The stay which Xavier made at Bazain was not unprofitable to a young man of quality, who was much debauched, called Rodrigue Segueyra, whom he had known two years before.  For Segueyra having committed a murder at Malacca, when the Father made his first voyage to the town, retired into the hospital, to avoid the pursuit of justice.  There it was that the Father knew him, and grew into his familiarity, by his engaging ways of mildness and courtesy, which always succeeded with him.  When he had gained the affection of Segueyra, he spoke to him of eternity with so much power, that the young gentleman entered into serious thoughts, and made a general confession to him.  Xavier, to engage him the more in the ways of goodness, and to free him from that confinement of the hospital, where his crimes had forced him to take sanctuary, made up the business with his adversaries, and obtained his pardon from the governor of Malacca; but seeing the soft and dissolute manner of living in Malacca was capable of ruining all his good intentions, he advised him to leave the Indies, and return into Europe.  Segueyra, who was sensible of his own weakness, and desired to save his soul, promised the Father to obey him, and put himself into a condition of executing his promise.  In effect, he took the way of Goa, with design from thence to go for Portugal.  But being made a receiver of the public revenues by the viceroy Don John de Castro, he thought no more of Portugal, but relapsed into his first debauches.

Xavier was wholly lost to his remembrance when he happened to meet him at Bazain.  The sight of the Father surprised him at first, and almost confounded him; but straight recovering, he came up boldly to him, and took his hand, to have kissed it according to his former custom.  The Father, as courteous and civil as he was, yet thrust him back sternly enough; yet, mollifying himself a little, “How, my son,” said he, “are you still in the Indies?  Were you not advised to leave Malacca, and return to Portugal?”

The Portuguese, in great disorder, and not knowing how to excuse himself, laid all the blame upon the governor, who had detained him, in some sort, against his will.  “But,” replied Xavier, with a holy indignation, “is it the governor who has obliged you to lead the life of a beast, and to continue for two years without going to confession?  However it be,” continued the Father, “know, that we two shall never be well with one another, so long as you are upon ill terms with God.”  At these words, Segueyra, pierced with a lively sorrow, asked pardon of the Father for his breach of promise, and his unfaithfulness to the Divine Grace.  He confessed himself the same day; and wholly changed his life, under his direction, whom God had sent to bring him back into a better way.

Don John de Castro, who was desirous of profiting by the Father’s counsels for the regulation of his own life, would have been glad to have retained him longer; but, seeing him resolved on going, gave him leave to depart; yet, begging him at the same time, that he would pass the winter at Goa, that, after his own return thither, he might use his assistance in the affairs of his conscience.