There was no witness for him but himself.

Don John was dead, and the infamous Perez was ready to swear that Philip had not left the room in which they had been closeted together.

There was not a living being to prove that Mendoza had not gone alone to Don John's apartments with the deliberate intention of killing him.

He had, indeed, been to the chief steward's office in search of a key, saying that the King desired to have it and was waiting; but it would be said that he had used the King's authority to try and get the key for himself because he knew that his daughter was hidden in the locked room.

He had foolishly fancied that the King would send for him and see him alone before he died, that his sovereign would thank him for the service that was costing his life, would embrace him and send him to his death for the good of Spain and the divine right of monarchy.