Evening star., 1908-01-26
CHAPTER XVII-Continued.

--- lie young man, esrtes. was NJ
match for these asiute Span
ia-ds. who had all tn, VILE
and articles CT diplomacy 4
thsir finger tips; his love foI
Wcssex and tho earnestness of his Owl
poIitical views gave him a certain amoun
Of sh"ewdncss. but even that shrewdnes
was III fault in the face of this extraordi
nary at,nznt. suddenly made by th'
cardinal.
You are surprised?" commented his
emnence.
'Boundiassly. | confess,
''.th, Diplomacy is full OF surprises Bu
you are pleased?"
E.veringham. however. was not pre-
pared 10 admit anything to tbs man
whose face he could not read, but whose
tortuous ways he more than half mis-
trusted
Il hardly know how to understand you,
sminencc. ne said. guardedly: Il neeC
hardly say that my fondest hope was tc
see Queen Mary welded To Wessex, 70!
That is common knowledge. But sine.
his srac"'s meeting with the beautiful
Lady Ursula. | fully expect to hear hin
declare his intention Of keeping his trotl
10 her.
You think her so very irresist ble
then?-or his grace so very susceptible?
II think that the duke has always kept
At the back of his mind an idea that he
was in some measure bound t. Lady Ur-
Sula.
Let us add. my lord. that the charm
and grace of the lady will inevitably tend
I" develop that idea. Eh?"
And that your emnence will probably
triumph in consequence"
You. therefore. my lord have By now
set your heart on undoing what todays
chance meeting may. perchance. have ac
complished BY you | also mean your
friends. the nobility and gentry of Eng
land Nho would mourn to see his grace
welded TO Lady Ursula Glynde?'
Our less will be your eminence's gain
probably" rejoined Everingham with .
sigh.
The cardinal waited a moment before
he continued the conversation. He haG
deliberately sought this interchange OF
ideas. Openness and frankness in matters
political We're not usually part of his
eminence.s program. but this evening he
seemed desirous to gain this young Eng
Hshman'S confidence.
But. he said after awhile Will
charming bonhommie. but suppose thai
instead of gloating in the triumph which
YOU, my lord, so readily prophesy. sup
pose that / We're to ask you to let me
Icip Nou-Nou anu your lTl6nQS-ln part
ing the volatile duke from his latest
fiameo Would you accept my help?'
Your eminence-I-' murmured Eve
ringham, somewhat at a loss what to
say.
You would wish to consult you,
placidiy. Lord Derby. Lord Bath. the
Earl Of Oxford,-nay, the whole string
af patriotic Engiishmen who desire to
see one of their own kind on the English
throne. and naturally look upon me as j
monster of artifice and vice"
Your eminence-" protested Evertng.
ham.
Yet what are we but political antago-
nists who can honor one another in private
whilst rending one another to pieces il
the arena of public life? Do you not agree
with me- my lord?"
Certainly
Then why should you disdain my help
now that-momentarily-we have the same
object in view?
81 am hors oe cause your eminence. as
] have only the next few hours at my
disposal. After that ] go to Scotland
Much may be done in few hours
my lord. with an ounce of luck and a
grain of tact"
eminence should be at one with me and
my friends over this?'
The cardinal smiled with gentle
benevolence. Fersed though he was in
an integral part of his calling. no one
knew better than he did the value of an
occasional truth. With easy familiarity
he linked his arm in that of his inter-
1ocutcr.
Nay, your lordship mocks me- he
said with light sigh: from your con-
yersation | have already gathered that
YOU and your friends suspect me of hav-
ing brought about this unwelcome meet.
ing 'twixt his grace of Wessex and
{
Marry" began Everingham with
some hesitation.
II pray YOU do not trouble to deny it
Let us admit that it is SO. Do YOU not
think then that Queen Mary will have
like suspicion as yourself2"
Probably"
And will in consequence. turn the
floods of her wrath on my innocent
anything. my lord. NY position at this
court would become untenable. My mis-
sion probably would fail. Let us say
that by endeavoring to part his grace
from the Lady Ursula ! would wish tc
give her majesty proof of the fact that
bore no part in their chance meet
ing.
"I understand" rejoined Everingham
still vaguely suspicious of any ulteriol
motive lurking behind the cardinals ap-
parent frankness. "but-
"Once his grace his effectually parted
from his new flame. the game will stand
once more as it did before the unfor-
tunate episode of this afternoon-unfor-
tunate alike TO your interests and 'tc
mine. Is that not so?'
Certainly.
Il feel. therefore that until then We
ought to be-well, if not friends exactly
at least allies
only TO resume hostilities again, your
eminence?'
BY all means"
Once his grace has ceased TO think oi
Lady Ursula. I and my party will once
more work heart and soul to bring about
the alliance of Wessex with the queen.
And to win the queens hand FOL
Philip of Spain. Until them
Armed truce. your eminence.
And YOU will accept my help? II
may he worth having you never car
toll" uuoth his eminence. with a sarcas-
tic smile. which Everingham could moi
perceive in the darkness.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Necromancer.