He had amassed a large treasure, but he liked best to spend it in splendid architecture, in noble fountains, in magnificent collections of art, science, and literature, and, above all, in building up fortunes for the children of his sister the washerwoman, and in allying them all to the most princely houses of Italy, while never allowing them even to mention the name of their father, so base was his degree; but he cared not to disburse from his hoarded dollars to supply the necessities of the League.
But Gaetano, although he could wring but fifty thousand crowns from his Holiness after the fatal fight of Ivry, to further the good cause, was lavish in expenditures from his own purse and from other sources, and this too at a time when thirty-three per cent.

interest was paid to the usurers of Antwerp for one month's loan of ready money.

He was indefatigable, too, and most successful in his exhortations and ghostly consolations to the people.

Those proud priests and great nobles were playing a reckless game, and the hopes of mankind beyond the grave were the counters on their table.

For themselves there were rich prizes for the winning.