Charles was perceived through the door, lying dressed upon his bed, at
the head of which Parry was seated, reading in a low voice a chapter
from the Bible.

A candle of coarse tallow on a black table lighted up the handsome and
resigned face of the king and that of his faithful retainer, far less
calm.

From time to time Parry stopped, thinking the king, whose eyes were
closed, was really asleep, but Charles would open his eyes and say with
a smile:

"Go on, my good Parry, I am listening."

Groslow advanced to the door of the king's room, replaced on his head
the hat he had taken off to receive his guests, looked for a moment
contemptuously at this simple, yet touching scene, then turning to
D'Artagnan, assumed an air of triumph at what he had achieved.

"Capital!" cried the Gascon, "you would make a distinguished general."

"And do you think," asked Groslow, "that Stuart will ever escape while I
am on guard?"

"No, to be sure," replied D'Artagnan; "unless, forsooth, the sky rains
friends upon him."

Groslow's face brightened.

It is impossible to say whether Charles, who kept his eyes constantly
closed, had noticed the insolence of the Puritan captain, but the moment
he heard the clear tone of D'Artagnan's voice his eyelids rose, in spite
of himself.

Parry, too, started and stopped reading.

"What are you thinking about?" said the king; "go on, my good Parry,
unless you are tired."

Parry resumed his reading.

On a table in the next room were lighted candles, cards, two dice-boxes,
and dice.

"Gentlemen," said Groslow, "I beg you will take your places. I will sit
facing Stuart, whom I like so much to see, especially where he now is,
and you, Monsieur d'Artagnan, opposite to me."

Athos turned red with rage. D'Artagnan frowned at him.

"That's it," said D'Artagnan; "you, Monsieur le Comte de la Fere, to
the right of Monsieur Groslow. You, Chevalier d'Herblay, to his left.
Du Vallon next me. You'll bet for me and those gentlemen for Monsieur
Groslow."

By this arrangement D'Artagnan could nudge Porthos with his knee and
make signs with his eyes to Athos and Aramis.

At the names Comte de la Fere and Chevalier d'Herblay, Charles opened
his eyes, and raising his noble head, in spite of himself, threw a
glance at all the actors in the scene.

At that moment Parry turned over several leaves of his Bible and read
with a loud voice this verse in Jeremiah:

"God said, 'Hear ye the words of the pr