The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-10

It is one of the great dramas of the world. In conception and execution 1t is a beautiful and thrilling poetic mas terpiece. It ranks with "Hernani,' Hu- gos other great drama, in it's ever fresh appeal on the stage.
 TT HE seventeenth century wa, was
 stopping toward its end. With \ it. in Spain, the sun of the House of Austria was setting. Charles II was king only when he rode out to show his gorgeous person. In the council of government his voice was unheard. He neither saw nor cared that his courtiers' strong and greedy hands were tearing apart the trans marine empires that had been made by the fierce conquerors who followed Co., lumbus.
 His queen, Maria, neglected by him, choked by the tyrannous and deceitful ceremonial of the Spanish grandees, was no better than a prisoner guard ed by the malicious Duchess d'Albu- querque.
 The true rulership lay in the hand of Don Salluste de Bazan, Marquis of Finlas. While Charles hunted, Don Salluste reigned. Other great men of court who might have become his rivals he chained to himself with letters of gold. So for 20 years his creatures that he sent out as governors squeezed treasure from the Indies of the East and the Indies of the West, pillaged the Philippines and drained the Amer icas for him and his supp porters.
 When the young and beautiful sis ter of Emperor Leopold was married to Charles after the death of his first wife Don Salluste mdae no objection. wife Don Salluste made no objection. an of Neubourg' should not gain any ascendancy over her royal husband. For the rest in a court where ceremony prescribed that the Queen of Spain must not even look out of the window it was easy enough to keep the Queen as far from the wheels of government as if she were a ragged peasant in the Castilian mountains.
 The German girl did not wish to reign. Before she had been in Madrid many days her greatest desire was only to snatch few breaths now and then of something approaching free dom. Yet, though Don Salluste dis dained her and had made her power less his fall came through her.
 He wronged a young girl of the court, who went to the Queen to beg for redress. Such little scandals had been hushed up and treated with forebearance in previous f1,a ryitb har un-Spanish ideas of morality, did what she would not have dared to do in any matter of state however great. She went for Don Salluste and ordered him to marry the girl. He refused indignantly. To his amazement he received word a few days later that he was to be banished from Madrid.
 He could not credit it, but he found all too quickly that his power indeed, had vanished over night Threats and prayers alike failed to move the monarch.
 Don Salluste, almost insane with shame and rage. decided to leave court at once before his ruin should become known to the courtiers or the populace But before he departed he swore he would set in train some terrible revenge that should ruin the Queen.
 He sent an emissary into the slums of the town for crawling, wild fellow known throughout the thieves and ruff fans haunts of Madrid as Zafari With hat knocked in, broken feathers dangling, boots split open, and draped in a ragged cloak that concealed all the rest of his apparel except long and excellent sword, he appeared before the great nobleman, and, as soon as they were alone, ad- dressed him famlliarly and somewhat con- temptuously as cousin
 Unknown to all except himself and Don salluste, "Zafari" was, indeed, Don Caes- ar de Bazan, Count of Garofa, a spend thrift who had wasted his inheritance and then had disappeared from his world. To escape his creditors, he spread the report that he had died in the Indies. Then, un- der a gypsy name, he joined the reckless spirits who were making Madrid un- safe.
 "A pleasant thing" said Don Salluste "to be 'cousined' by. a bandit by the friend of that Galician thief Matalobas, who plunders all Madrid, defying the po- lice"
 'I would not be very presentable with out him." answered Don Caesar, with a low and sarcastic bow. Seeing me with out coat, he gave me this silken one"
 He threw back his ragged cloak and showed a superb doublet of rose-colored satin embroidered In gold. You see, :" continued he, smiling, "he robbed that amber-perfumed flop, the Count of Abe, of it. and gave 1t to me. Love letters written to the count are crammed in all the pockets Often, when l have noth- ing to eat, I sit somewhere where l can s.ell good cooking and delight my soul with them"
 "Don Caesar" said Don Salluste, "I wish to rehabilitate you. Hereafter take of my fortune as you need. Here Is a purse for the beginning. There is only one condition"
 "Name it." said Don Caesar, astonished and hopeful. 'Ill fight a swordsman from hell for you or raise a rebellion in Madrid
 "I want none of this.'' said Don Sal luste. ''I want more delicate service You must help me spread a net I think you are not very scrupulous. I want you to avenge me on a woman with terrible and memorable vengeance"
 Don Caesar measured his cousin with a glance, tossed the purse at his feet and exclaimed: 'He who claims the right to bear a sword and would take stealthy