Noites de insomnia, offerecidas a quem não póde dormir. Nº 04 (de 12)

A weary veteran of the Paraguayan war returns to his native Mondim de Basto with a modest fortune, only to stumble upon the crumbling ruins of an old manor. The stone lintel bears the ancient coat‑of‑arms of the Pacheco‑Andrade family, sparking a conversation with a learned abbé about a long‑forgotten royal debt and the mysterious chest hidden within the estate. Intrigued, the captain entrusts the heavy, bronze‑bound coffer—filled with gold doubloons and rare coins—to a trusted local farmer, hoping the rural seclusion will keep the treasure safe from greedy eyes.

The farmer, a diligent landowner, wrestles with the weight and secrecy of the chest as the captain’s fortunes shift abroad. Their uneasy partnership hints at a web of loyalty, fear, and the ever‑present threat of bandits and soldiers alike. As night settles over the Portuguese countryside, the story teases the delicate balance between honor and the lure of hidden wealth, inviting listeners to linger in the tension of an unfinished promise.