ed
to the royal cabinet.

"What a fool was I to think that I could still wear a conscience!"
muttered Calderon, with a sneering lip; "but, Uzeda, I will baffle thee
yet."

The next morning, the Marquis de Siete Iglesias presented himself at the
levee of the prince of Spain.

Around the favourite, as his proud stature towered above the rest,
flocked the obsequious grandees. The haughty smile was yet on his lip
when the door opened and the prince entered. The crowd, in parting
suddenly, left Calderon immediately in front of Philip; who,
after gazing on him sternly for a moment, turned away, with marked
discourtesy, from the favourite's profound reverence, and began a low
and smiling conversation with Gonsalez de Leon, one of Calderon's open
foes.

The crowd exchanged looks of delight and surprise; and each or the
nobles, before so wooing in their civilities to the minister, edged
cautiously away.

His mortification had but begun. Presently Uzeda, hitherto almost a
stranger to those apartments, appeared; the prince hastened to him, and
in a few minutes the duke was seen following the prince into his
private chamber. The sun of Calderon's favour seemed set. So thought
the courtiers: not so the haughty favourite. There was even a smile of
triumph on his lip--a sanguine flush upon his pale cheek, as he turned
unheeding from the throng, and then entering his carriage, regained his
home.

He had scarcely re-entered his cabinet, ere, faithful to his
appointment, Fonseca was announced.

"What tidings, my best of friends?" exclaimed the soldier.

Calderon shook his head mournfully.

"My dear pupil," said he, in accents of well-affected sympathy, "there
is no hope for thee. Forget this vain dream--return to the army. I can
promise thee promotion, rank, honours; but the hand of Beatriz is beyond
my power."

"How?" said Fonseca, turning pale and sinking into a seat. "How is this?
Why so sudden a change? Has the queen--"

"I have not seen her majesty; but the king is resolved upon this matter:
so are the Inquisition. The Church complains of recent and numerous
examples of unholy and im politic relaxation of her dread power. The
court dare not interfere. The novice must be left to her own choice."

"And there is no hope?"

"None! Return to the excitement of thy brave career."

"Never!" cried Fonseca, with great vehemence. "If, in requital of all my
services--of life risked, blood spilt, I cannot obtain a boon so eas