celerity, and he had soon to appear before the very same
judges who had acquitted the assassin of the shepherd .
When desired to tell his name, he answered " Paul,"
and upon the question of the judge, as to whether he
was the originator of the murder committed upon the
person of Don Micida, he answered, " Its originator, I
am not- its executor, I am ;" and then, when called on
for his defence, he confined himself to the simple recital
of facts. " I am," said he, " the brother of Inez, and the
son of Bartholomew-the one was insulted, and the
other assassinated , by the wretch on whom I have only
done, that which justice was bound to do."
Such a pleading stood not in need of any oratory. Even though it was extremely laconic, its meaning was so plain, and its eloquence so heart-stirring, that it was calculated to excite in men of the dullest sense, the desire to save the unhappy man. But the remarkable answers of Paul, and the nature of his defence were not suited to dispose favorably toward him, the judges who had pronounced the scandalous acquittal of Don Micida. Besides, Paul had taken vengeance for the injury done to him, by shedding the blood of one of the nobles, and Paul, therefore, was condemned to death !
It was upon the very day of his condemnation, that a woman, pale and haggard, all in tears, and her hair in disorder, found her way into the gardens of the Alcazan. She did so at the very time that the beautiful and the generous favorite, Maria Padilla, was taking her usual promenade. The wretched woman cast herself at the feet of her, who was the beloved of Peter the Cruel. Maria, brilliant and happy at the sight of the miserable creature, who was prostrated at her feet, removed the light veil of lace in which she was enveloped , cast upon the suppliant a look of kindness, and in a compassionate voice, said to her"Rise up, my poor woman. It is only before God that we ought to kneel. What can I do for you ?" "Generous lady— ” Sighs interrupted the suppliant, and prevented her from proceeding. "Take courage," said Maria, with the same sweetness of manner. " You are unhappy, and misfortune is a title to my protection. Tell me, without fear, what is the cause of your alarm." "It is the fate of Paul-of my son, lady." " Can I be of any service to him ?" " Oh ! yes, gracious Madam ." 66 'Speak- ask what you wish." "Oh ! they have condemned him." " Condemned him, do you say ? To what?" "Pardon me, Madam, if the word dies on my lips-it is so dreadful to say it." "Poor mother ! To death, perhaps ." 66 Yes-yes-lady," said the trembling mother of Paul. " And what is his crime ?" asked Maria,
135
" Oh ! he is not at all guilty, dear lady. He is so good, so kind, so affectionate a son. He has always so | loved his father and his sister, and me, too, Madam. It is his filial piety that has destroyed him ; but I swear before Heaven, he is not guilty. Pity, then- oh, pity and mercy for him, lady." " Silence," said Maria, with an evident expression of interest. " The King is coming this way. Give me your petition, and remain at some distance from us. I shall have you called, if it be necessary." Saying these words, Maria turned her steps toward an avenue of orange trees, where she perceived the King, who eagerly advanced to meet her. " Peter," said she, presenting him the petition of Paul, "here is an excellent opportunity of making yourself agreeable to me." "I am glad of it, Padilla- then tell me what it is." "It concerns an unhappy man, who has been condemned to death, and in whose fate I am interested. You will make use of one of the noblest prerogatives of Royalty in his regard-you will show that you are merciful. Is it not so, my love ?" Peter had approached his favorite with a smile of satisfaction, which frequently softened the severe expression of his countenance when in her society ; but, on hearing the words that she had just pronounced, he knit his brows, and slightly frowned. The prince piqued himself upon the exhibition of a great respect for justice, and it must be owned that he gave numerous examples of his disposition in that respect. Did the condemned, in whose favor Maria interested herself, deserve any favor to be shown to him or not ? Such was the question Peter put to himself at the moment that Paul's petition was put into his hand. The petition ran thus :66 Sire ! you have punished in the severest way a noble duke, because his servants, at his desire, had beaten a poor tradesman for asking the amount of his bill. You had another sawed in two for the atrocities he had committed in a family, into which he had been introduced in the character of a clergyman ; and you have even applied to yourself the extreme severity of your justice, in knocking off the head of one of your statues in the public square, because some years before you had stabbed a soldier, and you have taken care of the witness who had the courage to denounce you. Why, then, ought not Paul to find at the Alcaza justice and protection ? At the Alcaza, where they weigh in the same balance the weak and the strong. My father fell by the poignard of Don Micida, and the latter was acquitted by the judges. I slew the murderer of my father, and the same judges have condemned me to death. It is an iniquitous sentence, and against it I appeal with perfect confidence to PAUL." you. production, instantly Peter, upon reading this singular gave orders to one of his officers to bring before him, without a moment's delay, the son of Bartholomew. The order fortunately arrived in time, for when the
