God may find forgiveness for murderers, but there is only hell for traitors, and the hell of hells is the place of men who betray their friends." "His mind is unsettled, I fear," said the King, speaking to Perez.
"These are signs of madness." "Indeed I fear so, Sire," answered the smooth Secretary, shaking his head solemnly.

"He does not know what he says." "I am not mad, and I know what I am saying, for I am a man under the hand of death." Mendoza's eyes glared at the King savagely as he spoke, and then at Perez, but neither could look at him, for neither dared to meet his gaze.

"As for this confession my daughter has made, I do not believe in it.

But if she has said these things, you might have let me die without the bitterness of knowing them, since that was in your power.

And God knows that I have staked my life freely for your Majesty and for Spain these many years, and would again if I had it to lose instead of having thrown it away.