nseca's face brightened; he obeyed the summons; and in another moment
he was in the cabinet of the Sejanus of Spain.

CHAPTER II. THE LOVER AND THE CONFIDANT.

Calderon received the young soldier at the door of his chamber with
marked and almost affectionate respect. "Don Martin," said he, and there
seemed a touch of true feeling in the tremor of his rich sweet voice, "I
owe you the greatest debt one man can incur to another--it was your hand
that set before my feet their first stepping-stone to power. I date my
fortunes from the hour in which I was placed in your father's house as
your preceptor. When the cardinal-duke invited you to Madrid, I was your
companion; and when, afterwards, you joined the army, and required
no longer the services of the peaceful scholar, you demanded of your
illustrious kinsman the single favour--to provide for Calderon. I had
already been fortunate enough to win the countenance of the duke, and
from that day my rise was rapid. Since then we have never met. Dare
I hope that it is now in the power of Calderon to prove himself not
ungrateful?"

"Yes," said Fonseca, eagerly; "it is in your power to save me from the
most absolute wretchedness that can befall me. It is in your power, at
least I think so, to render me the happiest of men!"

"Be seated, I pray you, senor. And how? I am your servant."

"Thou knowest," said Fonseca, "that, though the kinsman, I am not the
favourite, of the Duke of Lerma?"

"Nay, nay," interrupted Calderon, softly, and with a bland smile;
"you misunderstand my illustrious patron: he loves you, but not your
indiscretions."

"Yes, honesty is very indiscreet! I cannot stoop to the life of the
ante-chamber. I cannot, like the Duke of Lerma, detest my nearest
relative if his shadow cross the line of my interests. I am of the
race of Pelayo, not Oppas; and my profession, rather that of an ancient
Persian than a modern Spaniard, is to manage the steed, to wield the
sword, and to speak the truth."

There was an earnestness and gallantry in the young man's aspect,
manner, and voice, as he thus spoke, which afforded the strongest
contrast to the inscrutable brow and artificial softness of Calderon;
and which, indeed, for the moment, occasioned that crafty and profound
adventurer an involuntary feeling of self-humiliation.

"But," continued Fonseca, "let this pass: I come to my story and my
request. Do you, or do you not know, that I have been for some time
atta