prive
him of any inclination to repeat it. God granted Don Philip the
sovereignty. My oath, my honour, forbid me to rise against him. He has
lost all claim to my love, my gratitude, but he is sure of the fidelity
of his ill-treated brother. Besides," he added proudly, "my wishes mount
higher."

Barbara had listened to her son with the utmost eagerness; now, taking a
locket from the breast of his doublet, he whispered:

"Do you know whom this lovely picture represents? No? Well, these are the
features of the fairest and most unfortunate of women. Mary Stuart, the
hapless Queen of Scotland, the devout, patient sufferer for our holy
faith, looks at you from this frame. She does not refuse me her hand. The
Holy Father in Rome and the Guises in France approve the bold enterprise;
but I shall take the army under my command by sea to England. I am sure
of victory in this conflict. With the most beautiful of women, I shall
gain the crown which I need and which will best suit me."

"John!" Barbara exclaimed, carried away by the daring of this proposal,
and her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "This desire is worthy of you and
your great father. If I can aid you in its realization----"

"You can," Don John eagerly interrupted; "for the first step is to gain
the consent of the States-General to despatch the army, which must now be
sent back to Spain, thither by sea. When the troops are once on the way
they will steer to England, instead of southward. But even to embark
these forces I shall need the consent of the representatives of the
country. Therefore, difficult as it is for me, the words must be uttered:
Your residence in the provinces will prevent my obtaining it. Spare me
the mention of my reasons; but the circumstance that you always opened
your house to the Spanish party must fill the King's enemies with
distrust of you. Besides, it is scarcely credible; but you must believe
Escovedo, to whom I owe this information. How petty people in the
provinces can be about such matters! An edict was recently issued which
commands the removal of every official who can not prove that the union
of the parents who gave him life was consecrated by the Holy Church.
Alas, mother, that I should be compelled to wound you at our first
meeting! But if your love is as great as your every glance tells me, as
you have just confessed with such touching warmth----"

"And as I shall confess," she cried impetuously, "so long as a single
breath stir