Evening star., 1908-01-19
CHAPTER XIV.
The Destinies Of Europe,

Five minutes later his eminences Drill
liantly clad figure once more reappeared
around the angle of the palace. The bre-
Wary was no longer in his hands.
A few moments after that he had Joined
Don Miguel, and together the two men
watched the queen and Wessex as they
drew nearer to the terrace steps.
A smile was on his eminence's lips,
suave, slightly sarcastic, and at the same
time triumphant. yet at this very instant
when he seemed so Dleased with hi1mseaf,
or with events In general, Mary Tudor
was looking with loving anxiety in his
grace of Wessex's eyes.
'I seem unable to cheer you today. my
dear lord" she said. what has become
Of your usual gay spirits?"
"Gone eavesdropping on my lord cardi-
nal," replied the duke with q smile, as he
spied the crimson robes on the top of the
steps, Ito find out how soon a king of
Spain will rule over England and capture
the heart OF our queen
/ Mary paused and suddenly laid an eager
hand on his wrist
"Methought you cared nothing for the
affairs of state" she said with some sad
ness land still less as to who shall rule
over the heart of your queen"
Shall / dismiss the Spanish ambassa-
dor?" she added In an excited whisper.
land his eminence?-and NJ. de Noailles? :?
all OF them-I have not yet given my
answer. Will you dictate 1t. my lord?"
He looked up and saw the cardinals s
piercing eyes fixed steadily upon him. For
one moment he hesitated. His eminence
looked SO sure OF himself. SO proud of his
ascendency over this impulsive woman,
that just for the space Of five seconds the
thought crossed his mind that he would
yield to the entreaties of his friends and
wrest the crown OF England from the
grasping hands Of these foreigners. all
eagerly waiting to snatch 1t for them
selves.
AS the cardinal himself had said. but a
short while ago: 1.-The destinies Of en-
pires oft hang on more slender threads
than these" No doubt, none knew better
than the shrewd Spaniard himself how
nigh he was at that moment to losing the
great game which he played.
Who knows? II at this instant the sud-
den cornmotion on the terrace had not
stopped the words on Wessexs licS how
different might have been the destinies Of
England! But just as his grace would
have spoken, the majordomo's voice rang
out:
The envoy of his holiness the pope
awaits her majesty in the audience cham
ber''
''The envoy Of his holiness said his
eminence, with his usual suavity. as he
stepped forward to meet the queen "and
! am to have the honor Of introducing him
to your majesty
The majordomo who had announced the
news was standing at some little distance
with the pages who had accompanied
him. The rest OF the court had dispersed
when Mary strolled Oft with the duke: :
only two or three ladies In immediate at
tendance on the queen were laughing and
chatterfngH close bye
The palace itself seemed astir with new
movement and life, horses were stamping
In the tagged courts. men were heard
running and shouting. while the rhythmic
sound OF brass trumpet at Intervals an
nounced the important. arrival.
But through all this noise and bustle
the sweet. sad ditty sung by fresh young
voice still seemed to fill the air.
Mary was visibly chafing under this sud
den restraint put upon her by rigid cere-
monial. His holiness envoy could NOT
be kept waiting. though she poor wom
an. was burning with desire to prolong
the happy tete-a-tete with the man she
loved.
She felt his eminence's eyes watching
her every movement. She threw him a
defiant look. then peremptorily ordered
the majordomo and the pages to precede
her.
His grace of Wessex. on the other hand
seemed obviously relieved. He had turn
ed his head In the direction whence
came that girlish song, and appeared to
be listening intently.
will you accompany US. my lord?' said
mand. II must not keep the envoy of his
holiness waiting. and have need of your
presence?'
She placed her hand on his arm. Re-
spect and chivalry compelled him to obey.
yet he seemed 10th to go.
''The Lady Ursula's song seems to fes-
cinate his grace Of Wessex." whispered
Don Miguel in his eminence's ear.
''Hush-the small opportunity, my lord
marquis" whispered the cardinal in re-
ply.
"Have I the honor Of following your
majesty" he added. respectfully, bow
ing to the queen.
May. on our left. your eminence," re-
Joined Mary, coldly.
Her right hand was still on Wessex's
arm. and slowly. as II reluctantly. she
began TO move In the direction of the
palace. Don Miguel. at an almost imper-
ceptihe sign from his chief. had quickly
disappeared down the terrace steps.
"Ah! my breviaryr' suddenly exclaimed
his eminence in great perturbation. II