His slow eyes followed one figure without seeing the rest.

In the set nearest to him a beautiful girl was dancing with one of Don John's officers.

She was of the rarest type of Andalusian beauty, tall, pliant, and slenderly strong, with raven's-wing hair and splendidly languorous eyes, her creamy cheek as smooth as velvet, and a mouth like a small ripe fruit.

As she moved she bent from the waist as easily and naturally as a child, and every movement followed a new curve of beauty from her white throat to the small arched foot that darted into sight as she stepped forward now and then, to disappear instantly under the shadow of the gold-embroidered skirt.

As she glanced towards the King, her shadowy lids half hid her eyes and the long black lashes almost brushed her cheek.