In this, the Spanish comedy was the faithful mirror of the Spanish life, especially in the circles of a court.

Men lived in a perfect labyrinth of plot and counter-plot.

The spirit of finesse, manoeuvre, subtlety, and double-dealing pervaded every family.
Not a house that was not divided against itself.
As Lerma turned his eyes from the unwelcome spectacle of such sudden familiarity between Uzeda and the heir-apparent--a familiarity which it had been his chief care to guard against--his glance fell on Calderon.
He beckoned to him in silence, and retired, unobserved by the two confabulators, through the same door by which he had entered.

Calderon took the hint, and followed him.

The duke entered a small room, and carefully closed the door.
"How is this, Calderon ?" he asked, but in a timid tone, for the weak old man stood in awe of his favourite.