“Justice shall be done you, Sir, of that you need not doubt,” said Philip, sternly. “As to you, fellow,” he added to the prisoner, “little as you deserve it, you shall have a pardon. But understand. You owe life and freedom to Mistress Constance Tyrrell—not to me.” “Are no conditions annexed to the pardon?” inquired Derrick Carver. “None; it is unconditional,” replied the Prince. “Here is her Majesty’s order,” he added, giving Rodomont the paper, signed by the abbess. “Are you content?” he added to Constance, who had approached at the moment. “I am,” she replied, with a look of unutterable gratitude. “With your Highness’s permission,” said Rodomont, “the prisoner shall be taken to the hospital of the Domus Dei, where he can remain till his wounds be healed, and if there be a spark of gratitude in his breast, the residue of his life will be devoted to extolling your Highness’s clemency.” “I trust he may become a good Catholic through your instrumentality,” said the Prince to Constance. “Take him away,” he added to Rodomont. Upon this Rodomont directed the bearers to remove the litter, and making a profound obeisance to the Prince, he followed it out of the room. “My part in this strange performance is now over, I presume,” observed De Noailles to the Prince. “Your excellency is at liberty to depart,” rejoined Philip, coldly. “Attend him,” he added, glancing at Alva and D’Egmont. The look was so significant that it did not escape the ambassador, and caused him to pause. “No treachery, I trust, is intended?” he said. “Your Highness will bear in mind that my person is sacred.” “So is mine,” rejoined Philip, sternly. “Yet that circumstance did not save me from attack.” “Your Highness would not insinuate——” “I insinuate nothing,” said Philip. “Go, Sir, Heaven go with you!” Seriously alarmed, the ambassador did not dare to stir a step. The terrible looks of the Duke of Alva froze the blood in his veins. While he stood irresolute, the lady abbess went up to him, and said, “I will go with you.” “It seems, then, that I am really in danger,” stammered De Noailles. “Without me you will never quit this place alive,” replied the abbess. And signing to Constance to follow her, she left the room with the ambassador, the Duke of Alva and the Count D’Egmont having gone out before them. As De Noailles and the two ladies entered the ante-chamber, they found it full of armed men, while both the Duke and D’Egmont had drawn their swords. “Pass on, holy mother, and take your charge with you,” said Alva to the abbess and Constance. “We must have a word with his excellency.” “I will not affect to misunderstand your purpose, my lord Duke,” said the abbess, “but it must not be. I forbid it.” “You, holy mother!” “Yes, I, the Queen!” she rejoined. “The Queen!” exclaimed Alva, sheathing his sword. “Nay, then, we must needs obey. Your excellency will excuse this momentary interruption. Pray pass on.”