Pagina 550 de 1118

At table, the count led the conversation to Madrid; he spoke of

the court, the count-duke, the ministers, the family of the

governor; of the bull-fights, which he could well describe,

having seen them from a distinguished place; of the escurial, of

which he could speak in its most minute details, because a page

of the count-duke had conducted him into every nook of it. For

some time all the company were attentive to him alone; then they

divided into separate parties. He continued for a while to relate

a number of anecdotes, as in confidence, to the father

provincial, who was seated near him. But suddenly he gave a turn

to the conversation, and spoke of Cardinal Barberini, who was a

capuchin, and brother to the reigning pope, Urban VIII. As they

left the table, the count invited the father provincial to go

with him into another apartment.