lly come down from the mountains of the Asturias to drive the
Moors from the Peninsula, so should the forces of Don John descend again
to reconquer it for himself.

It was a madman's fancy utterly--fruit of a brain that ambition had
completely addled; and I do not believe that Don John had any part in it
or even knowledge of it. Escovedo saw himself, perhaps, upon the throne
of one or the other of the two kingdoms as Don John's vice-regent--for
himself and for me, if I stood by him, there was such power in store as
no man ever dreamed of. If I refused, he would destroy me.

"And if I go straight to the Escurial and lay this project before the
King?" I asked him.

He smiled.

"You will force me to tell him that it is a lie invented to deliver you
from a man who can destroy you by the knowledge he possesses, knowledge
which I shall at once impart to Philip. Think what that will mean to
you. Think," he added very wickedly, "what it will mean to her."

As I am a Christian, I believe that had it been but the consideration
of myself I would have flung him from my house upon the instant and bade
him do his worst. But he was well advised to remind me of her. Whatever
Philip's punishment of me, it would be as nothing to his punishment of
that long-suffering woman who had betrayed him. Oh, I assure you it is
a very evil, ill judged thing to have a king for rival, particularly a
fish-souled tyrant of King Philip's kind.

I was all limp with dread. I passed a hand across my brow, and found it
chill and moist.

"I am in your hands, Escovedo," I confessed miserably.

"Say, rather, that we are partners. Forget all else." He was eager,
joyous, believing all accomplished, such was his faith in my influence
with Philip. "And now, Mogro for me, and England for Don John. About it
with dispatch."

"The King is in retreat. We must wait some days."

"Till Easter, then." And he held out his hand. I took it limply, thus
clenching the bargain of infamy between us. What else was there for me.
What, otherwise, was to become of Anne?

Oh, I may have been self-seeking and made the most of my position, as
was afterwards urged against me. I may have been extortionate and venal,
and I may have taken regal bribes to expedite affairs. But always was
I loyal and devoted to the King. Never once had I been bribed to aught
that ran counter to his interests; never until now, when at a stroke I
had sold my honour and pledged myself to this betraya