It was a moment of love in the soul of a man whose whole career had been devoted to ambition. The big tear started in his full eye, and actually rolled down his cheek and fell upon his scarlet vest. Oh! that the tear of love could fall upon the scarlet vests of all Cardinals, and that they could see themselves as they are, but men of the same flesh, the same blood, the same bone, the same dust as the poorest Protestant in these realms! Till then, the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life will prevail in the dominion of the Papacy. 'Latimer, give me your hand,' said Wolsey. 'I have not behaved to you as I ought, and years of neglect cannot be atoned for in a moment. Your hand, William, reminds me of my youth. I cannot forget my university. Proud days we enjoyed together. Days of anticipated triumph. Ah! Latimer, yours was an unexpected triumph; mine a long-anticipated hope, extinguished by yourself, but now blessed in seeing you happy.' Great man! Greater infinitely than the world knew! Could Cavendish have revealed this, the world would truly have sympathised with a man who, though raised to an eminence higher than that which any subject ever yet stood upon, was hurled down therefrom at the moment when his whole soul was full of pity and philanthropy. Ellen could not see the emotion of her early friend at such a time without a look of compassion, in which the generous and honest Latimer most fully shared. 'It is best for us all to retire awhile,' she said, 'that we may be each composed for the harmony of a happy hour.' 'It is well said, my friends: after our unusual excitement, it will do us all good. My chamberlain will conduct you.' CHAPTER XLIII. HOSPITALITY. The Cardinal alone--left alone to himself--bethought him of his coming fall. He sent for Cavendish, and ordered every preparation for quiet hospitality. 'I want no state to-day. Let all my serving-men take holiday, let as many as please visit their friends in the city; and hark ye, Cavendish! let my state-visitors, who come to pry into my decline, and to partake of what good fare a Cardinal's table may afford them, be told that I am indisposed to-day. 'I am indisposed, indeed, to receive any strangers, or any ministers of state this day. My few early friends it is worth your while, my good secretary, to cultivate, for they have hearts of hospitality; and when greatness and I are separated, you may find them no mean substitute for your master. I would have you, therefore, at my table, none other; and as this is a day with which the world, the political or public world in which I am concerned, can have nothing to do, so let it be unrecorded among the transactions of my career, which you have undertaken to set down.'