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