“As I have sent letters to announce our coming, I am sure my father and friends will be on the shore to receive Mr. John De Lancaster upon his landing, and will immediately conduct him and his whole party to our house in Lisbon, where no attention will be omitted, that can mark their sensibility of the abundant favours I have received from you and your’s, which must ever be remembered with the utmost gratitude by him, who is with profound respect, Sir,
your much obliged and
most devoted servant,
George Frederick Devereux.”
CHAPTER IV.
Our Hero arrives at Lisbon. Is hospitably received by the Father of young Devereux; accompanies him to his House: What there occurs is related.
We must now attend upon the travellers, to whom no circumstance occurred upon their journey worth relating, and who, after an expeditious and safe voyage, with fair wind and favourable weather, dropped anchor in the Tagus, and were quickly visited by Mr. Devereux the father, who came on board, whilst his barge and rowers, handsomely appointed, waited alongside.
Upon the first sight of this gentleman, John De Lancaster eagerly enquired for his father, and why he did not come off from the shore: the answer was that his situation just then did not admit of it.
He is ill, said De Lancaster.
Indeed he is far from well, rejoined the other.
May I not go off to him directly?
The officers of health are on board, said Mr. Devereux; but I have obtained leave to bring you on shore directly: Your friends however and servants must put up with a short detention, till certain forms are dispensed with. John De Lancaster, conducted by Mr. Devereux, immediately went over the ship’s side, and the barge pushed off for the landing-place.
Tell me, I conjure you, sir, said our hero, the truth without reserve, in what situation I am to find my father, and believe me, Mr. Devereux, whatever that may be, though I have a heart to feel it as a son, I trust I have a proper sense of my duty to meet the dispensation as I ought.