“Come here, Don Diego,” said the Queen, stopping, “and you, Don Felipe. Tell me when does the exercise in the manège begin for Prince Juan and the pages?”
“In half an hour, madam,” responded Diego, advancing and bowing low as the Queen spoke.
“Then we shall have the pleasure of seeing the exercises in the manège,” said the Queen, in her usual gracious manner. “Doña Christina, will you say to the Princess Katharine and to Doña Luisita that they may be present to see the exercises in the manège?”
The Queen resumed her earnest conversation with the Cardinal, and the rest of the suite passed on. When the great doors at the other end of the corridor had closed after the royal train, Don Felipe said to Diego:
“You heard the Queen’s words, and what the Cardinal replied?”
“Yes,” answered Diego. “It seemed as if my heart stopped beating. Now it thumps hard enough, I can tell you.”
“But there is no time to count heart-beats,” said Don Felipe. “We have not a moment to spare if we are to be ready in half an hour for the manège.”
Without another word both ran the long length of the corridor, through various winding passages, and up a narrow stairway until they came to the rooms of Prince Juan, where Diego knocked. Prince Juan, who was alone, himself opened the door. He inherited his mother’s noble simplicity of character, and, while fully understanding the duties of his position, he treated his pages, all youths of his own age, like companions of his own rank.
“The Queen and her ladies will be present in the manège,” breathlessly burst out Don Felipe, “and we thought your Highness would wish to know it.”