ave 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 ar