At the present moment, too, they were more inclined to pity him than to treat him roughly, for if they did not guess what had really taken place, they were quite sure that Don John of Austria had been murdered by the King's orders, like Don Carlos and Queen Isabel and a fair number of other unfortunate persons; and if the King had chosen Mendoza to do the deed, the soldiers thought that he was probably not meant to suffer for it in the end, and that before long he would be restored to his command.

It would, therefore, be the better for them, later, if they showed him a certain deference in his misfortune.
Besides, they had heard Antonio Perez tell their officer that Mendoza was to be treated with every consideration.
They marched in time, with heavy tread and the swinging gait to right and left that is natural to a soldier who carries for a weapon a long halberd with a very heavy head.

Mendoza was as tall as any of them, and kept their step, holding his head high.

He was bareheaded, but was otherwise still in the complete uniform he wore when on duty on state occasions.
The corridor, which seemed short on account of its breadth and in comparison with the great size of the halls in the palace, was some thirty paces long and lighted by a number of chandeliers that hung from the painted vault.

The party reached the door of the waiting room and halted a moment, while one of the King's footmen opened the doors wide.
Don Ruy Gomez and Dolores were waiting within.