s his bidding done by the
officers of the guard.

Those of the King's household who were in attendance came forward now
to raise Gustavus, and help to bear him to a couch. There presently he
recovered consciousness, whilst a physician was seeing to his hurt, and
as soon as he realized his condition his manner became so calm that,
himself, he took command of the situation. He issued orders that the
gates of the city should be closed against everybody, whilst himself
apologizing to the Prussian minister who was near him for issuing that
inconvenient but necessary order.

"The gates shall remain closed for three days, sir," he announced.
"During that time you will not be able to correspond with your Court;
but your intelligence, when it goes, will be more certain, since by that
time it should be known whether I can survive or not."

His next order, delivered in a voice that was broken by his intense
suffering, was to the chamberlain Benzelstjerna, commanding that all
present should unmask and sign their names in a book before being
suffered to depart. That done, he bade them bear him home on the couch
on which he had been placed that he might be spared the agony of more
movement than was necessary.

Thus his grenadiers bore him on their shoulders, lighted by torches,
through the streets that were now thronged, for the rumour had now gone
forth that the King was dead, and troops had been called out to keep
order. Beside him walked Armfelt in his suit of shimmering white satin,
weeping at once for his King and for himself, for he knew that he was of
those who must fall with Gustavus. And, knowing this, there was bitter
rage in his heart against the men who had wrought this havoc, a rage
that sharpened his wits to an unusual acuteness.

At last the King was once more in his apartments awaiting the physicians
who were to pronounce his fate, and Armfelt kept him company among
others, revolving in his mind the terrible suspicion he had formed.

Presently came Duke Charles, the King's brother, and Benzelstjerna with
the list of those who had been present at the ball.

"Tell me," he asked, before the list was read to him, "is the name of
Ankarstrom included in it?"

"He was the last to sign, Sire," replied the chamberlain.

The King smiled grimly. "Tell Lillesparre to have him arrested and
questioned."

Armfelt flung forward. "There is another who should be arrested, too!"
he cried fiercely. And added, "Bjelke!"

"Bj