When the news reached Madrid, Philip was extremely disconcerted.

The death of Requesens excited his indignation.

He was angry with him, not for dying, but for dying at so very inconvenient a moment.

He had not yet fully decided either upon his successor, or upon the policy to be enforced by his successor.

There were several candidates for the vacant post; there was a variety of opinions in the cabinet as to the course of conduct to be adopted.