New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-12
The CAR OF DESTINY

the palace. What you shall see there, -
he said ' is a secret. 1t was a secret of
King Philips so great a secret that even
the writers of guide books know nothing
OF it; while, if a tourist should have heard
a runor and asked question, the at
PENDANTS would say, There Is no such a
thing in existence Only the royal fam
lily know, d few privileged people about
the court, and the guardians of the Esco-
rial As for me, | was told 10y some one
here-sorne one whom | myself placed in
the palace.
Ny curiosity was excited; and even
Dick. who resented this expedition. looked
interested as We arrived at the palace
the great gridirons handle. At the en-
trance Carnona separated himself from
the rest of the party, saving that he must
have a few words in private with the at
tendant who would show the rooms of
Philip IL He walked ahead, engaged the
brown hVericd guide in low voiced con
Versation and seemed 10 ask a question
with some ea@ernesS.
Observing the pantomime from a dis
lance | tanCied that Tor some reason,
Carmona was to be denied the privilege
Of which he had boosted; but apparently
he did not intend to accept defeat without
a struggle He and the guide moved on,
then stopped again 10 argue-thls time
with their backs TO us; but, from the
action Of Carmona's elbows, Judged that
he put his hand into his pocket Five or
six minutes later he returned, 10 an
nounce that after some difficulty he had
succeeded in getting his own way We
might 90 unattended into the private
apartments Of Philip II; and while we
were there other visitors would be kept
out
The guide led us down the narrow stair
case to the outer door Of Philips suite,
then slipped away, shutting the door
behind him. Lady Vale Avon and
Monica the mother still clasping her
daughters ARM, Pillar, Dick, tarnona,
and were now alone between the gloomy
walls behind which the bigot and despot
had lived his miserable life and died his
miserable death. There was chill IN the
so1nber place which froze the spirit; yet /,
for one. did not feel sad. was conscious
only Of an excited expectancy, as II wait
ing for something to happen.
We let our imagination set the meager
form Of Philip III his chair, or by the desk
at which he used to write; examined the
grim relics Of his monklike existence; and
finally moved to the death chamber, set
ike a stage box at the thcater, beside the
high altar Of the chapel. So small was the
room that it was filed by our little party
Of SIX; yet / felt there another presence
which none Of us could sce-a gray ghost,
agonizing for his sins, through bleak
eternity.
Monica felt it too, for she shivered and
exclaimed, Let us go. This room seems
haunted with evil. | can't breathe IN it.
But now for the secret, SAID Car
mona. Would you guess at any hidden
oDeninq in these wallis"
We stared critically about, but the
Duke stopped me. You would never
find the place, " he said and promised
the person who told me not TO dlvulge the
secret; but that doesn't prevent me from
showing you what is behind the door.
He moved close to the wall, stood for
an instant, then stepped back, IS we
heard slight clicking sound, like the
SNAP Of a spring on an old box lid. At the
same time part of the wainscoting rolled
away, leaving a narrow aperture.
1t was dark on the other SIDE, but Car
mona took a gold match box from his
pocket and struck bunch Of little wax
tapers
:. pl,;l;,. f,ad this cell made for a place