Evening star., 1921-05-01
Translated From the French
BY WILLIAM l.. MCPHERSON.

WILLIAM C1~EEftSoNs
TIME residence Of Don Diego
Lopez Pacheco. Duke of Esca-
Iona and Marquis Of Villena.
was known by all in Toledo
and beyond its borders as one Of the
most noble of that noble city. In the
ancient capital where in turn had
reigned for centuries the civilization
Of Rome, the warlike Goths, the in
dustrial genius Of Moors and the art
of the Arabs, Castilian pride and
richer or more celebrated. The silver
smith of Peter the Cruel had built 1t
three of a century before,
and this wealthy craftsman. whose
name was Samuel Levy. had left it
filled with treasures when he died. his
throat cut by the king whose Jealous
servitor he was.
Since then its somber stone walls
had known other dramas. 1t was
| said that the Bishop GARLIC de Ac-
unar had many times crossed it's
threshold on mysterious errands.
From it. too, 1t was told, the Car
dinal Francisco Ximenes de Cigueros,
the inquisitor general. had sent thou
T u,
moreover. Guilliaume de Groi the
former preceptor of Charles V, had
set forth for Worms, to perish in that
city by poison.
The hostoric residence, as rude on
the outside as a fortress presented
regal alcazar. The floors were of
white and rose colored marble. The
gold Of the Indies glittered in the re-
cesses. A fountain bubbled in the CEN
trail basin Of a patio illuminated by
petal-shaped windows. On the walls
OF the rooms Persian rugs. in which
many-colored silks were woven into
the warm wool, hung in cascades of
everything flowers. Flanders tapes
tries. raised in gold and silver. deco
rated the partitions or covered the
doorways. Sicilian velvets. embroid
cred with foliage. were spread on the
low divans. Here were carved wooden
chests, lavishly designed: there. YES
sells of gold on sideboards from which
mounted naked goddesses and velled
virtues. Then there were Florentine
bronzes. boxes filled with jewelry,
Damascus armor and SWORDS tenn
pered in the waters of the Tagus-
the reflections and scintillations OF
opulence enjoyed in perfect security.
DoN DIEGO seldom left his palace
l. and the people Of Toledo, who
knew of its splendors through the
gossip of his servants. we're not sur
prised at that. He received only
few intimates. 1t was whispered that
he owned books. sent from Venice.
Mayence and Paris. and that he knew
how to read He was said even to
take delight in reading and to know
by heart the verses OF pagan poet
named Virgil and the prose of a phil
osopher named Aristotle. In spite of
sy. For Don Diego was a just and
austere man. who feared God and
seldom smiled, but whom everybody
respected.
He was seated in his grand hall. a
book in his left hand, meditating.
when a page entered, bowed and said:
.aThe Seigneur Count de Bivar, en-
WOW from his majesty. is here and
wishes to speak to your lordship."
The envoy Of the emperor and king
Charles V, was brought before the
duke, vro stood up to greet him.
"Welcome to this house, which is
at your disposal"
After which the two gentlemen. IN
stalled in tall chairs embellished with
cna,s-of-arms, faced each other. stiff
and unbending in their lace pour
points
The kings messenger said:
..Without doubt. your lordship. al
though he lives at little distance
from the court. has heard of the VISIT
which his Catholic majesty received
this morning. An illustrious French
man has arrived from France. A prince
of the ruling house, a descendant OF
st. Louis, a cousin OF our master, and,
in addition, a great captain-the Con-
stable of Bourbon. This valiant gen.