CHAPTER XX 

 

ISABELLA OF SPAIN

On the afternoon following his first visit, Castell's agent, Bernaldez, 

arrived again at the prison of the Hermandad at Seville accompanied by a 

tailor, a woman, and a chest full of clothes. The governor ordered these 

two persons to wait while the garments were searched under his own eye, 

but Bernaldez he permitted to be led at once to the prisoners. As soon 

as he was with them he said: 

"Your marquis has been married fast enough." 

"How do you know that?" asked Castell. 

"From the woman Inez, who arrived with the priest last night, and gave 

me the certificates of his union with Betty Dene signed by himself. I 

have not brought them with me lest I should be searched, when they might 

have been taken away; but Inez has come disguised as a sempstress, so 

show no surprise when you see her, if she is admitted. Perhaps she will 

be able to tell the Dona Margaret something of what passed if she is 

allowed to fit her robes alone. After that she must lie hidden for fear 

of the vengeance of Morella; but I shall know where to put my hand upon 

her if she is wanted. You will all of you be brought before the queen 

to-morrow, and then I, who shall be there, will produce the writings." 

Scarcely were the words out of his mouth when the governor appeared, and 

with him the tailor and Inez, who curtseyed and glanced at Margaret out 

of the corners of her soft eyes, looking at them all as though with 

curiosity, like one who had never seen or heard of them before. 

When the dresses had been produced, Margaret asked whether she might be 

allowed to try them on with the woman in her own chamber, as she had not 

been measured for them. 

The governor answered that as both the sempstress and the robes had been 

searched, there was no objection, so the two of them retired--Inez, with 

her arms full of garments. 

"Tell me all about it," whispered Margaret as soon as the door was 

closed. "I die to hear your story." 

So, while she fitted the clothes, since in that place they could never 

be sure but that they were watched through some secret loophole, Inez, 

with her mouth full of aloe thorns, which those of the trade used as 

pins, told her everything down to the time of her escape from Granada. 

When she came to that part of the tale where the false bride had lifted 

her veil and kissed the bridegroom, Margaret gasped in her amaze. 

"Oh! how could she do it?" she said, "I should have fainted first." 

"She has a good courage, that Betty--turn to the light, please,