But Inez, though the terror and excitement of the scene had almost overpowered her, was determined not to surrender him without a struggle. She had observed, with a quickness of perception that was not unusual in her, that her threat of retiring into a convent had not fallen on her uncle unheeded; and at this juncture, the effect of its first appliance emboldened her to recur to it.
“Don Gonzalez, mind thee what I have threatened,” she said. “Let the cavalier depart, and I promise thee, afore these witnesses, to abide myself by thy disposal.”
“Lady,” cried Hildebrand, “if thou wouldst do me a service, let my state be made known to the English Ambassador.”
Don Felix, who, on being delivered from the grasp of Hildebrand, had shrunk a pace or two back, here stepped forward again, and darted at Hildebrand a glance of exultant enmity.
“No need to trouble the lady, Sir,” he said; “we will bear thy commands to the Ambassador ourselves. But of what avail were this? The Ambassador, whom thou thinkst will succour thee, is in prison himself; and his heretic servants have been attached by the Inquisition.”
“Thou liest again, knave!” exclaimed Hildebrand. “’Tis more than Spain durst venture on.”
“Spain will venture more anon,” said Don Felix, sneeringly. “Thou wilt soon find her fleets in London river.”
A light now struck upon Hildebrand, and as he thought of the large ships of war which he had seen in Cadiz harbour, and which probably were but a small part of the armament in preparation, he was inclined to receive this assertion with some degree of credence. But, whether it were true or not, he could have no doubt about the danger of his own situation, or of the fact that, do what he might, resistance would be perfectly fruitless. His only resource, therefore, at the present moment, was to submit, and to reserve his efforts to escape till a more favourable period.
“Ye will have to give an account of your doings, nevertheless,” he observed. “But I am your prisoner now; bear me whither ye will.”
“Ye know your orders, alguazils,” cried Don Felix. “Bear him off!”