g his lips; "if the Cardinal thrive
as well as his servant, by're Lady, Monsignore is a happy man!"

By no means pleased with the prospect of an interview with Albornoz,
who, like most able men, valued the talents of those he employed exactly
in proportion to their success, the Spaniard slowly returned home. With
the licence accorded to him, he entered the Cardinal's chamber somewhat
abruptly, and perceived him in earnest conversation with a Cavalier,
whose long moustache, curled upward, and the bright cuirass worn
underneath his mantle, seemed to betoken him of martial profession.
Pleased with the respite, Alvarez hastily withdrew: and, in fact, the
Cardinal's thoughts at that moment, and for that night, were bent upon
other subjects than those of love.

The interruption served, however, to shorten the conversation between
Albornoz and his guest. The latter rose.

"I think," said he, buckling on a short and broad rapier, which he laid
aside during the interview,--"I think, my Lord Cardinal, you encourage
me to consider that our negotiation stands a fair chance of a prosperous
close. Ten thousand florins, and my brother quits Viterbo, and launches
the thunderbolt of the Company on the lands of Rimini. On your part--"

"On my part it is agreed," said the Cardinal, "that the army of the
Church interferes not with the course of your brother's arms--there is
peace between us. One warrior understands another!"

"And the word of Giles d'Albornoz, son of the royal race of Arragon, is
a guarantee for the faith of a Cardinal," replied the Cavalier, with a
smile. "It is, my Lord, in your former quality that we treat."

"There is my right hand," answered Albornoz, too politic to heed the
insinuation. The Cavalier raised it respectfully to his lips, and his
armed tread was soon heard descending the stairs.

"Victory," cried Albornoz, tossing his arms aloof; "Victory, now thou
art mine!"

With that he rose hastily, deposited his papers in an iron chest, and
opening a concealed door behind the arras, entered a chamber that rather
resembled a monk's cell than the apartment of a prince. Over a mean
pallet hung a sword, a dagger, and a rude image of the Virgin. Without
summoning Alvarez, the Cardinal unrobed, and in a few moments was
asleep.

Chapter 7.VII. Vaucluse and its Genius Loci.--Old Acquaintance Renewed.

The next day at early noon the Cavalier, whom our last chapter presented
to the reader, was seen mounted on a