sword, which I had a vague idea was darting about in the darkness, I
searched for and found a half-burnt stick, which I blew into a blaze.
With this, still keeping my back to the room, I contrived to light a
taper that I had noticed standing by the hearth; and then, and then
only, I turned to see what I had to confront.

Mademoiselle de la Vire stood in a corner, half-fierce, half-terrified,
and wholly flushed. She had her hand wrapped up in a 'kerchief already
stained with blood; and from this I gathered that the king in his frenzy
had wounded her slightly. Standing before her mistress, with her hair
bristling, like a wild-cat's fur, and her arms akimbo, was Fanchette,
her harsh face and square form instinct with fury and defiance. Madame
de Bruhl and Simon cowered against the wall not far from them; and in a
chair, into which he had apparently just thrown himself, sat the king,
huddled up and collapsed, the point of his sword trailing on the ground
beside him, and his nerveless hand scarce retaining force to grip the
pommel.

In a moment I made up my mind what to do, and going to him in silence, I
laid my pistols, sword, and dagger on a stool by his side. Then I knelt.

'The door, sire,' I said, 'is there. It is for your Majesty to open it
when you please. Here, too, sire, are my weapons. I am your prisoner,
the Provost-Marshal is outside, and you can at a word deliver me to him.
Only one thing I beg, sire,' I continued earnestly, 'that your Majesty
will treat; as a delusion the idea that I meditated for a moment
disrespect or violence to your person.'

He looked at me dully, his face pale, his eyes fish-like. 'Sanctus,
man!' he muttered, 'why did you raise your hand?'

'Only to implore your Majesty to pause a moment,' I answered, watching
the intelligence return slowly to his face. 'If you will deign to listen
I can explain in half a dozen words, sire. M. de Bruhl's men are six
or seven, the Provost has eight or nine; but the former are the wilder
blades, and if M. de Bruhl find your Majesty in my lodging, and infer
his own defeat, he will be capable of any desperate stroke. Your person
would hardly be safe in his company through the streets. And there is
another consideration,' I went on, observing with joy that the king
listened, and was gradually regaining his composure. 'That is, the
secrecy you desired to preserve, sire, until this matter should be
well advanced. M. de Rosny laid the strictest injunctions o