“The highest of all!” replied Charles firmly.  “He only is truly great who in his soul feels his own insignificance and deems trivial all the splendour and the highest honours which life can offer; and to this genuine greatness, Luis, I intend to rear this young human plant whose existence is due to weakness and sin.”

Quijada again summoned up his courage, and observed: 

“Yet, as the son of my august ruler, this child may make claims which are of this world.”

“What claims?” cried the Emperor suspiciously.  “His birth?—­the law gives him none.  What earthly possessions may perhaps come to him he will owe solely to my favour, and it would choose for him the only right way.  Claims—­mark this well, my friend—­claims to the many things which will remain of my greatness and power when I have closed my pilgrimage beneath the sun, can be made by one person only—­Don Philip, my oldest son and lawful heir.”

Not until after he had rested in his study did Charles resume the interrupted conversation, and say: 

“It may be that this boy will grow up into a more brilliant personality than my son Philip; but you Castilians and faithful servants of the Holy Church ought to rejoice that Heaven has chosen my lawful son for your king, for he is a thorough Spaniard, and, moreover, cautious, deliberate, industrious, devout, and loyal to duty.  True, he knows not how to win love easily, but he possesses other means of maintaining what is his and still awaits him in the future.  My pious son will not let the gallows become empty in this land of heretical exaltation.  Had the Germans put him in my place, he would have become a gravedigger in their evangelical countries.  He never gave me what is called filial affection, not even just now in the parting hour; yet he is an obedient son who understands his father.  Instead of a heart, I have found in him other qualities which will render him capable of keeping his heritage in these troubled times and preserving the Holy Church from further injury.  If I were weaker than I am, and should rear yonder splendid boy, who charmed you also, Luis, under my own eyes with paternal affection, many an unexpected joy might grow for me; but I still have an immense amount of work to do, and therefore lack time to toy with a child.  It is my duty to replace this boy’s claims, which I can not recognise, with higher ones, and I will fulfill it.”

CHAPTER XII.

During this conversation the violinist Massi had been to take leave of Barbara.  Pyramus, after a short stay at home, had been obliged to depart again to an inspection in Lowen, and the musician was sorry not to find his friend.  He did not know to whom the child that had been intrusted to his care belonged, and, as he had bound himself by a solemn oath to maintain secrecy toward every one, he did not utter a word to Barbara about the boy and the obligations which he had undertaken.