There was Earl Douglas, the crafty courtier with ever-smiling face,
who seemed to love everybody, while in fact he hated all; who
assumed the appearance of perfect harmlessness, and seemed to be
indifferent to everything but pleasure, while nevertheless secretly
he held in his hand all the strings of that great net which
encompassed alike court and king--Earl Douglas, whom the king loved
for this alone, because he generally gave him the title of grand and
wise high-priest of the Church, and who was, notwithstanding this,
Loyola's vicegerent, and a true and faithful adherent of that pope
who had damned the king as a degenerate son and given him over to
the wrath of God.
Lastly, there were the two men with dark, malignant looks, with
inflexible, stony faces, which u ere never lighted up by a smile, or
a gleam of joy; who always condemned, always punished, and whose
countenances never brightened save when the dying shriek of the
condemned, or the groans of some poor wretch upon the rack, fell
upon their ears; who were the tormentors of humanity, while they
called themselves the ministers and servants of God.
"Sire," said Gardiner, when the king had slowly taken his seat upon
the ottoman--"sire, let us first ask the blessing of the Lord our
God on this hour of conference. May God, who is love, but who is
wrath also, may He enlighten and bless us!"
The king devoutly folded his hands, but it was only a prayer of
wrath that animated his soul.
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