That the descendants of Gamas, Cunhas,
Magalhaes and Albuquerques - men whose names were indelibly written
upon the very face of the world - should be passed over, whilst alien
officers lead been brought in to train and command the Portuguese
legions, was an affront to Portugal which Minas could never forgive.
It was thus that he had become a rebel, withdrawing from a government
whose supineness he could not condone. For a while his rebellion
had been passive, until the Principal Souza had heated him in the
fire of his own rage and fashioned him into an intriguing instrument
of the first power. He was listening intently now to the soft,
rapid speech of the gentleman in the major's uniform.
"Of course, rumours had reached the Prince of this policy of
devastation," he was saying, "but his Highness has been disposed to
treat these rumours lightly, unable to see, as indeed are we all,
what useful purpose such a policy could finally serve. He does not
underrate the talents of milord Wellington as a commander. He does
not imagine that he would pursue such operations out of pure
wantonness; yet if such operations are indeed being pursued, what
can they be but wanton? A moment, Count," he stayed Samoval, who
was about to interrupt.
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