that to this day
it remains of little use to me, did they conquer me. I had reached the
limit of endurance.

"In Christ's name, release me!" I gasped. "I will say anything you
wish."

Released at last, half swooning, smothered in blood, agonized by pain,
I confessed that it was myself had procured the death of Escovedo for
reasons of State and acting upon the orders of the King. The notary made
haste to write down my words, and, when I had done, it was demanded of
me that I should advance proof of the State reasons which I had alleged.

Oh, I had never been under any delusion on that score, as I have shown
you. The demand did not take me by surprise at all. I was waiting
for it, knowing that my answer to it would pronounce my doom. But I
delivered it none the less.

"My papers have been taken from me, and without them I can prove
nothing. With them I could prove my words abundantly."

They left me then. On the morrow, as I afterwards learnt, they read my
confession to my devoted Martinez, and the poor fellow, who hitherto had
remained staunch and silent under every test, seeing that there was no
further purpose to be served by silence, gave them the confirmation they
desired of Enriquez's accusation.

Meanwhile, I was very ill, in a raging fever as you may well conceive,
and in answer to my prayer my own doctor was permitted to visit me in
prison. He announced that he found my case extremely grave, and that I
must perish unless I were relieved. As a consequence, and considering my
weakness and the uselessness just then of both my arms, one of which was
broken, first a page of my own, then other servants, and lastly my wife
were allowed to come and tend me.

That was at the end of February. By the middle of April my wounds had
healed, I had recovered the use of my limbs, though one remains half
maimed for life, and my condition had undergone a very considerable
improvement. But of this I allowed no sign to show, no suspicion even. I
continued to lie there day after day in a state of complete collapse,
so that whilst I was quickly gathering strength it was believed by my
gaolers that I was steadily sinking, and that I should soon be dead.

My only hope, you see, lay now in evasion, and it was for this that
I was thus craftily preparing. Once out of Castile I could deal with
Philip, and he should not find me as impotent, as toothless as he
believed. But I go too fast.

One night at last, on April 20th, by when