The Queen and Don John followed the King's gaze and looked at the dwarf in surprise, for his agony was painfully visible.
"He looks as if he were in an ague," observed Philip, as though he were watching a sick dog.
He had spoken at last, and the fear of silence was removed.

An audible sigh of relief was heard in the room.
"Poor man!" exclaimed the Queen.

"I am afraid he is very ill!" "It is more like--" began Don John, and then he checked himself, for he had been on the point of saying that the dwarfs fit looked more like physical fear than illness, for he had more than once seen men afraid of death; but he remembered the letter in his glove and thought the words might rouse Philip's suspicions.
"What was your Serene Highness about to say ?" enquired the King, speaking coldly, and laying stress on the formal title which he had himself given Don John the right to use.
"As your Majesty says, it is very like the chill of a fever," replied Don John.
But it was already passing, for Adonis was not a natural coward, and the short conversation of the royal personages had broken the spell that held him, or had at least diminished its power.

When he had entered the room he had been quite sure that no one except the Princess had seen him slip the letter into Don John's glove.

That quieting belief began to return, his jaw became steady, and he relaxed his hold on the tapestries, and even advanced half a step towards the table.
"And now he seems better," said the King, in evident surprise.