Thanking my excellent friend for her timely warning, I clambered over my garden fence, as the only practicable way to the stables, selected a horse, and notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, proceeded to St. Christoval, the country palace of the Emperor, where, on my arrival, I demanded to see His Majesty.  The request being refused by the gentleman in waiting, in such a way as to confirm the statement of Madame Bonpland—­I dared him to refuse me admission at his peril; adding that “the matter upon which I had come was fraught with grave consequences to His Majesty and the Empire.”  “But,” said he, “His Majesty has retired to bed long ago.”  “No matter,” replied I, “in bed, or not in bed, I demand to see him, in virtue of my privilege of access to him at all times, and if you refuse to concede permission—­look to the consequences.”

His Majesty was not, however, asleep, and the royal chamber being close at hand, he recognised my voice in the altercation with the attendant.  Hastily coming out of his apartments in a dishabille which, under ordinary circumstances, would have been inconsistent, he asked—­“What could have brought me there at that time of night?” My reply was—­that “understanding that the troops ordered for a review were destined to proceed to the flagship in search of supposed treasure, I had come to request His Majesty immediately to appoint confidential persons to accompany me on board, when the key of every chest in the ship should be placed in their hands, and every place thrown open to their inspection; but that if any of his anti-Brazilian Administration ventured to board the ship in perpetration of the contemplated insult, they would certainly be regarded as pirates, and treated as such.”  Adding at the same time—­“Depend upon it, that they are not more my enemies, than the enemies of your Majesty and the Empire, and an intrusion so unwarrantable, the officers and crew are bound to resist.”  “Well,” replied His Majesty, “you seem to be apprised of everything, but the plot is not mine; being—­as far as I am concerned—­convinced that no money would be found more than we already know of from yourself.”

I then entreated His Majesty to take such steps for my justification as would be satisfactory to the public.  “There is no necessity for any,” replied he; “but how to dispense with the review is the puzzle.—­I will be ill in the morning—­so go home, and think no more of the matter.  I give you my word your flag shall not be outraged by the contemplated proceeding.”

The denouement of the farce is worthy of being recorded.  The Emperor kept his word, and in the night was taken suddenly ill.  As His Majesty was really beloved by his Brazilian subjects, all the native respectability of Rio was early next day on its way to the palace to inquire after the Royal health, and, ordering my carriage, I also proceeded to the palace, lest my absence might appear singular.  On entering the room, where—­surrounded