terence's word, given in response to your absolute
demands, has committed us to an unjust course, which I have no
intention of following. I will stipulate, sir, that your Council,
in addition to the matters undertaken, shall relieve us of all
obligation in this matter, leaving it to our discretion to punish
Mr. Butler in such manner as we may consider condign. In return,
your Excellency, I will undertake that there shall be no further
investigation into the manner in which Count Samoval came by his
death, and consequently, no disclosures of the shameful trade in
which he was engaged. If your Excellency will give yourself the
trouble of taking the sense of your Council upon this, we may then
reach a settlement."

The grave anxiety of Dom Miguel's countenance was instantly
dispelled. In his relief he permitted himself a smile.

"My lord, there is not the need to take the sense of the Council.
The Council has given me carte blanche to obtain your consent to a