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to…day he seemed to see her again； as he had seen her first at the
castle of fontainebleau； when he was but fifteen years of age； and
she still younger。 they had been formally betrothed on that
occasion by the papal nuncio in the presence of the french king and
all the court； and he had returned to the escurial bearing with him
a little ringlet of yellow hair； and the memory of two childish
lips bending down to kiss his hand as he stepped into his carriage。
later on had followed the marriage； hastily performed at burgos； a
small town on the frontier between the two countries； and the grand
public entry into madrid with the customary celebration of high
mass at the church of la atocha； and a more than usually solemn
auto…da…fe； in which nearly three hundred heretics； amongst whom
were many englishmen； had been delivered over to the secular arm to
be burned。
certainly he had loved her madly； and to the ruin； many thought； of
his country； then at war with england for the possession of the
empire of the new world。 he had hardly ever permitted her to be
out of his sight； for her； he had forgotten； or seemed to have
forgotten； all grave affairs of state； and； with that terrible
blindness that passion brings upon its servants； he had failed to
notice that the elaborate ceremonies by which he sought to please
her did but aggravate the strange malady from which she suffered。
when she died he was； for a time； like one bereft of reason。
indeed； there is no doubt but that he would have formally abdicated
and retired to the great trappist monastery at granada； of which he
was already titular prior； had he not been afraid to leave the
little infanta at the mercy of his brother； whose cruelty； even in
spain； was notorious； and who was suspected by many of having
caused the queens death by means of a pair of poisoned gloves that
he had presented to her on the occasion of her visiting his castle
in aragon。 even after the expiration of the three years of public
mourning that he had ordained throughout his whole dominions by
royal edict； he would never suffer his ministers to speak about any
new alliance； and when the emperor himself sent to him； and offered
him the hand of the lovely archduchess of bohemia； his niece； in
marriage； he bade the ambassadors tell their master that the king
of spain was already wedded to sorrow； and that though she was but
a barren bride he loved her better than beauty； an answer that cost
his crown the rich provinces of the netherlands； which soon after；
at the emperors instigation； revolted against him under the
leadership of some fanatics of the reformed church。
his whole married life； with its fierce； fiery…coloured joys and
the terrible agony of its sudden ending； seemed to e back to him
to…day as he watched the infanta playing on the terrace。 she had
all the queens pretty petulance of manner； the same wilful way of
tossing her head； the same proud curved beautiful mouth； the same
wonderful smile … vrai sourire de france indeed … as she glanced up
now and then at the window； or stretched out her little hand for
the stately spanish gentlemen to kiss。 but the shrill laughter of
the children grated on his ears； and the bright pitiless sunlight
mocked his sorrow； and a dull odour of strange spices； spices such
as embalmers use； seemed to taint … or was it fancy？ … the clear
morning air。 he buried his face in his hands； and when the infanta
looked up again the curtains had been drawn； and the king had
retired。
she made a little moue of disappointment； and shrugged her
shoulders。 surely he might have stayed with her on her birthday。
what did the stupid state…affairs matter？ or had he gone to that
gloomy chapel； where the candles were always burning； and where she
was never allowed to enter？ how silly of him； when the sun was
shining so brightly； and everybody was so happy！ besides； he would
miss the sham bull…fight for which the trumpet was already
sounding； to say nothing of the puppet…show and the other wonderful
things。 her uncle and the grand inquisitor were much more
sensible。 they had e out on the terrace； and paid her nice
pliments。 so she tossed her pretty head； and taking don pedro
by the hand； she walked slowly down the steps towards a long
pavilion of purple silk that had been erected at the end of the
garden； the other children following in strict order of precedence；
those who had the longest names going first。
a procession of noble boys； fantastically dressed as toreadors；
came out to meet her； and the young count of tierra…nueva； a
wonderfully handsome lad of about fourteen years of age； uncovering
his head with all the grace of a born hidalgo and grandee of spain；
led her solemnly in to a little gilt and ivory chair that was
placed on a raised dais above the arena。 the children grouped
themselves all round； fluttering their big fans and whispering to
each other； and don pedro and the grand inquisitor stood laughing
at the entrance。 even the duchess … the camerera…mayor as she was
called … a thin； hard…featured woman with a yellow ruff； did not
look quite so bad…tempered as usual； and something like a chill
smile flitted across her wrinkled face and twitched her thin
bloodless lips。
it certainly was a marvellous bull…fight； and much nicer； the
infanta thought； than the real bull…fight that she had been brought
to see at seville； on the occasion of the visit of the duke of
parma to her father。 some of the boys pranced about on richly…
caparisoned hobby…horses brandishing long javelins with gay
streamers of bright ribands attached to them； others went on foot
waving their scarlet cloaks before the bull； and vaulting lightly
over the barrier when he charged them； and as for the bull himself；
he was just like a live bull； though he was only made of wicker…
work and stretched hide； and sometimes insisted on running round
the arena on his hind legs； which no live bull ever dreams of
doing。 he made a splendid figh