"Let me tell them all, how I know that my father is not guilty of the murder.

After that take me to the King if you will." She spoke very earnestly, and he no longer opposed her.

He knew the temper of the court well enough, and was sure that whatever proved Mendoza innocent would be welcome just then, and though he was far too loyal to wish the suspicion of the deed to be fixed upon the King, he was too just not to desire Mendoza to be exculpated if he were innocent.
"Come with me," he said briefly, and he took Dolores by the hand, and led her up the first three steps of the platform, so that she could see over the heads of all present.
It was no time to think of court ceremonies or customs, for there was danger in the air.

Ruy Gomez did not stop to make any long ceremony.
Drawing himself up to his commanding height, he held up his white gloves at arm's length to attract the attention of the courtiers, and in a few moments there was silence.

They seemed an hour of torture to Dolores.
Ruy Gomez raised his voice.
"Grandees! The daughter of Don Diego de Mendoza stands here at my side to prove to you that he is innocent of Don John of Austria's death!" The words had hardly left his lips when a shout went up, like a ringing cheer.