'Little or nothing'
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e só podendo communicar-se com ella a custo e furtivamente, em pouco ou nada podia valer-lhe.
and able to communicate with her only with difficulty and by stealth, could avail her little or nothing.
Even contact is a theft of moments: Miguel can reach Isaura only 'a custo e furtivamente,' with great difficulty and by stealth, like a conspirator. And so, for all his love, he 'em pouco ou nada podia valer-lhe' — could avail her little or nothing. The verb 'valer' (to be worth, to be of use) delivers the verdict: a father's devotion, without power, is worth almost nothing against a master.
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A Escrava Isaura 8.132 — The Great Library Project interlinear edition · greatlibraryproject.com/book/escravaisaura/8.132/