A romance is no place for polemical discussion, and we will therefore leave those painful arguments unrecorded.  Suffice it, that Marie’s intimate acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures in their original tongue—­the language of her own people—­gave her so decided an advantage over the old monk, that, after nearly three months’ trial, he sought his Sovereign, and, with the most touching humility, acknowledged his utter incapacity, for the conversion of Donna Marie, and implored her to dismiss him, and select one more fitted for the task.

Astonished, and bitterly disappointed, Isabella cross-questioned him as to the cause of this sudden feeling of incapacity, and his answers but increased her desire to compel Marie to abandon Judaism, and become—­in semblance at least, a Catholic; believing fully that, this accomplished, the Holy Spirit would do the rest, and she would at least have saved her soul.  She retained the father in the palace; desiring him to inform his charge that one fortnight’s grace would be allowed her, to ponder on all the solemn truths he had advanced, and on her own decision whether she would not rather yield to kindness, than tempt the severity her obstinacy demanded; but, save this enjoyment, he was to commune with her no further.  With a trembling spirit the Queen again sought the counsel of her confessor, and reported the information of the holy father.  Torquemada listened, with a curling lip and contracted brow.  He was not surprised, he said, for it was exactly what he had expected.  It was a part of their blaspheming creed, to blind by sorcery, the eyes and minds of all those who had ever attempted to win them over by kind and reasonable argument.  Father Denis had been bewitched, as all were, who ever attempted to convert, by other than the harshest means.  Her grace must see the necessity of severity, and surely could not refuse the using it any longer.  But Isabella did refuse, till her last resource had been tried; and all she asked was, if she might hold forth a powerful temporal temptation to obtain the end she so earnestly desired?  Torquemada hesitated; but at length, on being told the severe alternative which Isabella would enforce, if her first proposal were rejected, reluctantly acceded; still persisting that nothing but the rack and the flame, or fatal expulsion, would ever purge Spain from the horrible infection of so poisonous a race.  Isabella heard him with a shudder; but, thankful even for this ungracious sanction, waited, with, trembling impatience, the termination of the given fourteen days; hoping, aye praying in her meek, fervid piety, that the mistaken one might be softened to accept the proffered grace, or her own heart strengthened to sacrifice all of personal feeling for the purifying by fire and consequent salvation, of that immortal soul now so fearfully led astray.