this German bears so little resemblance to her----"

"That I most humbly entreat your Majesty," interposed Quijada with
haughty decision, "not to compare these two women, even by way of
contrast."

"B-r-r!" said the regent, extending her hands toward him as if to repel
an assault. "Yet I like you in this mood, Luis. You are a true
Castilian! So we will leave Dona Magdalena in her Villagarcia, and only
permit myself to admire the self-sacrifice of a woman who grants a
husband like you so long a leave of absence. As to the Ratisbon
maiden----"

"I should be very glad to know," Quijada began, this time in a submissive
tone, "by what sign your Majesty's penetration discovered this young
creature's ambition."

"That is soon told," replied the regent kindly. "She specially mentioned
her distinguished relatives in the city and in Landshut, and when I
advised her to show due respect to the marquise, who, in spite of
everything, is a woman of high rank and certainly an old lady, before
whose gray hairs Scripture commands us to rise, something hovered around
her lips--they are ripe for kisses--something which it is not easy to
find exactly the right words to describe: a blending of repugnance, self-
assertion, and resistance. She suffered it to remain on her beautiful
face only a few minutes, but it gave me reason enough to urge you to
sound a warning if his Majesty's late love should render him more
yielding than is desirable."

"The warned man will heed what prescient wisdom enjoins upon him," the