They went accordingly, and the marriage took place as arranged, the marquis first embracing her publicly in the presence of various people--namely, Inez and his two secretaries, who, except Inez, were present, and could bear witness to the truth of what she said.
After the marriage and the signing of the certificates she had accompanied him to his own apartments, which she had never entered before, and there, to her astonishment, in the morning, he announced that he must go a journey upon their Majesties' business.

Before he went, however, he gave her a written authority, which she produced, to receive his rents and manage his matters in Granada during his absence, which authority she read to the gathered household before he left.

She had obeyed him accordingly until she had received the royal command, receiving moneys, giving her receipt for the same, and generally occupying the unquestioned position of mistress of his house.
"We can well believe it," said the king drily.

"And now, Marquis, what have you to answer to all this ?" "I will answer presently," replied Morella, who trembled with rage.
"First suffer that my advocate cross-examine this woman." So the advocate cross-examined, though it cannot be said that he had the better of Betty.

First he questioned her as to her statement that she was of ancient and gentle family, whereon Betty overwhelmed the court with a list of her ancestors, the first of whom, a certain Sieur Dene de Dene, had come to England with the Norman Duke, William the Conqueror.
After him, so she still swore, the said Denes de Dene had risen to great rank and power, having been the favourites of the kings of England, and fought for them generation after generation.
By slow degrees she came down to the Wars of the Roses, in which she said her grandfather had been attainted for his loyalty, and lost his land and titles, so that her father, whose only child she was--being now the representative of the noble family, Dene de Dene--fell into poverty and a humble place in life.