Page:Artabanzanus (Ferrar, 1896).djvu/182

174 elderly gentleman, on whose shoulders hung negligently a scarlet robe. His face was quite yellow, his hair white, and his eyes were heavy and leaden gray. He rose from his seat when the Doctor was announced and extended his hand. The Doctor treated him with great respect, and introduced me thus:

'Permit me to introduce my friend, Mr. Oliver Ubertus, to your Eminence—Ubertus, His Eminence Cardinal——'

I bowed low, and started back in astonishment—Cardinal!

'Who is Mr. Oliver Ubertus, sir? To whom have I the honour of being introduced?' inquired the Cardinal in a soft and mellow voice.

The Doctor gave him my history briefly, as I had given it to him in a previous interview.

The Cardinal was then pleased to say that he was himself glad to see us, but if Dr. Julius wished to introduce Mr. Ubertus to the King, he was not in a position to inform us whether his Majesty would grant us an interview. His Majesty was holding his Court of Justice just then, and was in a very peculiar humour indeed. 'However,' he added, 'I will myself go and inquire: be seated, gentlemen!'

He retired by a small door, which opened silently into a dark passage, and after an absence of about ten minutes returned saying that his Majesty, although slightly unwell, would graciously condescend to receive us. We followed his Eminence through dark and tortuous passages, which red to lead to the secret dungeons of the grave, and entered, in a blaze of light, into the magnificent throne-room of the King, who sat in state on his leaden throne, surrounded by lords, great officers, halberdiers, buffetiers, leaden sticks-in-waiting, and secretaries.

There was no mistaking that formidable monarch. The frown on his brow, and the fierce glare of his bloodshot