CHAP. XIV.
Having fulfilled the duties of a husband and a father, I prepared to per form those of friendship. Predetermined to quit an abode, which incessantly retraced to my mind the instability of mortal happiness, mingled with its bitterest recollections, I prepared to join the two friends who had, as I stated elsewhere, preceded me to Paris. When we last parted, it had been mutually agreed on between us, that should any unforeseen obstacle prevent or retard my journey, to apprize them of it, by addressing a letter to be left at the Spanish Ambassador's at Paris. Unfortunately, amidst the transports of my meeting again with a beloved wife, I had forgot this promise, which did not return to my mind, till the fatal consequences arising from my pardonable neglect, were become irretrievable.
Having prepared every thing for my departure to the French metropolis, I sent off a letter to my friends, apologizing in the strongest terms for my involuntary breach of promise, and informing them, that I would be at the Spanish Ambassador's in Paris, three weeks at farthest from the date of my notice, requesting, at the same time, an immediate answer by return of post.
Having myself put this letter into the post office at Marseilles, gotten every thing ready to set out, and taken an affectionate leave of the small circle of neighbours and friends, what was my surprise,—when I received the following answer from the Spanish Ambassador himself:
"Sennor,
"YOUR friends are returned to Spain, where news of the most important nature await you. Without entering into fuller particulars, which would doubtless prove afflicting, I have only to request, that on receipt of the present lines you will embark in the first ship that fails from Marseilles to Spain. It will be useless for you to waste time in writing to me for farther eclaircissements, as I deem it inconsistent with the regard I ever entertained for your house and yourself, to give them. All I can now tell you, is, that you are supposed to be dead in your own country, and that to remove this conjecture, so unfavorable to your affairs, it will be best to show yourself there among your friends and the living.
"I am, with due respect yours, &c."
Our Ambassador, who was then at the court of Versailles, was a distant relation of my mother's, and a great well-wisher to our family in general. I had therefore no reason to hesitate in complying with his requisition, and speeding immediately to Marseilles, found a ship ready to set fail to Cadiz the next day, the wind being just then very steady and favorable. Having settled for my passage, I went on board early the next morning, and at noon had cleared the land and lost sight of it, scudding fast before a prosperous gale.
"I reached Cadiz, after a passage, the shortest perhaps ever known, and walking up the principal street leading to and from the harbor, had the mortification to see the following advice or hand-bill stuck up, at some of its corners:
"PROCLAMATION.
"WHEREAS a most shocking, inhuman and barbarous murder has been committed some time in the course of this instant month on the road between this city and Medina Sidonia, on the body of Don Carlos de Grangez, a Marquis and Grandee of this kingdom, lately resident at Alcantara, in the province of Estramadura, and on taking due judicial inquisition on the said body, it has been discovered with its hands and feet cut off, and so much disfigured with wounds, gashes, bruises and blood, as hardly to be cognizable, and stript of all its clothes, money, effects, &c. except a waistcoat, containing a card with the name of Don Carlos de Grandez engraved on it, and a fine shirt of Holland linen, marked with the initials D. C. G. surmounted with a Marquis's coronet, both of which are deposited in the town-hall of this city:
"We, the Corregidor, the Magistrates, Councillors and others, the officers justiciary of this Royal City and Sea-port, in order to promote the ends of public justice, do hereby promise and award to every one and all, who may or shall discover or detain, or cause to be discovered or detained, one, several, or all of the parties concerned in that diabolical act, so that it may be the means of him, her, or them being brought to condign punishment, a Reward of Four Thousand hard Pistoles, in lawful currency of this realm, to be paid on conviction of each or every one of these atrocious assassins, by the Royal Bank of St. Carlos, at Madrid.
"One moiety of the said Reward will also be given, besides a free grant of the King's most gracious pardon, to any party or accomplice, in the murder, (save such person or persons who actually committed it) on giving such information as may tend to the discovery and apprehension of the offenders.
"By his Majesty's Special Commands,
"Corregidor."
"Long Live the King!
Without losing a moment's time, I unpacked and opened a trunk to take out some necessary papers, and waited on Don Delasquierras, the worthy corregidor, to identify my person, and to request him to take the usual steps to revoke the proclamation, and undeceive the public respecting the horrid rumor of my assassination.
His worship, whose joy and surprize at the re-appearance of a man, supposed to have been murdered, exceeded all bounds; promised to pay immediate attention to my demand, and having stated to him the secret particulars particulars and adventures of my journey, gave me the following account respecting this surprising case and my own family concerns:
—"It is your mother," said he, "who on receiving the afflictive tidings of your death, sent the reward of four thousand pistoles, offered in the proclamation, which has been issued and fixed up in the public places of every city and town throughout the kingdom. I am grieved to inform you, that the poor lady has died since of a broken heart, leaving Don Antonio, your friend, sole executor of her last will, and the estates belonging either to her or you.
"As your family gave information, that at the time the bloody catastrophe was supposed to have been committed, you had set out to Paris, to meet two friends, Don Fernandos di Abengha and Don Bernardo, who had gone thither before you, the magistrates of this city and Alcantara, thought proper to present this circumstance to Don Florida da Blanca, the Prime Minister of State, who transmitted an official dispatch to our Ambassador at Paris, requesting the French government to deliver up those two noblemen to the care of his excellency. A messenger, accompanied by two Alguazils, set out at the same time, to conduct them hither. The French government readily consented to this requisition, and your friends were conveyed in safe custody from Paris to this city, where they underwent several examinations, in which, much to our satisfaction, they sully substantiated their innocence, so that not the least suspicion could remain on their character. Their whole deportment, their grief, their anxiety to have the most rigorous researches made, did away every idea of culpability: and, as a farther proof of their honor and integrity, they voluntarily offered to remain in custody, till farther discoveries respecting the real perpetrators of this horrid crime should be made. This proposal, however, we thought ourselves unwarranted to accept. Not contented with the most honorable acquittal from all suspicion and reality of guilt, they, of their own accord bound themselves, under forfeiture of life and property, not to quit the kingdom, till some more satisfactory ecclaircissements respecting the perpetrators of the foul deed should have been made.
"They have not left their estates, till some time, in the beginning of this month, when owing to the active and constant exertions of Don Antonio, two servants, who formerly lived with him and had been discharged for an assault committed upon you, were apprehended on suspicion of being the murderers, owing to some threatening and malicious words which they at various times and places uttered against you, on account of having lost their places. Their landlord and several other persons have informed against them; they are in the prisons of the inquisition at Alcantara, and, thank God! you are arrived to save the poor fellows, as it must otherwise have gone very hard with them. The informers have, I understand, applied for the reward, which has wisely been refused till conviction. I will immediately write to the Correyidor of Alcantara to desire him to give orders that the fetters of the supposed delinquents be struck off, and trust, you will lose no time to bring them liberty and indemnity."
Suffering a thousand pangs that innocence should thus be involved in guilt, I told his worship, that I would instantly fly to effect their deliverance and make them every compensation my fortune would allow. He applauded my justice and generosity, and having paid all necessary fees and expences, I took leave of him, with a thousand thanks for his candor and ample information.
Distracted at the loss of an excellent mother, stung with remorse at the harsh and ignominious treatment of my bosom friends, agonizing with the horrid idea of the unmerited sufferings of two other innocent men, what language is strong enough to paint the emotions of my heart! I-darted through the streets like a maniac to procure post-horses, and leaving Alfonso to follow me with the luggage, sped away for Alcantara.