And he knew that unless this man and the troops under his command remained in Portugal and enjoyed complete liberty of action there could be no hope of stemming the third invasion for which Massena--the ablest of all the Emperor's marshals was now gathering his divisions in the north.

If Wellington were to execute his threat and withdraw with his army, Forjas beheld nothing but ruin for his country.
The irresistible French would sweep forward in devastating conquest, and Portuguese independence would be ground to dust under the heel of the terrible Emperor.
All this the clear-sighted Dom Miguel Forjas now perceived.

To do him full justice, he had feared for some time that the unreasonable conduct of his Government might ultimately bring about some such desperate situation.

But it was not for him to voice those fears.

He was the servant of that Government, the "mere instrument and mouthpiece of the Council of Regency.
"This," he said at length in a voice that was awed, "is an ultimatum." "It is that," O'Moy admitted readily.
Forjas sighed, shook his dark head and drew himself up like a man who has chosen his part.