The indignation felt by the French was mingled with apprehensions of an ambush.

Luxembourg himself could not banish a feeling of vague terror; great was his astonishment when, on his introduction to the pontiff, the latter received him with demonstrations of affection, asked him news of his journey, said he would have liked to give him quarters in the palace, made him sit down,--a distinction reserved for the ambassadors of kings, -- and, lastly, listened patiently to the French envoy's long recital.

In fact, the receptions _intra et, extra muros_ bore very little resemblance one to the other, but the difference between them corresponded pretty faithfully with the position of Sixtus V., half engaged to the League by Gaetani's commission and to Philip II.

by the steps he had recently taken, and already regretting that he was so far gone in the direction of Spain." [_Sixtus V,_ by Baron Hiibner, late ambassador of Austria at Paris and at Rome, t.ii.

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