"He has just done so, your Majesty. I went to him to ask the reason of a most unexpected event—the arrest of Senorita Castelar—a matter that has caused me grave uneasiness."
"Did he not tell you that some exceptions had to be made in granting pardons?"
"He did not tell me that Senorita Castelar was to be an exception, and certainly I had never been led to expect it," I answered, rather bluntly. "Nor did I think that such a thing would ever have been done."
He gave me a little eager glance, and was going to reply quickly, when he checked himself, paused, and then in the former tone said—
"We wish to consult your desires so far as possible, my lord; but the senorita took a very active part even in the plot against me."
"I am in your Majesty's hands, of course, but such a step is a strange way of consulting my desires."
"I am not so sure of that," he cried quickly, with a boyish smile. "At least, I mean that you have been such a friend to me that I am convinced you would not wish me to do anything that my advisers consider unwise."
"We did not speak in this strain as we rode back that evening from Podrida. I do not recall any conditions about your Majesty's advisers or even mention of them."
"You are very difficult to deal with, senor, and are making my task very hard," he said, protestingly.
"I have not the honour to know what your Majesty's task is," said I, puzzled by his words.