The heavy tramp she knew so well began at once, and echoed along the outer entries, growing slowly less distinct till it was only a distant and rumbling echo, and then died away altogether.  Her hand was still on the open door, and Ruy Gomez was standing beside her.  He gently drew her away, and closed the door again.  She let him lead her to a chair, and sat down where she had sat before.  But this time she did not lean back exhausted, with half-closed eyes,—­she rested her elbow on her knee and her chin in her hand, and she tried to think connectedly to a conclusion.  She remembered all the details of the past hours one by one, and she felt that the determination to save her father had given her strength to live.

“Don Ruy Gomez,” she said at last, looking up to the tall old nobleman, who stood by the brazier warming his hands again, “can I see the King alone?”

“That is more than I can promise,” answered the Prince.  “I have asked an audience for you, and the chamberlain will bring word presently whether his Majesty is willing to see you.  But if you are admitted, I cannot tell whether Perez will be there or not.  He generally is.  His presence need make no difference to you.  He is an excellent young man, full of heart.  I have great confidence in him,—­so much so that I recommended him to his Majesty as Secretary.  I am sure that he will do all he can to be of use to you.”

Dolores looked up incredulously, and with a certain wonder at the Prince’s extreme simplicity.  Yet he had been married ten years to the clever woman who ruled him and Perez and King Philip, and made each one believe that she was devoted to him only, body and soul.  Of the three, Perez alone may have guessed the truth, but though it was degrading enough, he would not let it stand in the way of his advancement; and in the end it was he who escaped, leaving her to perish, the victim of the King’s implacable anger, Dolores could not help shaking her head in answer to the Prince of Eboli’s speech.

“People are very unjust to Perez,” he said.  “But the King trusts him.  If he is there, try to conciliate him, for he has much influence with his Majesty.”

Dolores said nothing, and resuming her attitude, returned to her sad meditations, and to the study of some immediate plan.  But she could think of no way.  Her only fixed intention was to see the King himself.  Ruy Gomez could do no more to help her than he had done already, and that indeed was not little, since it was to his kindly impulse that she owed her meeting with her father.

“And if Perez is not inclined to help Don Diego,” said the Prince, after a long pause which had not interrupted the slow progression of, his kindly thought, “I will request my wife to speak to him.  I have often noticed that the Princess can make Perez do almost anything she wishes.  Women are far cleverer than men, my dear—­they have ways we do not understand.  Yes, I will interest my wife in the affair.  It would be a sad thing if your father—­”