He knew very well that the Cardinal was odious and infamous, because he was the willing impersonation of the royal policy.

Philip was, therefore, logically called upon to abandon the policy or to sustain the minister.
He could make up his mind to do neither the one nor the other.

In the mean time a well-turned period of mock magnanimity had been furnished him.

This he accordingly transmitted as his first answer to a most important communication upon a subject which, in the words of the writers, "admitted neither of dissimulation nor delay." To deprive Philip of dissimulation and delay, however, was to take away his all.

They were the two weapons with which he fought his long life's battle.