If it were possible, Mendoza turned more ashy pale than before, and he started perceptibly at the King's words.
"I shall never believe that!" he cried in a voice which nevertheless betrayed his terror for his child.
"A few moments before this note was written," said Philip calmly, "your daughter entered the throne room, and addressed the court, standing upon the steps of the throne--a very improper proceeding and one which Ruy Gomez should not have allowed.

Your daughter Dolores--is that the girl's name?
Yes.

Your daughter Dolores, amidst the most profound silence, confessed that she--it is so monstrous that I can hardly bring myself to say it--that she had yielded to the importunities of his late Highness, that she was with him in his room a long time this evening, and that, in fact, she was actually in his bedchamber when he was murdered." "It is a lie!" cried Mendoza vehemently.

"It is an abominable lie--she was not in the room!" "She has said that she was," answered Philip.

"You can hardly suppose a girl capable of inventing such damning evidence against herself, even for the sake of saving her own father.