Fortunately Pinto, who alone kept up his courage,
sent another letter, which arrived sooner
than the first, and prevented the ill-effect
which otherwise it would have certainly
produced. As no mischief seemed to ensue
from the supposed imbecility of the new
conspirators, the panic soon died out, but
it was speedily succeeded by panic the
second. The secretary Vasconcellos was
seen to embark on the Tagus, and
immediately the plotters were impressed with
the belief that he had found out all their
doings, and was crossing the river to obtain
additional assistance from the Spaniards.
This panic was so great, that some thought
of betaking themselves to England or Africa,
to escape the horrible retribution which
was doubtless in store for them. Great
was the delight when the secretary came
back home to the sound of soft music,
having simply been invited to a fête; and
probably when each conspirator looked into
the face of his fellow he felt a little foolish.
Surely all was right now. No! Panic the
third was yet to come. George Mello, who
lodged with one of his relations at some
distance from the city, thought it would be
at once handsome and expedient to make
his kinsman acquainted with the conspiracy,
and induce him to join it. The cousin, who
was something of the same temperament as
Almada's unlucky friend, seemed delighted
at first, and when he and George parted
for the night, it was understood that they
would both set off on the following morning
to join their brethren at Lisbon. But no
sooner did George find himself alone in his
own room, than he began to doubt that he
had grievously misplaced his confidence.
While he was walking up and down in a
state of tremendous fidget, a confused sound
of whispering voices struck his ear; and
throwing open his window, he perceived his
cousin in the act of mounting a horse.
Down he went, sword drawn, forced the
delinquent back into his own room, and kept
safe guard over him till break of day, when
he took him to Lisbon.

The first of December, which seemed as
though it would never come, arrived at
last, and early in the morning the
conspirators, according to appointment,
repaired to the hotels of the several chiefs.
The ladies, it is recorded, took deep interest
in the movement, one of them, Donna Filipa
de Villenes, having especially distinguished
herself like a Spartan mother of the olden
time, arming her two sons with her own
hands, exhorting them to exert themselves
for the overthrow of tyranny, and promising
them that she would not survive the
failure of the noble enterprise. The day
was passed in approaching the palace, most
of the principal conspirators going in litters
to avoid observation, and when all had
reached the place of their destination they
were so tremendously frightened that panic
the fourth seemed to be upon the cards.
Would eight o'clock P.M., the appointed
hour of attack, ever be struck by any clock?
Bang! The report of Pinto's pistol—the
concerted signal—at last gives notice that
the welcome hour has arrived, and the
attack begins.

The German guards are beaten down at
once by the party under Dom Miguel
d'Almeida. The two Mellos and Dom
Estevan d' Accosta charge the Spanish
company, followed by the greater number of
the citizens who had joined in the conspiracy:
but the victory of this party was
chiefly due to a zealous priest, who, with a
sword in one hand, and a crucifix in the
other, made every one fly before him. Pinto
and his party proceeded, as agreed, to the
apartments of Vasconcellos, and at the foot
of the staircase encountered an unfortunate
magistrate, who, mistaking the uproar
for a common brawl, ordered the rioters to
retire. When, however, he heard the shout
"Braganza for ever!" he felt officially bound
to utter the counter-cry "Long live the King
of Spain and Portugal!" and received as the
price of his loyalty a pistol-shot, which
killed him on the spot. Next came Antonio
Correa, the secretary's principal clerk, who
had hurried out to see what was the matter,
and was stabbed several times by Menejès,
but not mortally wounded. When the
secretary's ante-room was entered, the
doomed man was with Diego Garcez
Palleio, a captain of infantry, who at a glance
perceived the state of the case. From sheer
gallantry Diego drew his sword, and
attempted to prevent the assailants from
entering the inner door, but as he was
wounded in the shoulder, and likewise
overpowered by numbers, he soon deemed
it expedient to leap from the window, and
was fortunate enough not to break his
neck.

This little impediment removed, the
chamber was entered; but no secretary
was visible. Then what a tumbling and
knocking about ensued! Tables were
overturned; boxes were torn open; nooks and
corners were searched. Everybody was
anxious to get the honour of giving
Vasconcellos his first stab, and everybody was
cursing his disappointment. At last an