"`Behind!' she saith, with a low crafty laugh that it liked me not to hear. `Ay, there is Don Carlos the Emperor, son of our Lady, behind the Lord Marquis. Have a care what you do and say. _Con el Rey y la Inquisicion, chiton_! (which is a Spanish saw [proverb], meaning, Be silent touching the King and the Inquisition.) And if you speak unadvisedly of the one, you may find you within the walls of the other. I speak in kindness, Senora, and of what I know. This palace is not all bowers and gardens. There be dungeons beneath those bowers, deep and dark. Santa Maria defend us! You tread on mines--hold your peace!' "`I thank you, Senora, for your warning,' answered I. `Go with God!' "`And rest with Him!' she answered. [`Vaya (_or_ quede) usted con Dios.'] (In this fashion do the Spaniards take their leave.) Then she left me. "Isoult, dear heart, I am well assured herefrom that this is an evil place, and my Lord of Denia an ill man. But there is yet more to tell thee. "When I went down to supper, I there found my Lord and Lady of Denia; Fray Juan de Avila, confessor to her Highness; and her Grace's bower-women, whose names be Dona Ximena de Lara [fictitious], a young damsel (I hear), of very high degree, that is stately and silent; Dona Catalina de la Moraleja [fictitious], a middle-aged dame, grave and sedate; Dona Leonor Gomez, of whom I have spoken; and Dona Rosada de Las Penas [fictitious], a young maid of gentle and kindly look. And if thou wouldst have their names in English--Ximena, I cannot interpret therein, for it is a name particular unto these parts; but the others should be Katherine [Note 7] and Eleanor, and Rose. Dona Leonor Gomez, I do find, will be saddest of any when my Lord's or the confessor's eyes be upon her, but will talk away like very water let out when she hath one alone. "It was some days ere I was called to any work. The Tuesday thereafter, my Lord Marquis sent for me, to read a letter come to him from England. 'Twas but filled with compliments and fair words--scarce worth the sending, methought. Very grave is this Lord Marquis, yet extreme courteous withal. As I stood a-reading come in Fray Juan. "`How fareth her Highness?' asks my Lord. "`She requires you,' answered the Friar. "`I go,' his Lordship made answer. `Is it the _premia_?' "The Friar shrugged up his shoulders, but said nought; and my Lord, so soon as I had made an end of reading, sent me away quickly [Note 8]. Now I marvelled much what they meant, seeing that _premia_ signifieth a reward or kindness done unto one; and wherefore that should be I knew not. When I was in my chamber, I asked Maria what _premia_ meant. (This is a good, kindly, simple lass I have.) `Senora,' said she, `it signifieth a reward.' And she plainly knew of no other signification.