uade the
king to make Aliaga, his friend, the late cardinal's successor. But
Aliaga seeks Uzeda--Uzeda his foe and rival. What can this portend?"

Thus soliloquising, the governor silently continued his way till he came
to a door by which stood two men, masked, who saluted him with a mute
inclination of the head. The door opened and again closed, as the
governor entered. Meanwhile, the confessor had gained the palace of
the Duke d' Uzeda. Uzeda was not alone: with him was a man whose sallow
complexion, ill-favoured features, and simple dress strangely contrasted
the showy person and sumptuous habiliments of the duke. But the instant
this personage opened his lips, the comparison was no longer to his
prejudice. Something in the sparkle of his deep-set eye-in the singular
enchantment of his smile--and above all, in the tone of a very musical
and earnest voice, chained attention at once to his words. And, whatever
those words, there was about the man, and his mode of thought and
expression, the stamp of a mind at once crafty and commanding. This
personage was Gaspar de Guzman, then but a gentleman of the Prince's
chamber (which post he owed to Calderon, whose creature he was supposed
to be), afterwards so celebrated in the history of Philip IV., as Count
of Olivares and prime minister of Spain.

The conversation between Guzman and Uzeda, just before the Jesuit
entered, was drawing to a close.

"You see," said Uzeda, "that if we desire to crush Calderon, it is on
the Inquisition that we must depend. Now is the time to elect, in the
successor of Sandoval y Roxas, one pledged to the favourite's ruin.
The reason I choose Aliaga is this,--Calderon will never suspect his
friendship, and will not, therefore, thwart us with the king. The
Jesuit, who would sell all Christendom for the sake of advancement to
his order or himself will gladly sell Calderon to obtain the chair of
the Inquisition."

"I believe it," replied Guzman. "I approve your choice; and you may rely
on me to destroy Calderon with the prince. I have found out the way
to rule Philip; it is by never giving him a right to despise his
favourites--it is to flatter his vanity, but not to share his vices.
Trust me, you alone--if you follow my suggestions--can be minister to
the Fourth Philip."

Here a page entered to announce Don Fray Louis de Aliaga. Uzeda advanced
to the door, and received the holy man with profound respect.

"Be seated, father, and let me at once