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outhfulness； that beauty； that weakness？ you killed that woman？〃
〃Alas！ I have already told you； father； that woman； under that angelic appearance； had an infernal soul； and when I saw her； when I recalled all the evil she had done to me 〃
〃To you？ What could she have done to you？ e； tell me！〃
〃She had seduced and ruined my brother； a priest。 She had fled with him from her convent。〃
〃With your brother？〃
〃Yes； my brother was her first lover； and she caused his death。 Oh； father； do not look in that way at me！ Oh； I am guilty； then； you will not pardon me？〃
The monk recovered his usual expression。
〃Yes； yes；〃 he said； 〃I will pardon you if you tell me all。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried the executioner； 〃all！ all！ all！〃
〃Answer； then。 If she seduced your brother you said she seduced him； did you not？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃If she caused his death you said that she caused his death？〃
〃Yes；〃 repeated the executioner。
〃Then you must know what her name was as a young girl。〃
〃Oh； mon Dieu！〃 cried the executioner； 〃I think I am dying。 Absolution； father！ absolution。〃
〃Tell me her name and I will give it。〃
〃Her name was My God； have pity on me！〃 murmured the executioner； and he fell back on the bed； pale； trembling； and apparently about to die。
〃Her name！〃 repeated the monk； bending over him as if to tear from him the name if he would not utter it； 〃her name！ Speak； or no absolution！〃
The dying man collected all his forces。
The monk's eyes glittered。
〃Anne de Bueil；〃 murmured the wounded man。
〃Anne de Bueil！〃 cried the monk； standing up and lifting his hands to Heaven。 〃Anne de Bueil！ You said Anne de Bueil； did you not？〃
〃Yes； yes； that was her name； and now absolve me； for I am dying。〃
〃I； absolve you！〃 cried the priest； with a laugh which made the dying man's hair stand on end； 〃I； absolve you？ I am not a priest。〃
〃You are not a priest！〃 cried the executioner。 〃What； then； are you？〃
〃I am about to tell you； wretched man。〃
〃Oh； mon Dieu！〃
〃I am John Francis de Winter。〃
〃I do not know you；〃 said the executioner。
〃Wait； wait； you are going to know me。 I am John Francis de Winter；〃 he repeated； 〃and that woman 〃
〃Well； that woman？〃
〃Was my mother！〃
The executioner uttered the first cry； that terrible cry which had been first heard。
〃Oh； pardon me； pardon me！〃 he murmured； 〃if not in the name of God； at least in your own name； if not as priest； then as son。〃
〃Pardon you！〃 cried the pretended monk； 〃pardon you！ Perhaps God will pardon you； but I； never！〃
〃For pity's sake；〃 said the executioner； extending his arms。
〃No pity for him who had no pity！ Die； impenitent； die in despair； die and be damned！〃 And drawing a poniard from beneath his robe he thrust it into the breast of the wounded man； saying； 〃Here is my absolution！〃
Then was heard that second cry； not so loud as the first and followed by a long groan。
The executioner； who had lifted himself up； fell back upon his bed。 As to the monk； without withdrawing the poniard from the wound； he ran to the window； opened it； leaped out into the flowers of a small garden； glided onward to the stable； took out his mule； went out by a back gate； ran to a neighbouring thicket； threw off his monkish garb； took from his valise the plete habiliment of a cavalier； clothed himself in it； went on foot to the first post； secured there a horse and continued with a loose rein his journey to Paris。
Grimaud Speaks
Grimaud was left alone with the executioner； who in a few moments opened his eyes。
〃Help； help；〃 he murmured； 〃oh； God！ have I not a single friend in the world who will aid me either to live or to die？〃
〃Take courage；〃 said Grimaud； 〃they are gone to find assistance。〃
〃Who are you？〃 asked the wounded man； fixing his half opened eyes on Grimaud。
〃An old acquaintance；〃 replied Grimaud。
〃You？〃 and the wounded man sought to recall the features of the person now before him。
〃Under what circumstances did we meet？〃 he asked again。
〃One night； twenty years ago； my master fetched you from Bethune and conducted you to Armentieres。〃
〃I know you well now；〃 said the executioner； 〃you were one of the four grooms。〃
〃Just so。〃
〃Where do you e from now？〃
〃I was passing by and drew up at this inn to rest my horse。 They told me the executioner of Bethune was here and wounded； when you uttered two piercing cries。 At the first we ran to the door and at the second forced it open。〃
〃And the monk？〃 exclaimed the executioner； 〃did you see the monk？〃
〃What monk？〃
〃The monk that was shut in with me。〃
〃No； he was no longer here； he appears to have fled by the window。 Was he the man that stabbed you？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the executioner。
Grimaud moved as if to leave the room。
〃What are you going to do？〃 asked the wounded man。
〃He must be apprehended。〃
〃Do not attempt it； he has revenged himself and has done well。 Now I may hope that God will forgive me； since my crime is expiated。〃
〃Explain yourself。〃 said Grimaud。
〃The woman whom you and your masters manded me to kill 〃
〃Milady？〃
〃Yes； Milady； it is true you called her thus。〃
〃What has the monk to do with this Milady？〃
〃She was his mother。〃
Grimaud trembled and stared at the dying man in a dull and leaden manner。
〃His mother！〃 he repeated。
〃Yes； his mother。〃
〃But does he know this secret； then？〃
〃I mistook him for a monk and revealed it to him in confession。〃
〃Unhappy man！〃 cried Grimaud； whose face was covered with sweat at the bare idea of the evil results such a revelation might cause； 〃unhappy man； you named no one； I hope？〃
〃I pronounced no name； for I knew none； except his mother's； as a young girl； and it was by this name that he recognized her； but he knows that his uncle was among her judges。〃
Thus speaking； he fell back exhausted。 Grimaud； wishing to relieve him； advanced his hand toward the hilt of the dagger。
〃Touch me not！〃 said the executioner； 〃if this dagger is withdrawn I shall die。〃
Grimaud remained with his hand extended； then； striking his forehead； he exclaimed：
〃Oh！ if this man should ever discover the names of the others； my master is lost。〃
〃Haste！ haste to him and warn him；〃 cried the wounded man； 〃if he still lives； warn his friends； too。 My death； believe me； will not be the end of this atrocious misadventure。〃
〃Where was the monk going？〃 asked Grimaud。
〃Toward Paris。〃
〃Who stopped him？〃
〃Two young gentlemen； who were on their way to join the army and the name of one of whom I heard his panion mention the Viscount de Bragelonne。〃
〃And it was this young man who brought the monk to you？ Then it was the will of God that it should be so and this it is which makes it all so awful；〃 continued Grimaud。 〃And yet that woman deserved her fate； do you not think so？〃
〃On one's death…bed the crimes of others appear very small in parison with one's own；〃 said the executioner； and falling back exhausted he closed his eyes。
Grimaud was reluctant to leave the man alone and yet he perce