same instant a voice which sounded at once both piercing and hollow,
proceeded from the space between the bed and the wall.

"Hardened sinner, are you there?"

"Yes, yes, Lord." gasped Henri with chattering teeth.

"Dear me!" remarked Chicot, "that is a very hoarse voice to have come
from heaven! I feel dreadfully frightened; but never mind!"

"Do you hear me?" asked the voice.

"Yes, Lord," stammered Henri; "and I bow before your anger."

"Do you think you are carrying out my will by performing all the
mummeries you have taken part in to-day, while your heart is full of
the things of this world?"

"Well said!" cried Chicot; "you touched him there!"

The King's hands shook as he clasped them, and Chicot went up to him.

"Well," murmured Henri, "are you convinced now?"

"Wait a bit," answered Chicot.

"What do you want more?"

"Hush! listen to me. Creep softly out of bed, and let me take your
place."

"Why?"

"Because then the anger of the Lord will fall first upon me."

"And do you think I shall escape?"

"We will try, anyway;" and with affectionate persistence he pushed the
King out of bed, and took his place.

"Now, Henri," he said, "go and lie on my sofa, and leave all to me."

Henri obeyed; he began to understand Chicot's plan.

"You are silent," continued the voice, "which proves that your heart
is hardened."

"Oh, pardon, pardon, Lord!" exclaimed Chicot, imitating the King's
nasal twang. Then, stretching himself out of bed, he whispered to the
King, "It is very odd, but the heavenly voice does not seem to know
that it is Chicot who is speaking."

"Oh!" replied Henri, "what do you suppose is the meaning of that?"

"Don't be in a hurry; plenty of strange things will happen yet!"

"Miserable creature that you are!" went on the voice.

"Yes, Lord, yes!" answered Chicot. "I am a horrible sinner, hardened
in crime."

"Then confess your sins, and repent."

"I acknowledge," said Chicot, "that I dealt wickedly by my cousin
Conde, whose wife I betrayed; and I repent bitterly."

"What is that you are saying?" cried the King. "There is no good in
mentioning that. It has all been forgotten long ago."

"Oh, has it?" replied Chicot; "then we will pass on to something
else."

"Answer," said the voice.

"I acknowledge," said the false Henri, "that I behaved like a thief
toward the Poles, who had elected me their king, in stealing away to
France one fine night, carrying with me all the crown