The King was a sacred and semi-divine personage, privileged to ask any question he chose and theoretically incapable of doing wrong, but it was unbearable that this sleek black fox should have the right to hear Diego de Mendoza confess his daughter's dishonour.

Antonio Perez was not an adventurer of low birth, as many have gratuitously supposed, for his father had held an honourable post at court before him; but he was very far from being the equal of one who, though poor and far removed from the head of his own family, bore one of the most noble names in Spain.
"Let your Majesty dismiss Don Antonio Perez," said Mendoza boldly.

"I will then tell your Majesty all I know." Perez smiled as he bent over his notes, for he knew what the answer would be to such a demand.

It came sharply.
"It is not the privilege of a man convicted of murder to choose his hearers.

Answer my questions or be silent.