There were half a dozen sentences in a clear hand, without any signature--it was what has since then come to be called an anonymous letter.

But it contained neither any threat, nor any evidence of spite; it set forth in plain language that if, as the writer supposed, Don John wished to marry Dolores de Mendoza, it was as necessary for her personal safety as for the accomplishment of his desires, that he should make no attempt to see her for at least two days, and that, if he would accept this advice, he should have the support of every noble and minister at court, including the very highest, with the certainty that no further hindrance would be set in his way; it added that the letter he had burned had contained the same words, and that the two flowers had been intended to serve as a signal which it was now too late to use.

It would be sufficient if he told the bearer of the present letter that he agreed to take the advice it contained.

His assent in that way would, of course, be taken by the writer to mean that he promised, on his word.

That was all.
He did not like the last sentence, for it placed him in an awkward position, as a man of honour, since he had already seen Dolores, and therefore could not under any circumstances agree to take advice contrary to which he had already acted.