This gentleman, on his own behalf and on behalf of these ladies, has challenged you to a combat to the death in a fashion that none can mistake.

Do you accept his challenge ?" "I would accept it readily enough, your Majesty," answered Morella in sullen tones, "since heretofore none have doubted my courage; but I must remember that I am"-- and he paused, then added--"what your Majesties know me to be, a grandee of Spain, and something more, wherefore it is scarcely lawful for me to cross swords with a Jew-merchant's clerk, for that was this man's high rank and office in England." "You could cross them with me on your ship, the _San Antonio_," exclaimed Peter bitterly, "why then are you ashamed to finish what you were not ashamed to begin?
Moreover, I tell you that in love or war I hold myself the equal of any woman-thief and bastard in this kingdom, who am one of a name that has been honoured in my own." Now again the king and queen spoke together of this question of rank--no small one in that age and country.

Then Isabella said: "It is true that a grandee of Spain cannot be asked to meet a simple foreign gentleman in single combat.

Therefore, since he has thought fit to raise it, we uphold the objection of the Marquis of Morella, and declare that this challenge is not binding on his honour.

Yet we note his willingness to accept the same, and are prepared to do what we can to make the matter easy, so that it may not be said that a Spaniard, who has wrought wrong to an Englishman, and been asked openly to make the amend of arms in the presence of his sovereigns, was debarred from so doing by the accident of his rank.