fully sacrificed his life as a martyr; but if opposed or thwarted
in his views, he could then be cruel and unjust.

Father Mathias had many reasons for placing Amine in the Ursuline
convent. He felt bound to offer her that protection which he had so
long received under her roof; he wished her to be under the surveillance
of the abbess, for he could not help imagining, although he had no
proof, that she was still essaying or practising forbidden arts. He did
not state this to the abbess, as he felt it would be unjust to raise
suspicions; but he represented Amine as one who would do honour to their
faith to which she was not yet quite converted. The very idea of
effecting a conversion is to the tenants of a convent an object of
surpassing interest, and the abbess was much better pleased to receive
one who required her counsels and persuasions, than a really pious
Christian, who would give her no trouble. Amine went on shore with
Father Mathias; she refused the palanquin which had been prepared for
her, and walked up to the convent. They landed between the Custom-house
and the viceroy's palace, passed through the large square behind it, and
then went up the Strada Diretta, or straight street, which led up to the
Church of Pity, near to which the convent is situated. This street is
the finest in Goa, and is called Strada Diretta from the singular fact
that almost all the streets in Goa are quadrants or segments of circles.
Amine was astonished. The houses were of stone, lofty and massive; at
each story was thrown out a balcony of marble, elaborately carved; and
over each door were the arms of the nobility, or hidalgos, to whom the
houses belonged. The square behind the palace and the wide streets were
filled with living beings; elephants with gorgeous trappings; led or
mounted horses in superb housings; palanquins, carried by natives in
splendid liveries; running footmen; syces; every variety of nation, from
the proud Portuguese to the half-covered native; Mussulmans, Arabs,
Hindoos, Armenians; officers and soldiers in their uniforms, all crowded
and thronged together,--all was bustle and motion. Such was the wealth,
the splendour, and luxury of the proud city of Goa--the Empress of the
East at the time we are now describing.

In half an hour they forced their way through the crowd, and arrived at
the convent, where Amine was well received by the abbess; and, after a
few minutes' conversation, Father Mathias took h