cepted only the one on the road to Chateau Thierry.
But the queen mother wisely sent couriers by three different routes."

"Oh! I am lost!" exclaimed Henry.

"A messenger arrived this morning from Varsovia. The king left after him
without any one's thinking of opposing him, for at Varsovia the illness
of the King of France was not yet known. This courier only preceded
Henry of Anjou by a few hours."

"Oh! had I but eight days!" cried Henry.

"Yes, but you have not eight hours. Did you hear the noise of arms?"

"Yes."

"They are making ready to kill you. They will seek you even here in the
apartment of the King."

"The King is not yet dead."

Rene looked closely at Charles.

"He will be in ten minutes; you have ten minutes to live, therefore;
perhaps less."

"What shall I do?"

"Flee instantly, without delaying a minute, a second."

"But how? If they are waiting in the antechamber they will kill me as I
go out."

"Listen! I will risk everything for you. Never forget this."

"Fear not."

"Follow me by the secret corridor. I will lead you to the postern. Then,
to gain time, I will tell the queen mother that you are coming down; you
will be seen to have discovered this secret passage, and to have
profited by it to escape. Flee! Flee!"

"Nurse!" murmured Charles, "nurse!"

Henry took from the bed Charles's sword, of no further use to the dying
King, put the parchment which made him regent in his breast, kissed
Charles's brow for the last time, and turning away hurried through the
door, which closed behind him.

"Nurse!" cried the King, in a stronger voice, "nurse!"

The woman ran to him.

"What is it, Charlot?" she asked.

"Nurse," said the King, his eye dilated by the terrible fixity of death,
"something must have happened while I slept. I see a great light. I see
God, our Master, I see Jesus, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. They are
praying and interceding for me. The all-powerful Lord pardons me--calls
to me--My God! my God! In thy mercy, receive me! My God! forget that I
have been King, for I come to you without sceptre or crown. My God!
forget the crimes of the King, and remember only the suffering of the
man. My God, I come!"

And Charles, who as he spoke had risen more and more as if to go to the
One who was calling him, after uttering these words heaved a sigh and
fell back still and cold in the arms of his nurse.

Meantime, while the soldiers, commanded by Catharine, were beginning to
fi