“His son Geronimo might aspire to the crown,” interrupted Granvelle. “He expressed the same doubts to me also. What I heard of the child induced me to plead that he might be allowed to grow up in the world untrammelled. If any one understands how to defend himself against unauthorized demands, it is Don Philip.”
“So I, too, think, and advised,” replied Viglius. “Poor boy! His father of late holds on to thalers more than anxiously and, if I am correctly informed, the education of his son has hitherto cost his Majesty no more expense than the maintenance of the mother. Wise economy, your Eminence! Or what shall it be called?”
“As you choose,” replied the bishop in an irritated tone. “What do you know about the boy’s mother?”
“Nothing,” replied the Frieslander, “except what my friend Mathys told me lately. He said that before she lost her voice she was a perfect nightingale. She might recover it at Ems, and so the leech proposed to the Emperor to give her a sum of money for this purpose.”
“And his Majesty?” asked Granvelle.
“Remained faithful to his habit of not sullying his reputation by extravagance,” replied the Frieslander, laughing.
“Suffering, misfortune!” sighed Granvelle. “As a long period of rain produces fungi in the woods, so this terrible pair calls to life one pettiness after another in the rare man in whom once every trait of character was great and glorious. I knew the boy’s mother. Many things might be said of her, among them good, nay, the best ones. As to the boy, his Majesty informed Don Philip of his existence. It was in Augsburg. He does not seem at all suited for the monastic life, and therefore I shall continue to strive to preserve him from it.”
“And if his Majesty decides otherwise?”
“Then, of course—” answered Granvelle, shrugging his shoulders. “But the draught must be composed, and there are more important matters for us to discuss.”
As he spoke he rang the bell on the table at his side, and Hannibal obeyed his master’s summons. In doing so he passed Barbara, who started as if bewildered when she heard him approach.