myself and the king's confessor, Philip would consent to thy ruin. The
strong hold thou hast over him is in thy influence with the
Infanta--influence which he knows to be exerted on behalf of his own
fearful and jealous policy; that influence gone, neither I nor Aliaga
could suffice to protect thee. Enough! Shut every access to Philip's
heart against Uzeda." Calderon bowed in silence, and the duke hastened 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