ome."

At this sight and this voice Charles was about to cry out, when Aramis
placed his finger on his lips and bowed low to the king of England.

"The chevalier!" murmured Charles.

"Yes, sire," interrupted Aramis, raising his voice, "Bishop Juxon, the
faithful knight of Christ, obedient to your majesty's wishes."

Charles clasped his hands, amazed and stupefied to find that these
foreigners, without other motive than that which their conscience
imposed on them, thus combated the will of a people and the destiny of a
king.

"You!" he said, "you! how did you penetrate hither? If they recognize
you, you are lost."

"Care not for me, sire; think only of yourself. You see, your friends
are wakeful. I know not what we shall do yet, but four determined men
can do much. Meanwhile, do not be surprised at anything that happens;
prepare yourself for every emergency."

Charles shook his head.

"Do you know that I die to-morrow at ten o'clock?"

"Something, your majesty, will happen between now and then to make the
execution impossible."

The king looked at Aramis with astonishment.

At this moment a strange noise, like the unloading of a cart, and
followed by a cry of pain, was heard beneath the window.

"Do you hear?" said the king.

"I hear," said Aramis, "but I understand neither the noise nor the cry
of pain."

"I know not who can have uttered the cry," said the king, "but the noise
is easily understood. Do you know that I am to be beheaded outside this
window? Well, these boards you hear unloaded are the posts and planks
to build my scaffold. Some workmen must have fallen underneath them and
been hurt."

Aramis shuddered in spite of himself.

"You see," said the king, "that it is useless for you to resist. I am
condemned; leave me to my death."

"My king," said Aramis, "they well may raise a scaffold, but they cannot
make an executioner."

"What do you mean?" asked the king.

"I mean that at this hour the headsman has been got out of the way by
force or persuasion. The scaffold will be ready by to-morrow, but the
headsman will be wanting and they will put it off till the day after
to-morrow."

"What then?" said the king.

"To-morrow night we shall rescue you."

"How can that be?" cried the king, whose face was lighted up, in spite
of himself, by a flash of joy.

"Oh! sir," cried Parry, "may you and yours be blessed!"

"How can it be?" repeated the king. "I must know, so that I may assist
you