He was gathering his dignity again, by force of habit, as his terror subsided, but Dolores was too strong for him.

“I am not asking anything of your Majesty; I am dictating terms to my lover’s murderer,” she said proudly.

“This is past bearing, girl!” cried Philip hoarsely.  “You are out of your mind—­I shall call servants to take you away to a place of safety.  We shall see what you will do then.  You shall not impose your insolence upon me any longer.”

Dolores reflected that it was probably in his power to carry out the threat, and to have her carried off by the private door through which Perez had gone out.  She saw in a flash how great her danger was, for she was the only witness against him, and if he could put her out of the way in a place of silence, he could send her father to trial and execution without risk to himself, as he had certainly intended to do.  On the other hand, she had been able to terrify him to submission a few moments earlier.  In the instant working of her woman’s mind, she recollected how his fright had increased as she had approached the door by which she had entered.  His only chance of accomplishing her disappearance lay in having her taken away by some secret passage, where no open scandal could be possible.

Before she answered his last angry speech, she had almost reached the main entrance again.

“Call whom you will,” she said contemptuously.  “You cannot save yourself.  Don Ruy Gomez is on the other side of that door, and there are chamberlains and guards there, too.  I shall have told them all the truth before your men can lay hands on me.  If you will not write the order to release my father, I shall go out at once.  In ten minutes there will be a revolution in the palace, and to-morrow all Spain will be on fire to avenge your brother.  Spain has not forgotten Don Carlos yet!  There are those alive who saw you give Queen Isabel the draught that killed her—­with your own hand.  Are you mad enough to think that no one knows those things, that your spies, who spy on others, do not spy on you, that you alone, of all mankind, can commit every crime with impunity?”

“Take care, girl!  Take care!”

“Beware—­Don Philip of Austria, King of Spain and half the world, lest a girl’s voice be heard above yours, and a girl’s hand loosen the foundation of your throne, lest all mankind rise up to-morrow and take your life for the lives you have destroyed!  Outside this door here, there are men who guess the truth already, who hate you as they hate Satan, and who loved your brother as every living being loved him—­except you.  One moment more—­order my father to be set free, or I will open and speak.  One moment!  You will not?  It is too late—­you are lost!”