Giacomo, bringing his mantle gallantly over his shoulder,
"I see the servitors of Monsignore the Cardinal d'Albornoz.--It is the
Cardinal himself."

"It is well!" said the Signora, with a brightening eye; "I await
him!" With these words she withdrew by the door through which she had
surprised the Roman page.

Chapter 7.II. The Character of a Warrior Priest--an Interview--the
Intrigue and Counter-intrigue of Courts.

Giles, (or Egidio, (Egidio is the proper Italian equivalent to the
French name Gilles,--but the Cardinal is generally called, by the
writers of that day, Gilio d'Albornoz.)) Cardinal d'Albornoz, was one of
the most remarkable men of that remarkable time, so prodigal of genius.
Boasting his descent from the royal houses of Aragon and Leon, he
had early entered the church, and yet almost a youth, attained the
archbishopric of Toledo. But no peaceful career, however brilliant,
sufficed to his ambition. He could not content himself with the honours
of the church, unless they were the honours of a church militant. In
the war against the Moors, no Spaniard had more highly distinguished
himself; and Alphonso XI. king of Castile, had insisted on receiving
from the hand of the martial priest the badge of knighthood. After the
death of Alphonso, who was strongly attached to him, Albornoz repaired
to Avignon, and obtained from Clement VI. the cardinal's hat. With
Innocent he continued in high favour, and now, constantly in the
councils of the Pope, rumours of warlike preparation, under the banners
of Albornoz, for the recovery of the papal dominions from the various
tyrants that usurped them, were already circulated through the court.
(It is a characteristic anecdote of this bold Churchman, that Urban V.
one day demanded an account of the sums spent in his military expedition
against the Italian tyrants. The Cardinal presented to the Pope a wagon,
filled with the keys of the cities and fortresses he had taken. "This is
my account," said he; "you perceive how I have invested your money." The
Pope embraced him, and gave him no further trouble about his accounts.)
Bold, sagacious, enterprising, and cold-hearted,--with the valour of the
knight, and the cunning of the priest,--such was the character of Giles,
Cardinal d'Albornoz.

Leaving his attendant gentlemen in the antechamber, Albornoz was ushered
into the apartment of the Signora Cesarini. In person, the Cardinal
was about the middle height; the dark complexio