to kiss his
hand, and bend the knee before him, seeking his blessing. Yet this
mere boy, beardless save for a silky down about his firm young cheeks,
retained his seat and greeted him with no more submissiveness than if he
had been the envoy of some temporal prince.

"I am the representative of our Holy Father," he announced, in a voice
of stern reproof. "I am from Rome, with these my well-beloved nephews."

"From Rome?" quoth Affonso Henriques. For all his length of limb and
massive thews he could be impish upon occasion. He was impish now.
"Although no good has ever yet come to me from Rome, you make me
hopeful. His Holiness will have heard of the preparations I am making
for a war against the Infidel that shall carry the Cross where new
stands the Crescent, and sends me perhaps, a gift of gold or assist me
in this holy work."

The mockery of it stung the legate sharply. His sallow, ascetic face
empurpled.

"It is not gold I bring you," he answered, "but a lesson in the faith
which you would seem to have forgotten. I am come to teach you your
Christian duty, and to require of you immediate reparation of the
sacrilegious wrongs you have done. The Holy Father demands of you the
instant re-instatement of the Bishop of Coimbra, whom you have driven
out with threats of violence, and the degradation of the cleric you
blasphemously appointed Bishop in his stead."

"And is that all?" quoth the boy, in a voice dangerously quiet.

"No." Fearless in his sense of right, the legate towered before him.
"It is demanded of you further that you instantly release the lady, your
mother, from the unjust confinement in which you hold her."

"That confinement is not unjust, as all here can witness," the Infante
answered. "Rome may believe it, because lies have been carried to
Rome. Dona Theresa's life was a scandal, her regency an injustice to my
people. She and the infamous Lord of Trava lighted the torch of civil
war in these dominions. Learn here the truth, and carry it to Rome. Thus
shall you do worthy service."

But the prelate was obstinate and proud.

"That is not the answer that our Holy Father awaits."

"It is the answer that I send."

"Rash, rebellious youth, beware!" The cardinal's anger flamed up, and
his voice swelled. "I come armed with spiritual weapons of destruction.
Do not abuse the patience of Mother Church, or you shall feel the full
weight of her wrath released against you."

Exasperated, Affonso Henriqu