pain. There we remained a whole year, at the end of which
my pupil being recalled by his father, I quitted my office, and stayed
behind, by the advice of a certain Spanish grandee, who took me into his
protection, and introduced me to another nobleman, who was afterwards
created viceroy of Peru. He insisted on my attending, him to his
government of the Indies, where, however, by reason of my religion,
it was not in his power to make my fortune any other way than by
encouraging me to trade, which I had not long prosecuted when my patron
died, and I found myself in the midst of strangers, without one friend
to support or protect me. Urged by this consideration, I sold my
effects, and removed to this country, the governor of which, having been
appointed by the viceroy, was my intimate acquaintance. Here has heaven
prospered my endeavours, during a residence of sixteen years, in which
my tranquillity was never invaded but by the remembrance of your mother,
whose death I have in secret mourned without ceasing, and the reflection
of you, whose fate I could never learn notwithstanding all my
inquiries by means of my friends in France, who, after the most strict
examination, could give me no other account than that you went abroad
six years ago, and was never after heard of. I could not rest satisfied
with this imperfect information, and, though my hope of finding you
was but languid, resolved to go in quest of you in person; for which
purpose, I have remitted to Holland the value of twenty thousand pounds,
and am in possession of fifteen thousand more, with which I intended
to embark myself on board of Captain Bowling, before I discovered this
amazing stroke of Providence, which, you may be sure, has not altered my
intention."

My father, having entertained us with this agreeable sketch of his life,
withdrew, in order to relieve Don Antonio, who, in his absence, had done
the honours of his house; and I was just dressed for my appearance among
the guests, when Strap arrived from the ship.

He no sooner entered the grand apartment in which I was, and saw the
magnificence of my apparel, than his speech was lost in amazement, and
he gaped in silence at the objects that surrounded him. I took him by
the hand, observed that I had sent for him to be a witness and sharer
of my happiness, and told him I had found a father. At these words he
started, and, after having continued some minutes with his mouth
and eyes wide open, cried, "Ah