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 to business; for time presses, and
all must be despatched to-night. Before interest is made by others with
the king, we must be prompt in gaining the appointment of Sandoval's
successor."

"Report says that the cardinal-duke, your father, himself desires the
vacant chair of the Inquisition."

"My poor father, he is old--his sun has set. No, Aliaga; I have thought
of one fitter for that high and stern office in a word, that appointment
rests with yourself. I can make you Grand Inquisitor of Spain--!"

"Me!" said the Jesuit, and he turned aside his face. "You jest with me,
noble son."

"I am serious--hear me. We have been foes and rivals; why should not our
path be the same? Calderon has deprived you of friends more powerful
than himself. His hour is come. The Duke de Lerma's downfall cannot be
avoided; if it could, I, his son, would not as, you may suppose, withhold
my hand. But business fatigues him--he is old--the affairs of Spain are
in a deplorable condition--they need younger and abler hands. My father
will not repine at a retirement suited to his years, and which shall be
made honourable to his gray hairs. But some victim must glut the rage of
the people; that victim must be the upstart Calderon; the means of his