"I will return soon, dearest," he said lovingly, holding the trembling girl in his strong arms, "and then your father has promised our marriage shall take place."
"And you will not run into danger, for my sake?" Lianor pleaded, winding her white arms round his neck. "Think how desolate I should be without you!"
Don Garcia, having a great liking for the young man, saw him go with some regret.
"Don't stay away longer than you can help," he said kindly. "God keep you, my boy."
So Luiz parted from his love, and returned to Diu, carrying in his heart a cherished memory of Lianor, and a tiny miniature of her in his breast-pocket.
When he arrived at the governor's palace, he went directly to Manuel Tonza, to inform him of his departure.
The governor, a tall, dark-looking man of more than thirty, bore on his fine features a look of haughty sternness, mingled with some cruelty.
He glanced coldly at the young captain, and listened in silence to his explanations; but, as Luiz drew from his breast a sealed packet, given him by Don Garcia, Lianor's miniature fell with a crash to the ground, the jeweled case flying open.
Manuel picked it up from the floor with sudden swiftness, and gazed admiringly at the pictured face.
"Who is this?" he asked abruptly.