G I L B L A S. 47
as to fubmit to the unjuft conditions ? For an high chancellor, methinks you are very ill informed of our cuftoms. In a word, tho’ I have promifed my hand toConftance it was not a voluntary engagement, therefore I do not intend to keep my word ; and if Don Pedro, from my refufal, conceives the hope of mounting my throne, without engaging the people in a quarrel, which might coft too much blood, let the fword decide, in Angle combat, which of us is moil worthy to reign.” Lcontio, not daring to urge him any further, contented himfelf with aiking, on his knees, the enlargement of his fon-in-lnw, which he obtained.—“ Go, (laid the king to him) return to Belmont, whither the conftable will (oon follow y ;>u.” The minifter went away, and got to Belmont, perfuaded that his fon-in-Iaw would not he long behind him. P>ut in this he was miftaken : Henriquez rcfolvcd to fee Blanch that night, and thcrcfoie deferred the rcleafe of her huftiand till next day.
Mean while the conftable was tortured with the moll cruel reflections : his imprifonment had opened his eyes, with regard to the tiue caufc of his misfortune : he therefore abandoned himfelf intirely to his jealoufy; and renouncing the allegiance he had hitherto fo coinmendably preferved, breathed nothing but vengeance. As he concluded that the king would not fail of being with Blanch that night, in older to fur- prize them together, he begged the governor of the | caftle of Palermo to let him go out, afluring him that he would return to prifon next morning by day. The governor, who was entirely devoted to him, confent- cd to this the more eafily, as he knew that Siffredi had already obtained his liberty, and even furuilhed him with a horfe to carry him to Belmont ; where the conftable being aimed, he tied his horfe to a tree, entered the park by a little door, of which he had the key, and was fo lucky as to get into the caftle unper- ceivcd. He went ftraight to the apartment of his v iie, and concealing himfelf in an antichamber be-