These are his gods, for he has no true religion.

He is not clever but, being very cunning, he will succeed and leave a famous name behind him." "An ugly picture," said Margaret.

"And what of his queen ?" "She," answered d'Aguilar, "is a great woman, who knows how to use the temper of her time and so attain her ends.

To the world she shows a tender heart, but beneath it lies hid an iron resolution." "What are those ends ?" asked Margaret again.
"To bring all Spain under her rule; utterly to crush the Moors and take their territories; to make the Church of Christ triumphant upon earth; to stamp out heresy; to convert or destroy the Jews," he added slowly, and as he spoke the words, Peter, watching, saw his eyes open and glitter like a snake's--"to bring their bodies to the purifying flames, and their vast wealth into her treasury, and thus earn the praise of the faithful upon earth, and for herself a throne in heaven." For a while there was silence after this speech, then Margaret said boldly: "If heavenly thrones are built of human blood and tears, what stone and mortar do they use in hell, I wonder ?" Then, without pausing for an answer, she rose, saying that she was weary, curtseyed to d'Aguilar, her father and Peter, each in turn, and left the hall.
When she had gone the talk flagged, and presently d'Aguilar asked for his men and horses and departed also, saying as he went: "Friend Castell, you will repeat my news to your good kinsman here.

I pray for all your sakes that he may bow his head to what cannot be helped, and thus keep it safe upon his shoulders." "What meant the man ?" asked Peter, when the sound of the horses' hoofs had died away.
Castell told him of what had passed between him and d'Aguilar before supper, and showed him de Ayala's receipt, adding in a vexed voice: "I have forgotten to repay him the gold; it shall be sent to-morrow." "Have no fear; he will come for it," answered Peter coldly.