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therefore only be delayed long enough for you to arrange
your spiritual and temporal affairs。〃
A slight moisture on his brow was the only trace of emotion
that Charles evinced； as he learned these tidings。 But
Aramis was livid。 His heart ceased beating； he closed his
eyes and leaned upon the table。 Charles perceived it and
took his hand。
〃Come； my friend；〃 said he； 〃courage。〃 Then he turned to the
officer。 〃Sir； I am ready。 There is but little reason why I
should delay you。 Firstly； I wish to communicate； secondly；
to embrace my children and bid them farewell for the last
time。 Will this be permitted me？〃
〃Certainly；〃 replied the officer； and left the room。
Aramis dug his nails into his flesh and groaned aloud。
〃Oh！ my lord bishop；〃 he cried； seizing Juxon's hands；
〃where is Providence？ where is Providence？〃
〃My son；〃 replied the bishop； with firmness； 〃you see Him
not； because the passions of the world conceal Him。〃
〃My son；〃 said the king to Aramis； 〃do not take it so to
heart。 You ask what God is doing。 God beholds your devotion
and my martyrdom； and believe me； both will have their
reward。 Ascribe to men； then； what is happening； and not to
God。 It is men who drive me to death； it is men who make you
weep。〃
〃Yes； sire；〃 said Aramis； 〃yes； you are right。 It is men
whom I should hold responsible； and I will hold them
responsible。〃
〃Be seated； Juxon；〃 said the king； falling upon his knees。
〃I have now to confess to you。 Remain； sir；〃 he added to
Aramis； who had moved to leave the room。 〃Remain； Parry。 I
have nothing to say that cannot be said before all。〃
Juxon sat down； and the king； kneeling humbly before him；
began his confession。
66
Remember！
The mob had already assembled when the confession
terminated。 The king's children next arrived the Princess
Charlotte； a beautiful； fair…haired child； with tears in her
eyes； and the Duke of Gloucester； a boy eight or nine years
old； whose tearless eyes and curling lip revealed a growing
pride。 He had wept all night long； but would not show his
grief before the people。
Charles's heart melted within him at the sight of those two
children； whom he had not seen for two years and whom he now
met at the moment of death。 He turned to brush away a tear；
and then； summoning up all his firmness； drew his daughter
toward him； recommending her to be pious and resigned。 Then
he took the boy upon his knee。
〃My son；〃 he said to him； 〃you saw a great number of people
in the streets as you came here。 These men are going to
behead your father。 Do not forget that。 Perhaps some day
they will want to make you king； instead of the Prince of
Wales； or the Duke of York； your elder brothers。 But you are
not the king； my son； and can never be so while they are
alive。 Swear to me； then； never to let them put a crown upon
your head unless you have a legal right to the crown。 For
one day listen； my son one day； if you do so； they
will doom you to destruction； head and crown； too； and then
you will not be able to die with a calm conscience； as I
die。 Swear； my son。〃
The child stretched out his little hand toward that of his
father and said； 〃I swear to your majesty。〃
〃Henry；〃 said Charles； 〃call me your father。〃
〃Father；〃 replied the child； 〃I swear to you that they shall
kill me sooner than make me king。〃
〃Good； my child。 Now kiss me； and you； too； Charlotte。 Never
forget me。〃
〃Oh！ never； never！〃 cried both the children； throwing their
arms around their father's neck。
〃Farewell；〃 said Charles； 〃farewell； my children。 Take them
away； Juxon； their tears will deprive me of the courage to
die。〃
Juxon led them away； and this time the doors were left open。
Meanwhile； Athos； in his concealment； waited in vain the
signal to recommence his work。 Two long hours he waited in
terrible inaction。 A deathlike silence reigned in the room
above。 At last he determined to discover the cause of this
stillness。 He crept from his hole and stood； hidden by the
black drapery； beneath the scaffold。 Peeping out from the
drapery； he could see the rows of halberdiers and musketeers
around the scaffold and the first ranks of the populace
swaying and groaning like the sea。
〃What is the matter； then？〃 he asked himself； trembling more
than the wind…swayed cloth he was holding back。 〃The people
are hurrying on； the soldiers under arms； and among the
spectators I see D'Artagnan。 What is he waiting for？ What is
he looking at？ Good God！ have they allowed the headsman to
escape？〃
Suddenly the dull beating of muffled drums filled the
square。 The sound of heavy steps was heard above his head。
The next moment the very planks of the scaffold creaked with
the weight of an advancing procession； and the eager faces
of the spectators confirmed what a last hope at the bottom
of his heart had prevented him till then believing。 At the
same moment a well…known voice above him pronounced these
words：
〃Colonel； I want to speak to the people。〃
Athos shuddered from head to foot。 It was the king speaking
on the scaffold。
In fact； after taking a few drops of wine and a piece of
bread； Charles； weary of waiting for death； had suddenly
decided to go to meet it and had given the signal for
movement。 Then the two wings of the window facing the square
had been thrown open； and the people had seen silently
advancing from the interior of the vast chamber； first； a
masked man； who； carrying an axe in his hand； was recognized
as the executioner。 He approached the block and laid his axe
upon it。 Behind him； pale indeed； but marching with a firm
step； was Charles Stuart； who advanced between two priests；
followed by a few superior officers appointed to preside at
the execution and attended by two files of partisans who
took their places on opposite sides of the scaffold。
The sight of the masked man gave rise to a prolonged
sensation。 Every one was full of curiosity as to who that
unknown executioner could be who presented himself so
opportunely to assure to the people the promised spectacle；
when the people believed it had been postponed until the
following day。 All gazed at him searchingly。
But they could discern nothing but a man of middle height；
dressed in black； apparently of a certain age； for the end
of a gray beard peeped out from the bottom of the mask that
hid his features。
The king's request had undoubtedly been acceded to by an
affirmative sign； for in firm； sonorous accents； which
vibrated in the depths of Athos's heart； the king began his
speech； explaining his conduct and counseling the welfare of
the kingdom。
〃Oh！〃 said Athos to himself； 〃is it indeed possible that I
hear what I hear and that I see what I see？ Is it possible
that God has abandoned His representative on earth and left
him to die thus miserably？ And I have not seen him！ I have
not said adieu to him！〃
A noise was heard like that the instrument of death would
make if moved upon the block。
〃Do not touch the axe；〃 said the king； and resumed his
speech。
At the end of his speech the king looked tenderly around
upon the people。 Then unfastening the diamond ornament which
the queen had sent him； he placed it in the hands of the
priest who accompanied Juxon。 Then h