Souza quitted the Government and the capital as had been demanded.
But if Wellington hoped that he would quit intriguing, he misjudged
his man. He was a fellow of monstrous vanity, pride and
self-sufficiency, of the sort than which there is none more dangerous
to offend. His wounded pride demanded a salve to be procured at any
cost. The wound had been administered by Wellington, and must be
returned with interest. So that he ruined Wellington it mattered
nothing to Antonio de Souza that he should ruin himself and his own
country at the same time. He was like some blinded, ferocious and
unreasoning beast, ready, even eager, to sacrifice its own life so
that in dying it can destroy its enemy and slake its blood-thirst.
In that mood he passes out of the councils of the Portuguese
Government into a brooding and secretly active retirement, of which
the fruits shall presently be shown. With his departure the Council
of Regency, rudely shaken by the ultimatum which had driven him
forth, became more docile and active, and for a season the measures
enjoined by the Commander-in-Chief were pursued with some show of
earnestness.
As a result of all this life at Monsanto became easier, ,and O'Moy
was able to breathe more freely, and to devote more of his time to
matters concerning the fortifications which Wellington had left
largely in his charge.
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