The Queen was then sitting in a posture of deep meditation; but she looked up, as a young girl answered the summons, and then turned towards her Sovereign.
"Well, Catherine ?" "Royal madam, a page, from his Grace the King, craves speech of Donna Marie." "Admit him then." The boy entered, and with a low reverence advanced towards Marie.
She looked up in his face bewildered--a bewilderment which Isabella perceived changed to a strong expression of mental torture, ere he ceased to speak.
"Ferdinand, King of Arragon and Castile," he said, "sends, with all courtesy, his royal greeting to Donna Marie Henriquez Morales, and forthwith commands her attendance at the solemn trial which is held to-morrow's noon; by her evidence to confirm or refute the charge brought against the person of Arthur Stanley, as being and having been the acknowledged enemy of the deceased Don Ferdinand Morales (God assoilize his soul!) and as having uttered words of murderous import in her hearing.

Resolved, to the utmost of his power, to do justice to the living as to avenge the dead, his royal highness is compelled thus to demand the testimony of Donna Marie, as she alone can confirm or refute this heavy and most solemn charge." There was no answer; but it seemed as if the messenger required none--imagining the royal command all sufficient for obedience--for he bowed respectfully as he concluded, and withdrew.

Marie gazed after him, and her lip quivered as if she would have spoken--would have recalled him; but no word came, and she drooped her head on her hands, pressing her slender fingers strongly on her brow, as thus to bring back connected thought once more.

What had he said?
She must appear against Stanley--she must speak his doom?
Why did those fatal words which must condemn him, ring in her ears, as only that moment spoken?
Her embroidery fell from her lap, and there was no movement to replace it.

How long she thus sat she knew not; but, roused by the Queen's voice uttering her name, she started, and looked round her.