lic, I could advance you beyond all your hopes; but you are engaged
to be married, and that puts an end to the question."

As I thought the holy father must be tired with our long conference, I
rose and took my leave.

Three days afterwards I was informed by him that he intended to set off
on his return to Rio, and now I thought of the diamond, which I resolved
to carry with me. I had no fear of being searched while under this
excellent superior's protection, and therefore I went to my lodging, dug
up the diamond, and, having washed it, for the first time gave it the
examination which it deserved. It certainly was a stone of great value,
but of what value I could not exactly say. From what I had learnt from
the director, who usually put his idea of the value upon any diamond of
size which was brought to him, I considered that 20,000 pounds was the
least which could be put upon the stone. I took the precaution not to
carry it loose in my pocket, but to sew it within the lining of my
clothes. Glad I was, indeed, when the orders to start the next morning
were given out. I found that a horse was appointed for me, and, having
made up my valise, not forgetting my tattered Bible, I went to my bed
thanking God that this was to be the last night that I was to pass in
the accursed Sierra de Espinhaco.

At daylight the superior took his leave, mounted his mule, and we set
forth, passing the guard-house in the narrow road, which I never
expected to pass again. Before noon we were clear of the Sierra, and
once more in the open country. The attendants, with a portion of the
sumpter mules, went in advance, to prepare for the superior's arrival at
the spot where we were to halt.

The weather was excessively sultry, and the glare of the sun was very
distressing. At noon we stopped to take our dinner, and the usual
siesta after it. The attendants in advance had raised a sort of
palanquin for the superior, and everything was ready. The superior
alighted, and sat down under the palanquin, which protected him from the
rays of the sun; we all sat round at a respectful distance. The heat
was so intense, that, to relieve himself, the superior had, when he sat
down, thrown off his long black robe, such as is worn by the priests of
his order. Dinner was served up, and we had a merry party,
notwithstanding the great heat. After our meal, we all shaded ourselves
as well as we could, and took our siesta for about two hours, when th