This was, in brief, the story the Queen had to tell; and on hearing it
Pedro de Castro threw himself at her feet, and claimed to be her son.
Donna Isabel was now past middle age, being near forty years old, but
she bore herself with a degree of uprightness and vigour which defied
the advance of time. She was readily convinced of the truth of Pedro's
statement, and when she had bidden him to rise she embraced him, and
acknowledged him to be her son.
"You have been led back to me," she said, "by the will of heaven, and
by the courage of these brave men who shall henceforth be to me my
brothers."
Fair words, but lacking the ring of sincerity, as we were subsequently
to find.
Queen Barreto then begged us to consider her dominions at our disposal
to the extent of all they contained. Houses were allotted us, and
servants were instructed to place before us the best the country
produced. We fared sumptuously, for the natural growth in this
sheltered valley is surprising. The bread given us was made from three
kinds of roots, of which there is a great abundance, and they grow
without labour, receiving no more help than being dug up and cooked.
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