noon
At this news Castell stared and Margaret laughed , for , although she did not know all the story , she was sure that in some way Betty had the mastery of Morella , and would not be easily defeated , though how she came to be travelling with a great retinue she could not imagine . Still , fearing lest she should be attacked or otherwise injured , she wrote a humble letter to the queen , praying that her cousin might be defended from all danger at the hands of any one whomsoever until she had an opportunity of giving evidence before their Majesties . Within an hour came the answer that the lady was under the royal protection , and that a guard had been sent to escort her and her party and to keep her safe from interference of any sort ; also , that for her greater comfort , quarters had been prepared for her in a fortress outside of Seville , which would be watched night and day , and whence she would be brought to the court . Peter was still kept apart from them , but each day at noon they were allowed to meet him in the walled garden of the prison , where they talked together to their heart 's content . Here , too , he exercised himself daily at all manly games , and especially at sword-play with some of the other prisoners , using sticks for swords . Further , he was allowed the use of his horse that he had ridden from Granada , on which he jousted in the yard of the castle with the governor and certain other gentlemen , proving himself better at that play than any of them . These things he did vigorously and with ardour , for Margaret had told him of the hint which the queen gave her , and he desired to get back his full strength , and to perfect himself in the handling of every arm which was used in Spain .