if there is any chance."

"I know nothing about it," continued Aramis, "but the cleverest, the
bravest, the most devoted of us four said to me when I left him, 'Tell
the king that to-morrow at ten o'clock at night, we shall carry him
off.' He has said it and will do it."

"Tell me the name of that generous friend," said the king, "that I may
cherish for him an eternal gratitude, whether he succeeds or not."

"D'Artagnan, sire, the same who had so nearly rescued you when Colonel
Harrison made his untimely entrance."

"You are, indeed, wonderful men," said the king; "if such things had
been related to me I should not have believed them."

"Now, sire," resumed Aramis, "listen to me. Do not forget for a single
instant that we are watching over your safety; observe the smallest
gesture, the least bit of song, the least sign from any one near you;
watch everything, hear everything, interpret everything."

"Oh, chevalier!" cried the king, "what can I say to you? There is no
word, though it should come from the profoundest depth of my heart, that
can express my gratitude. If you succeed I do not say that you will save
a king; no, in presence of the scaffold as I am, royalty, I assure
you, is a very small affair; but you will save a husband to his wife, a
father to his children. Chevalier, take my hand; it is that of a friend
who will love you to his last sigh."

Aramis stooped to kiss the king's hand, but Charles clasped his and
pressed it to his heart.

At this moment a man entered, without even knocking at the door. Aramis
tried to withdraw his hand, but the king still held it. The man was one
of those Puritans, half preacher and half soldier, who swarmed around
Cromwell.

"What do you want, sir?" said the king.

"I desire to know if the confession of Charles Stuart is at an end?"
said the stranger.

"And what is it to you?" replied the king; "we are not of the same
religion."

"All men are brothers," said the Puritan. "One of my brothers is about
to die and I come to prepare him."

"Bear with him," whispered Aramis; "it is doubtless some spy."

"After my reverend lord bishop," said the king to the man, "I shall hear
you with pleasure, sir."

The man retired, but not before examining the supposed Juxon with an
attention which did not escape the king.

"Chevalier," said the king, when the door was closed, "I believe you are
right and that this man only came here with evil intentions. Take care
that no mis