The Unfortunate Slave

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The riders, that had dismounted, were two handsome and elegant young men that came from the village of Campos. From the familiar way they entered, it was obvious they were part of the household. In fact, one was Leôncio, husband of Malvina, and the other Henrique, brother of the same. Before we proceed, we must stop to learn more about the two young gentlemen. Leôncio was the only child of the rich and powerful comendador Almeida, owner of the beautiful and magnificent estate that we find ourselves. The comendador, already old and infirm, after the marriage of his son, which had taken place a year before this story begins, had left the administration and enjoyment of the estate to him, and lived at court, where he sought relief and distraction to the ailments that tormented him. Leôncio found since childhood, in the liberality and easiness of his parents, ample means to corrupt the heart and lead the intelligence astray. A poor student and insubordinate, turbulent, and incorrigible youth, often switched schools, and passed all preparatory exams like a cat walks on hot coals; regardless, his exam results were always saved by the shadow of his father's social influence. The school masters did not dare to give the influential and rich comendador the disgust of seeing his son fail. He registered in medical school, but in the first year got sick of that discipline, and because his parents did not know how to oppose him, he went to Olinda to attend law school. There, after having dissipated a considerable portion of his paternal fortune in the satisfaction of every vice and fantasy, he bored with legal studies and decided that only Europe in its pure and abundant springs would be able to develop properly his ... ... middle of paper ... ...eave her a good legacy." Naturally, the good old lady tried repeatedly to write her will to ensure the future of her little slave, of her beloved pupil, but the comendador, aided by his son in delaying and using false pretenses, would always postpone the satisfaction of the praiseworthy and holy desire of his wife, until the day that, fulminated by an attack of general paralysis, she succumbed in a few hours without having a single moment of lucidity or consciousness to express her last will. Malvina swore on the corpse of her mother-in-law to continue providing the same protection and solicitude that the deceased lady gave to the unfortunate slave. Isaura cried for a long time the death of the woman that had been a tireless and loving mother to her, and continued to be a slave, not to a virtuous lady, but to capricious masters, debauched and cruel.

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