In the Palace of the King | Page 9

against me
hereafter, though I have done what I could, to the best of my
knowledge."
Mendoza lifted his sheathed sword and laid his right hand upon the
cross-bar of the basket hilt.
"God--the King--Spain!" he said solemnly, as he pressed his lips to it
once for each article of his faith.
"I do not wish to shake your belief," said Dolores coldly. "I daresay
that is impossible!"
"As impossible as it is to make me change my determination,"
answered Mendoza, letting his long sword rest on the pavement again.

"And what may your determination be?" asked the girl, still facing him.
Something in his face forewarned her of near evil and danger, as he
looked at her long without answering. She moved a little, so as to stand
directly in front of Inez. Taking an attitude that was almost defiant, she
began to speak rapidly, holding her hands behind her and pressing
herself back against her sister to attract the latter's attention; and in her
hand she held the letter she had written to Don John, folded into the
smallest possible space, for she had kept it ready in the wrist of her
tight sleeve, not knowing what might happen any moment to give her
an opportunity of sending it.
"What have you determined?" she asked again, and then went on
without waiting for a reply. "In what way are you going to exhibit your
power over me? Do you mean to take me away from the court to live in
Valladolid again? Are you going to put me in the charge of some sour
old woman who will never let me out of her sight from morning till
morning?" She had found her sister's hand behind hers and had thrust
the letter into the fingers that closed quickly upon it. Then she laughed
a little, almost gaily. "Do you think that a score of sour old duennas
could teach me to forget the man I love, or could prevent me from
sending him a message every day if I chose? Do you think you could
hinder Don John of Austria, who came back an hour ago from his
victory the idol of all Spain, the favourite of the people--brave, young,
powerful, rich, popular, beloved far more than the King himself, from
seeing me every day if he chose, so long as he were not away in war?
And then--I will ask you something more--do you think that father, or
mother, or king, or law, or country has power to will away the love of a
woman who loves with all her heart and soul and strength? Then
answer me and tell me what you have determined to do with me, and I
will tell you my determination, too, for I have one of my own, and shall
abide by it, come what may, and whatsoever you may do!"
She paused, for she had heard Inez softly close the door as she went out.
The letter at least was safe, and if it were humanly possible, Inez would
find a means of delivering it; for she had all that strange ingenuity of
the blind in escaping observation which it seems impossible that they

should possess, but of which every one who has been much with them
is fully aware. Mendoza had seen Inez go out, and was glad that she
was gone, for her blind face sometimes disturbed him when he wished
to assert his authority.
"Yes," he said, "I will tell you what I mean to do, and it is the only
thing left to me, for you have given me no choice. You are disobedient
and unruly, you have lost what little respect you ever had--or
showed--for me. But that is not all. Men have had unruly daughters
before, and yet have married them well, and to men who in the end
have ruled them. I do not speak of my affection for you both, since you
have none for me. But now, you are going beyond disobedience and
lawlessness, for you are ruining yourself and disgracing me, and I will
neither permit the one nor suffer the other." His voice rose harshly. "Do
you understand me? I intend to protect my name from you, and yours
from the world, in the only way possible. I intend to send you to Las
Huelgas to-morrow morning. I am in earnest, and unless you consent to
give up this folly and to marry as I wish, you shall stay there for the
rest of your natural life. Do you understand? And until to-morrow
morning you shall stay within these doors. We shall see whether Don
John of Austria will try to force my dwelling first and a convent of holy
nuns afterwards. You will be safe from him, I give you