k him in the face with his
iron gauntlet. In a moment a dozen swords flashed from their
scabbards. It seemed as if the bloodthirsty nobles awaited but this
signal for the ruthless attack upon the deposed monarch's son which
has left so dark a stain upon one page of history.

Paul, all unarmed as he was, would have sprung forward to die with
his prince, but was impeded by the senseless burden now lying a
dead weight in his arms. At the king's blow the page had uttered a
faint cry; and as the first of those murderous weapons were plunged
in the breast of her youthful lover, she fell to the earth like a
stone, or would have done, but that Paul flung his arm about her,
and she lay senseless on his breast.

For one awful moment the blackness returned upon him and swallowed
him up, and he knew not what terrible thing had happened; but when
a loud voice proclaimed the fact that the prince had ceased to
live, a wild fury fell upon Paul, and he started to his feet to
revenge that death by plunging his dagger into the breast of the
haughty monarch as he stood there, calm and smiling, in his
terrible wrath and power.

Had Paul attempted to carry out this wild act, a fateful murder
would have been enacted in the tent that day; but even as he
released himself from the clinging clasp of Anne's unconscious
arms, there came to him the memory of those last words spoken by
his beloved prince. The young bride must be his first care. She
must be carried to safe sanctuary; that done, he would stand forth
to revenge his lord's death. But the prince's charge must be
fulfilled.

Lifting the unconscious form in his arms, he walked unchallenged
from the tent. The deed now done sent a thrill of horror through
the camp, and men looked into each other's eyes, and were ashamed
that they had stood by to see it.

Not an attempt was made to oppose the passage of the faithful
attendant, who carried in his arms the page boy, who had stood by
his master to the last. Room was made for them to pass through the
crowd; and staggering blindly along, Paul reached a spot where, to
his astonishment and relief, his own servant was waiting for him
with a horse ready caparisoned.

"To the church, to the church," he whispered as Paul mounted
mechanically, holding his still unconscious burden in his arms.

And he made a mute sign of assent; for he knew that within the
walls of the church he should find the wretched Margaret, who would
have taken sanctuary t