Don Tarrasez, with half-closed eyes, stood motionless, resembling one of those statues cased in iron, ornamenting Gothic halls. The young D'Ossuna, almost worn out with weariness and sorrow, was leaning against a marble pillar. And King Philip, pacing up and down with hasty steps, paused occasionally to listen for some distant noise. At one time he stopped to examine the hour-glass, at another, with that mingling of superstitious feeling apparently as inconsistent with some points of his character as it was with that of Louis the Eleventh, he knelt before an image of the Virgin, placed on a pedestal of porphyry brought from the ruins of the Alhambra--and implored her to pardon him for the bloody deed that was now accomplishing. All was as silent as in the palace of Azrael, the Angel of Death; for no one, however high or exalted his rank, dared to speak without the permission of his sovereign. No sooner had the last grain of sand announced that the fatal hour had arrived, than the king joyfully exclaimed-- "The traitor's hour has come!" A low murmur ran through the assembly. "The time has expired," replied Philip; "and with it, Count de Biscay, your enemy is no more. He has fallen like the leaves of the olive-tree before the blast." "My enemy, sire?" exclaimed Don Ramirez, affecting surprise. "Yes, count," replied Philip. "Why repeat our words? Were you not the rival of Don Guzman in the affection of Donna Estella--and can rivals be friends? In truth, though we have not spoken of that at our council, our royal word is pledged; Donna Estella shall be yours! Yours are her beauty and her vast domains. Thus, count, when you hear tell of the ingratitude of sovereigns, you can say, we at least have not forgotten the true friend of the king and of Spain, who discovered the conspiracy and correspondence of Don Guzman with France." There was more of uneasiness in the countenance and manner of Don Ramirez than such gracious words from the lips of royalty seemed calculated to excite, and it was with downcast eyes, as if shrinking from such public approval, he answered-- "Sire, it was with much repugnance I fulfilled a painful duty--" He could not say more: his embarrassment seemed to increase. Tarrasez coughed, and as D'Ossuna's gauntleted hand sought the hilt of his sword, he mentally ejaculated--"Before this man calls Donna Estella his, I will follow my noble cousin to the grave. Let me but see to-morrow's dawn, and I will avenge him." The king continued: "Your zeal and devotedness, Don Ramirez, shall be rewarded. The saviour of our throne, and, perhaps, of our dynasty, merits no insignificant reward. This morning we commanded you to prepare with our high chancellor the letters patent which will give you the rank of Duke and Governor of Valencia. Are these papers ready to be signed?"