hilip was soon aware of the contest between the two factions,
but, in the true spirit of Spanish kingcraft he took care to play one
against the other. Nor could Calderon, powerful as he was, dare openly
to seek the ruin of Uzeda; while Uzeda, more rash, and, perhaps, more
ingenuous, entered into a thousand plots for the downfall of the prime
favourite.

The frequent missions, principally into Portugal, in which of late
Calderon had been employed, had allowed Uzeda to encroach more and more
upon the royal confidence; while the very means which Don Roderigo had
adopted to perpetuate his influence, by attaching himself to the prince,
necessarily distracted his attention from the intrigues of his rival.
Perhaps, indeed, the greatness of Calderon's abilities made him too
arrogantly despise the machinations of the duke, who, though not without
some capacities as a courtier, was wholly incompetent to those duties of
a minister on which he had set his ambition and his grasp.

Such was the state of parties in the Court of Philip the Third at the
time in which we commence our narrative in the ante-chamber of Don
Roderigo Calderon.

"It is not to be endured," said Don Felix de Castro, an old noble, whose
sharp features and diminutive stature proclaimed the purity of his blood
and the antiquity of his descent.

"Just three-quarters of an hour and five minutes have I waited for
audience to a fellow who would once have thought himself honoured if I
had ordered him to call my coach," said Don Diego Sarmiento de Mendo.

"Then, if it chafe you so much, gentlemen, why come you here at all? I
dare say Don Roderigo can dispense with your attendance."

This was said bluntly by a young noble of good mien, whose impetuous and
irritable temperament betrayed itself by an impatience of gesture and
motion unusual amongst his countrymen. Sometimes he walked, with uneven
strides, to and fro the apartments, unheeding the stately groups whom he
jostled, or the reproving looks that he attracted; sometimes he paused
abruptly, raised his eyes, muttered, twitched his cloak, or played with
his sword-knot; or, turning abruptly round upon his solemn neighbours,
as some remark on his strange bearing struck his ear, brought the blood
to many a haughty cheek by his stern gaze of defiance and disdain. It
was easy to perceive that this personage belonged to the tribe--rash,
vain, and young--who are eager to take offence, and to provoke quarrel.
Nevertheles