felt as though I was entering the lion's den.
But then came miracle after miracle. Do you know something, Luis? The
best results have often followed my most reckless acts."

"Probably because even your Majesty's least prudent deeds merit a modest
reward," replied Quijada, "and because, besides the heavenly powers,
there are also less estimable ones that meddle with the affairs of this
world."

"Perhaps so!" exclaimed the Queen, astonished at this idea. "Perhaps the
Prince of Darkness finds pleasure in this affair, and, as a fair-minded
devil, is grateful to me. One thing is certain: What a woman of my age
could not tell her daughter or--if she has none--her young niece, she
should not meddle with. All this is by no means pleasing to me, and
yet, Luis, yet We ought to rejoice in this love affair, not only for
ourselves, but for his Majesty. De Soto, too, I know, is satisfied;
nay, it seems as if he saw a special act of divine favour in this late
blazing of the flames of love in a heart whose fires had apparently
burned out."

"Wherever this passion originates," observed Quijada, "it seems to have
had a good influence upon his Majesty's mood. It is said that Satan
often designs evil and yet works good, and if this late and very tender
emotion is a gift of hell, it nevertheless affords our sovereign lord
unexpected and therefore all the more exquisite joys."

"In whose behalf it may also be said that they are numbered among
those which can hardly be approved, or even forbidden ones," the regent
eagerly interrupted. "But no matter! Happy is he whose pathway at the
beginning of life's evening is once more so brilliantly illumined by the
sun of love. In my devotion to the duties of government and the chase,
I have not yet wholly forgotten enthusiasm. Whoever has once been really
young retains this advantage, and I have, Luis. Therefore I could envy
my beloved brother to-day no less sincerely than I pitied him yesterday.
Joy is the best thing in life, and who bestows it more certainly and
lavishly than the little winged god? It is fortunate for my Charles that
he is again permitted to quaff the beaker of happiness! Only too soon--I
know it--he will again withdraw it from his lips with his own hand, if
it were only because the inclination to self-torture which he inherits,
the ascetic instinct, that constantly increases in strength, destroys
and stamps as sinful forgetfulness of duty every pleasure which he
enjoys for any