but a substitute, all would be lost."

"You are right, sir, always right," said Anne of Austria. "Laporte,
place the king in bed."

Laporte placed the king, dressed as he was, in the bed and then covered
him as far as the shoulders with the sheet. The queen bent over him and
kissed his brow.

"Pretend to sleep, Louis," said she.

"Yes," said the king, "but I do not wish to be touched by any of those
men."

"Sire, I am here," said D'Artagnan, "and I give you my word, that if a
single man has the audacity, his life shall pay for it."

"And now what is to be done?" asked the queen, "for I hear them."

"Monsieur Laporte, go to them and again recommend silence. Madame, wait
at the door, whilst I shall be at the head of the king's bed, ready to
die for him."

Laporte went out; the queen remained standing near the hangings, whilst
D'Artagnan glided behind the curtains.

Then the heavy and collected steps of a multitude of men were heard, and
the queen herself raised the tapestry hangings and put her finger on her
lips.

On seeing the queen, the men stopped short, respectfully.

"Enter, gentlemen, enter," said the queen.

There was then amongst that crowd a moment's hesitation, which looked
like shame. They had expected resistance, they had expected to be
thwarted, to have to force the gates, to overturn the guards. The gates
had opened of themselves, and the king, ostensibly at least, had
no other guard at his bed-head but his mother. The foremost of them
stammered and attempted to fall back.

"Enter, gentlemen," said Laporte, "since the queen desires you so to
do."

Then one more bold than the rest ventured to pass the door and to
advance on tiptoe. This example was imitated by the rest, until the room
filled silently, as if these men had been the humblest, most devoted
courtiers. Far beyond the door the heads of those who were not able to
enter could be seen, all craning to their utmost height to try and see.

D'Artagnan saw it all through an opening he had made in the curtain, and
in the very first man who entered he recognized Planchet.

"Sir," said the queen to him, thinking he was the leader of the band,
"you wished to see the king and therefore I determined to show him to
you myself. Approach and look at him and say if we have the appearance
of people who wish to run away."

"No, certainly," replied Planchet, rather astonished at the unexpected
honor conferred upon him.

"You will say, then, to