This is their country mode; but I do ensure thee I had been little gladded for leave to kiss the dust; and it doth yet tickle mine ears whensoever I hear it. So up the stairs went we, through a fair court bordered with orange-trees, into a brave chamber hung about with silk, and all over the floor a carpet of verder spread. Here we awaited a season; at the end whereof come in three or four gentlemen in brave array, before the foremost whereof all we bowed down to the ground.

This was mine ineffable Lord Marquis. A tall, personable gentleman he is, something stiff and stately.

"'Senora,' saith he, inclining him unto us, 'you are welcome as the light!'

"And raising him up, he called in a loud voice for the Senora Gomez.

Come forth from the chamber beyond, a middle-aged dame, apparelled in black.

"'Take this lady to her chamber,' saith he. 'Dona Ines is her name.

And remember what I told you!'

"So I took my leave of Master Jeronymo, and of Don Diego and Dona Isabel, with many protestations and loutings; and again making low reverence unto my Lord Marquis, away hied I with Madam Gomez. She led me on by so many lobbies, one after the other, that methought we should never make an end and come to a chamber; but once, when I would have spoken, she checked me with a finger on the lip. At last she turned into a fair large chamber, well hung and garnished. She shut to the door, and then her lips unclosed.

"'Here, Senora, is your chamber,' saith she. 'Two small alcoves for sleeping be on the right, for yourself and your bower-woman; you have been looked for of long time, and she awaiteth you. I will send her to you when I depart.'

"'I thank you,' quoth I. 'May I pray you of her name?'

"'Her name,' she answered, 'is Maria Porcina' (the which should in English be Mary Little-pig. Methought it an unfair name). 'It will please you,' she went on, 'to speak but lowly, seeing your chamber is nigh unto those of our Lady.'

"I thought that should please me but little. 'Senora,' quoth I, 'shall I have the honour to see the Queen's Grace at supper, think you?'

"The Senora Gomez looked at me; then she went to the door and drew the bolt, and let back the curtain that was over the door. This done, she came back and sat in the window.

"'Senora,' she saith, in a voice little above a whisper, 'to the world outside we do not tell secrets. But unto a damsel so wise and discreet as your serenity, I will not fear to speak freely.' (Much, methought, she knew of my discretion!) 'You desire to know if you shall see our Lady this even. No; you will never see her.'

"'But,' said I, 'I am come hither to read and write English for her Highness.'

"'You are come to read and write for the Lord Marquis,' she answered; 'not for her.'

"'Certes,' said I, 'that was not told me.'

"'It is never told to any,' she replied.

"'But what is the secret, I pray your excellency?' I asked. 'Is the Queen's Highness sick, that she is never seen?'

"'She is mad,' answered she.

"'G.o.d have mercy on her!' cried I.

"'_Y la Santisima_!' (And the most holy Virgin!) saith she. 'That is what is said to the world. Be you ware, Dona Ines, that you gainsay it not.'

"'Mean you that it is not true?' cried I.

"'I mean,' quoth she, 'that my Lord Marquis of Denia is master here, and is an ill one to offend. Say as he saith--that is our rule.'

"'Then,' said I, 'there is somewhat behind, which men may not know.'

"'Behind!' she saith, with a low crafty laugh that it liked me not to hear. 'Ay, there is Don Carlos the Emperor, son of our Lady, behind the Lord Marquis. Have a care what you do and say. _Con el Rey y la Inquisicion, chiton_! (which is a Spanish saw [proverb], meaning, Be silent touching the King and the Inquisition.) And if you speak unadvisedly of the one, you may find you within the walls of the other.

I speak in kindness, Senora, and of what I know. This palace is not all bowers and gardens. There be dungeons beneath those bowers, deep and dark. Santa Maria defend us! You tread on mines--hold your peace!'

"'I thank you, Senora, for your warning,' answered I. 'Go with G.o.d!'

"'And rest with Him!' she answered. ['Vaya (_or_ quede) usted con Dios.'] (In this fashion do the Spaniards take their leave.) Then she left me.

"Isoult, dear heart, I am well a.s.sured herefrom that this is an evil place, and my Lord of Denia an ill man. But there is yet more to tell thee.

"When I went down to supper, I there found my Lord and Lady of Denia; Fray Juan de Avila, confessor to her Highness; and her Grace's bower-women, whose names be Dona Ximena de Lara [fict.i.tious], a young damsel (I hear), of very high degree, that is stately and silent; Dona Catalina de la Moraleja [fict.i.tious], a middle-aged dame, grave and sedate; Dona Leonor Gomez, of whom I have spoken; and Dona Rosada de Las Penas [fict.i.tious], a young maid of gentle and kindly look. And if thou wouldst have their names in English--Ximena, I cannot interpret therein, for it is a name particular unto these parts; but the others should be Katherine [Note 7] and Eleanor, and Rose. Dona Leonor Gomez, I do find, will be saddest of any when my Lord's or the confessor's eyes be upon her, but will talk away like very water let out when she hath one alone.

"It was some days ere I was called to any work. The Tuesday thereafter, my Lord Marquis sent for me, to read a letter come to him from England.

'Twas but filled with compliments and fair words--scarce worth the sending, methought. Very grave is this Lord Marquis, yet extreme courteous withal. As I stood a-reading come in Fray Juan.

"'How fareth her Highness?' asks my Lord.

"'She requires you,' answered the Friar.

"'I go,' his Lordship made answer. 'Is it the _premia_?'

"The Friar shrugged up his shoulders, but said nought; and my Lord, so soon as I had made an end of reading, sent me away quickly [Note 8].

Now I marvelled much what they meant, seeing that _premia_ signifieth a reward or kindness done unto one; and wherefore that should be I knew not. When I was in my chamber, I asked Maria what _premia_ meant.

(This is a good, kindly, simple la.s.s I have.) 'Senora,' said she, 'it signifieth a reward.' And she plainly knew of no other signification.

"But in the night, I was waked from my sleep by the dreadfullest sound ever I heard. Surely I was deceived, but it did seem to me like shrieks of some poor wretch in mortal pain. Maria awaked also, and sitting up in her bed, she cries under her breath, 'All the saints preserve us!'

"'What can it be?' said I.

"'Senora,' quoth she, 'may it please your serenity, I know not. I have heard it once afore, some time gone, but none would tell me the cause thereof. Methinks the Castle is haunted by goblins.'

"And she fell to crossing her and saying Ave Marys by the score.

"The screaming ceased not for some time, and then by degrees; but I slept not again.

"The morrow after came Dona Leonor into my chamber; and after some talk on things indifferent, she saith, 'Did aught disturb you this night?'

"'Dona Leonor, what was it?' said I.

"'What heard you, Dona Ines?' quoth she.

"'Why,' said I, 'horrible screaming, like unto the shrieks of a soul in Purgatory.'

"'We hear them sometimes,' she answered.

"'But what is it?' I repeated.

"'Dona Ines,' said she, 'there are things not to be spoken about. But do not you fancy that the Castle is haunted by goblins.'

"And not an other word might I have from her. But I am a.s.sured there is some terrible matter afoot in this Palace; and I would I were safe thereout.

"I must close my letter somewhat shortly, for Dona Isabel de Alameda, that promised me to send it with one of hers that goeth to Cales [Cadiz], hath sent her brother's son, Don Juan de Alameda [fict.i.tious], to request the same, and I must not keep him awaiting. Be not thou disturbed, dear heart; G.o.d is as near to Tordesillas as to London, and He is stronger than all evil men and devils. Unto His keeping I commend thee. From Tordesillas, this Monday.

"Thine own to her little power, Annis Holland.