e to the priest, "I shall keep this cross in my hand till
the last moment. Take it from me when I am--dead."

"Yes, sire," said a voice, which Athos recognized as that of Aramis.

He then took his hat from his head and threw it on the ground. One by
one he undid the buttons of his doublet, took it off and deposited it by
the side of his hat. Then, as it was cold, he asked for his gown, which
was brought to him.

All the preparations were made with a frightful calmness. One would have
thought the king was going to bed and not to his coffin.

"Will these be in your way?" he said to the executioner, raising his
long locks; "if so, they can be tied up."

Charles accompanied these words with a look designed to penetrate the
mask of the unknown headsman. His calm, noble gaze forced the man
to turn away his head. But after the searching look of the king he
encountered the burning eyes of Aramis.

The king, seeing that he did not reply, repeated his question.

"It will do," replied the man, in a tremulous voice, "if you separate
them across the neck."

The king parted his hair with his hands, and looking at the block he
said:

"This block is very low, is there no other to be had?"

"It is the usual block," answered the man in the mask.

"Do you think you can behead me with a single blow?" asked the king.

"I hope so," was the reply. There was something so strange in these
three words that everybody, except the king, shuddered.

"I do not wish to be taken by surprise," added the king. "I shall kneel
down to pray; do not strike then."

"When shall I strike?"

"When I shall lay my head on the block and say 'Remember!' then strike
boldly."

"Gentlemen," said the king to those around him, "I leave you to brave
the tempest; I go before you to a kingdom which knows no storms.
Farewell."

He looked at Aramis and made a special sign to him with his head.

"Now," he continued, "withdraw a little and let me say my prayer, I
beseech you. You, also, stand aside," he said to the masked man. "It is
only for a moment and I know that I belong to you; but remember that you
are not to strike till I give the signal."

Then he knelt down, made the sign of the cross, and lowering his face
to the planks, as if he would have kissed them, said in a low tone, in
French, "Comte de la Fere, are you there?"

"Yes, your majesty," he answered, trembling.

"Faithful friend, noble heart!" said the king, "I should not have been
rescue