They reached the door, and as she withdrew her hand from his arm, he took it and ceremoniously kissed her gloved fingers, while she smiled graciously.  Then he knocked three times, and presently the shuffling of Eudaldo’s slippers was heard within, and the old servant opened sleepily.  On seeing the Princess enter first, he stiffened himself in a military fashion, for he had been a soldier and had fought under Mendoza when both were younger.

“Eudaldo,” said the General, in the stern tone he always used when giving orders, “her Excellency the Princess of Eboli will take Dona Dolores to her own apartments this evening.  Tell the maid to follow later with whatever my daughter needs, and do you accompany the ladies with a candle.”

But at this Dona Ana protested strongly.  There was moonlight, there were lamps, there was light everywhere, she said.  She needed no one.  Mendoza, who had no man-servant in the house but Eudaldo, and eked out his meagre establishment by making use of his halberdiers when he needed any one, yielded after very little persuasion.

“Open the door of my daughter’s apartments,” he said to Eudaldo.  “Madam,” he said, turning to the Princess, “I have the honour to wish you good-night.  I am your Grace’s most obedient servant.  I must return to my duty.”

“Good-night, my dear friend,” answered Dona Ana, nodding graciously.

Mendoza bowed low, and went out again, Eudaldo closing the door behind him.  He would not be at liberty until the last of the grandees had gone home, and the time he had consumed in accompanying the Princess was just what he could have spared for his supper.  She gave a short sigh of relief as she heard his spurred heels and long sword on the stone pavement.  He was gone, leaving Dolores in her power, and she meant to use that power to the utmost.

Eudaldo shuffled silently across the hall, to the other door, and she followed him.  He drew the bolt.

“Wait here,” she said quietly.  “I wish to see Dona Dolores alone.”

“Her ladyship is in the farther room, Excellency,” said the servant, bowing and standing back.

She entered and closed the door, and Eudaldo returned to his big chair, to doze until she should come out.

She had not taken two steps in the dim room, when a shadow flitted between her and the lamp, and it was almost instantly extinguished.  She uttered an exclamation of surprise and stood still.  Anywhere save in Mendoza’s house, she would have run back and tried to open the door as quickly as possible, in fear of her life, for she had many enemies, and was constantly on her guard.  But she guessed that the shadowy figure she had seen was Dolores.  She spoke, without hesitation, in a gentle voice.

“Dolores!  Are you there?” she asked.

A moment later she felt a small hand on her arm.

“Who is it?” asked a whisper, which might have come from Dolores’ lips for all Dona Ana could tell.