Here the startled Queen interrupted him:  “That would surely, inevitably be the evil fruit which would grow from such a treaty.  It would deliver to the Pope, with fettered hands, this very Council which your Majesty so confidently expected would remove or diminish, in orderly methods, the abuses which are urging so many Christians to abandon the Catholic Church.  How often I have heard even her most faithful sons acknowledge that such abuses exist!  But if you make the alliance, the self-interest of the hierarchy will know how to prevent the introduction of even a single vigorous amendment, and, instead of the conqueror of the hydra of abuse, your Majesty will render yourself its guardian.”

“And,” added the Emperor affectionately—­he still retained his seat at the writing table—­“this alliance, moreover, would force me to the painful necessity of opposing the earnest wish of the dearest, fairest, and wisest of my sisters.”

“Because it would render war with the evangelical princes inevitable,” cried the Queen excitedly.  “Oh, your Majesty, you know that the heretical movement, which is making life a burden to me in my provinces, is going much too far for me, as well as for you here in Germany; nay, that it is hateful to me, because I value nothing more than our holy Church, her greatness and unity.  But would it really redound to her welfare if the schism now existing, and which you yourself expected to heal through the Council, should by this very Council be embittered and even perhaps perpetuated?  For a long time nothing has seemed to me more execrable than this war.  Your Majesty knows that, and therefore my lord and brother can not be vexed with me if I remind him of the hour when, a few months ago, he promised to avoid it and do all in his power to bring what relates to religious matters in these German countries to a peaceful conclusion.”

The Emperor looked his sister full in the face, and, while struggling to his feet, said with majestic dignity: 

“And I have never given your Highness occasion to doubt my word.”  Then, changing his tone, he continued kindly:  “No means—­I repeat it—­shall remain untried to preserve peace.  I am in earnest, child, though there are now many reasons for breaking the promise.  I put them together on the long list yonder, and the Spaniards at the court add new ones every hour.  If you care to know them——­”

Here he hesitated, because the gout in his foot gave him a sharper twinge; but the Queen availed herself of the pause to exclaim:  “I think I am aware of them.  It is especially hard just now for the statesman and soldier to keep the sword in the sheath, because Rome offers more than ever, because at the present time no serious opposition is to be feared from the most important states, and because the princes of the empire have neglected nothing which could rouse the resentment of my imperial brother.  I know all this, and yet it is as firmly established as Alpine mountains——­”