“What，then，“Icried，frowning，“ofthestuffMasterlaRiviereistogiveyoutotaketheking’slifeto-morrownight？Oh，weknowsomething，Iassureyou；bethinkyouquickly，andfindyourtongueifyouwouldhaveaneasydeath。“
Iexpectedtoseehisself-controlbreakdownatthisproofofourknowledgeofhisdesign，butheonlystaredatmewiththesamelookofbewilderment。IwasabouttobidthembringintheinformerthatImightseethetwofronttofront，whenthefemaleprisoner，whohadhithertostoodbesidehercompanioninsuchdistressandterrorasmightbeexpectedinawomanofthatclass，suddenlystoppedhertearsandlamentations。Itoccurredtomethatshemightmakeabetterwitness。Iturnedtoher，butwhenI
wouldhavequestionedhershebrokeintoawildscreamofhystericallaughter。
FromthatIrememberthatIlearnednothing，thoughitgreatlyannoyedme。Buttherewasonepresentwhodid——theking。Helaidhishandonmyshoulder，grippingitwithaforcethatIreadasacommandtobesilent。
“Where，“hesaidtotheman，“doyoukeeptheKingandSullyandEpernon，myfriend？“
“TheKingandSully——withthelordship’sleave，“saidthemanquickly，withafrightenedglanceatme——“areinthekennelsatthebackofthehouse，butitisnotsafetogonearthem。TheKingisravingmad，and——andtheotherdogissickening。Epernonwehadtokillamonthback。Hebroughtthediseasehere，andIhavehadsuchlossesthroughhimashavenearlyruinedme，pleaseyourlordship。“
“Getup——getup，man！“criedtheking，andtearingoffhismaskhestampedupanddowntheroom，sotornbyparoxysmsoflaughterthathechokedhimselfwhenagainandagainheattemptedtospeak。
Itoonowsawthemistake，butIcouldnotatfirstseeitinthesamelight。CommandingmyselfaswellasIcould，IorderedoneoftheSwisstofetchintheinnkeeper，buttoadmitnooneelse。
Theknavefellonhiskneesassoonashesawme，hischeeksshakinglikeajelly。
“Mercy，mercy！“wasallhecouldsay。
“Youhavedaredtoplaywithme？“Iwhispered。
“Youbademejoke，“hesobbed，“youbademe。“
Iwasabouttosaythatitwouldbehislastjokeinthisworld——
formyangerwasfullyaroused——whenthekingintervened。
“Nay，“hesaid，layinghishandsoftlyonmyshoulder。“Ithasbeenthemostgloriousjest。Iwouldnothavemisseditforakingdom。Icommandyou，Sully，toforgivehim。“
Thereuponhismajestystrictlychargedthethreethattheyshouldnotonperiloftheirlivesmentionthecircumstancestoanyone。
Nortothebestofmybeliefdidtheydoso，beingsoshrewdlyscaredwhentheyrecognizedthekingthatIverilythinktheyneverafterwardssomuchasspokeoftheaffairtooneanother。MymasterfurthergavemeonhisownparthismostgraciouspromisethathewouldnotdisclosethemattereventoMadamedeVerneuilorthequeen，andupontheserepresentationsheinducedmefreelytoforgivetheinnkeeper。Soendedthisconspiracy，onthedivertingdetailsofwhichImayseemtohavedweltlongerthanIshould；butalas！intwenty-oneyearsofpowerIinvestigatedmany，andthisoneonlycanIregardwithsatisfaction。Therestweresomanywarningsandpredictionsofthefatewhich，despiteallmycareandfidelity，wasinstoreforthegreatandgoodmasterIserved。
RobertLouisStevensonThePavilionontheLinksI
IwasagreatsolitarywhenIwasyoung。Imadeitmypridetokeepaloofandsufficeformyownentertainment；andImaysaythatIhadneitherfriendsnoracquaintancesuntilImetthatfriendwhobecamemywifeandthemotherofmychildren。WithonemanonlywasIonprivateterms；thiswasR。Northmour，Esquire，ofGradenEaster，inScotland。Wehadmetatcollege；andthoughtherewasnotmuchlikingbetweenus，norevenmuchintimacy，weweresonearlyofahumorthatwecouldassociatewitheasetoboth。
Misanthropes，webelievedourselvestobe；butIhavethoughtsincethatwewereonlysulkyfellows。Itwasscarcelyacompanionship，butacoexistenceinunsociability。Northmour’sexceptionalviolenceoftempermadeitnoeasyaffairforhimtokeepthepeacewithanyonebutme；andasherespectedmysilentways，andletmecomeandgoasIpleased，Icouldtoleratehispresencewithoutconcern。Ithinkwecalledeachotherfriends。
WhenNorthmourtookhisdegreeandIdecidedtoleavetheuniversitywithoutone，heinvitedmeonalongvisittoGradenEaster；anditwasthusthatIfirstbecameacquaintedwiththesceneofmyadventures。ThemansionhouseofGradenstoodinableakstretchofcountrysomethreemilesfromtheshoreoftheGermanOcean。Itwasaslargeasabarrack；andasithadbeenbuiltofasoftstone，liabletoconsumeintheeagerairoftheseaside，itwasdampanddraughtywithinandhalfruinouswithout。
Itwasimpossiblefortwoyoungmentolodgewithcomfortinsuchadwelling。Buttherestoodinthenorthernpartoftheestate，inawildernessoflinksandblowingsandhills，andbetweenaplantationandthesea，asmallpavilionorbelvedere，ofmoderndesign，whichwasexactlysuitedtoourwants；andinthishermitage，speakinglittle，readingmuch，andrarelyassociatingexceptatmeals，NorthmourandIspentfourtempestuouswintermonths。Imighthavestayedlonger；butoneMarchnighttheresprungupbetweenusadispute，whichrenderedmydeparturenecessary。Northmourspokehotly，Iremember，andIsupposeImusthavemadesometartrejoinder。Heleapedfromhischairandgrappledme；Ihadtofight，withoutexaggeration，formylife；anditwasonlywithagreateffortthatImasteredhim，forhewasnearasstronginbodyasmyself，andseemedfilledwiththedevil。
Thenextmorning，wemetonourusualterms；butIjudgeditmoredelicatetowithdraw；nordidheattempttodissuademe。
ItwasnineyearsbeforeIrevisitedtheneighborhood。Itraveledatthattimewithatilt-cart，atent，andacookingstove，trampingalldaybesidethewagon，andatnight，wheneveritwaspossible，gypsyinginacoveofthehills，orbythesideofawood。IbelieveIvisitedinthismannermostofthewildanddesolateregionsbothinEnglandandScotland；and，asIhadneitherfriendsnorrelations，Iwastroubledwithnocorrespondence，andhadnothinginthenatureofheadquarters，unlessitwastheofficeofmysolicitors，fromwhomIdrewmyincometwiceayear。ItwasalifeinwhichIdelighted；andI
fullythoughttohavegrownolduponthemarch，andatlastdiedinaditch。
Itwasmywholebusinesstofinddesolatecorners，whereIcouldcampwithoutthefearofinterruption；andhence，beinginanotherpartofthesameshire，IbethoughtmesuddenlyofthePavilionontheLinks。Nothoroughfarepassedwithinthreemilesofit。Thenearesttown，andthatwasbutafishervillage，wasatadistanceofsixorseven。Fortenmilesoflength，andfromadepthvaryingfromthreemilestohalfamile，thisbeltofbarrencountrylayalongthesea。Thebeach，whichwasthenaturalapproach，wasfullofquicksands。IndeedImaysaythereishardlyabetterplaceofconcealmentintheUnitedKingdom。IdeterminedtopassaweekintheSea-WoodofGradenEaster，andmakingalongstage，reacheditaboutsundownonawildSeptemberday。
Thecountry，Ihavesaid，wasmixedsandhillandlinks，LINKS
beingaScottishnameforsandwhichhasceaseddriftingandbecomemoreorlesssolidlycoveredwithturf。Thepavilionstoodonanevenspace:alittlebehindit，thewoodbeganinahedgeofeldershuddledtogetherbythewind；infront，afewtumbledsandhillsstoodbetweenitandthesea。Anoutcroppingofrockhadformedabastionforthesand，sothattherewashereapromontoryinthecoastlinebetweentwoshallowbays；andjustbeyondthetides，therockagaincroppedoutandformedanisletofsmalldimensionsbutstrikinglydesigned。Thequicksandswereofgreatextentatlowwater，andhadaninfamousreputationinthecountry。Closeinshore，betweentheisletandthepromontory，itwassaidtheywouldswallowamaninfourminutesandahalf；buttheremayhavebeenlittlegroundforthisprecision。Thedistrictwasalivewithrabbits，andhauntedbygullswhichmadeacontinualpipingaboutthepavilion。Onsummerdaystheoutlookwasbrightandevengladsome；butatsundowninSeptember，withahighwind，andaheavysurfrollinginclosealongthelinks，theplacetoldofnothingbutdeadmarinersandseadisaster。Ashipbeatingtowindwardonthehorizon，andahugetruncheonofwreckhalfburiedinthesandsatmyfeet，completedtheinnuendoofthescene。
Thepavilion——ithadbeenbuiltbythelastproprietor，Northmour’suncle，asillyandprodigalvirtuoso——presentedlittlesignsofage。Itwastwostoriesinheight，Italianindesign，surroundedbyapatchofgardeninwhichnothinghadprosperedbutafewcoarseflowers；andlooked，withitsshutteredwindows，notlikeahousethathadbeendeserted，butlikeonethathadneverbeentenantedbyman。Northmourwasplainlyfromhome；whether，asusual，sulkinginthecabinofhisyacht，orinoneofhisfitfulandextravagantappearancesintheworldofsociety，Ihad，ofcourse，nomeansofguessing。Theplacehadanairofsolitudethatdauntedevenasolitarylikemyself；thewindcriedinthechimneyswithastrangeandwailingnote；anditwaswithasenseofescape，asifIweregoingindoors，thatIturnedawayand，drivingmycartbeforeme，enteredtheskirtsofthewood。
TheSea-WoodofGradenhadbeenplantedtoshelterthecultivatedfieldsbehind，andchecktheencroachmentsoftheblowingsand。Asyouadvancedintoitfromcoastward，eldersweresucceededbyotherhardyshrubs；butthetimberwasallstuntedandbushy；itledalifeofconflict；thetreeswereaccustomedtoswingthereallnightlonginfiercewintertempests；andeveninearlyspring，theleaveswerealreadyflying，andautumnwasbeginning，inthisexposedplantation。Inlandthegroundroseintoalittlehill，which，alongwiththeislet，servedasasailingmarkforseamen。
Whenthehillwasopenoftheislettothenorth，vesselsmustbearwelltotheeastwardtoclearGradenNessandtheGradenBullers。
Inthelowerground，astreamletranamongthetrees，and，beingdammedwithdeadleavesandclayofitsowncarrying，spreadouteveryhereandthere，andlayinstagnantpools。Oneortworuinedcottagesweredottedaboutthewood；and，accordingtoNorthmour，thesewereecclesiasticalfoundations，andintheirtimehadshelteredpioushermits。
Ifoundaden，orsmallhollow，wheretherewasaspringofpurewater；andthere，clearingawaythebrambles，Ipitchedthetent，andmadeafiretocookmysupper。MyhorseIpicketedfartherinthewoodwheretherewasapatchofsward。Thebanksofthedennotonlyconcealedthelightofmyfire，butshelteredmefromthewind，whichwascoldaswellashigh。
ThelifeIwasleadingmademebothhardyandfrugal。Ineverdrankbutwater，andrarelyeatanythingmorecostlythanoatmeal；
andIrequiredsolittlesleep，that，althoughIrosewiththepeepofday，Iwouldoftenlielongawakeinthedarkorstarrywatchesofthenight。ThusinGradenSea-Wood，althoughIfellthankfullyasleepbyeightintheeveningIwasawakeagainbeforeelevenwithafullpossessionofmyfaculties，andnosenseofdrowsinessorfatigue。Iroseandsatbythefire，watchingthetreesandcloudstumultuouslytossingandfleeingoverhead，andhearkeningtothewindandtherollersalongtheshore；tillatlength，growingwearyofinaction，Iquittedtheden，andstrolledtowardthebordersofthewood。Ayoungmoon，buriedinmist，gaveafaintilluminationtomysteps；andthelightgrewbrighterasIwalkedforthintothelinks。Atthesamemoment，thewind，smellingsaltoftheopenoceanandcarryingparticlesofsand，struckmewithitsfullforce，sothatIhadtobowmyhead。
WhenIraiseditagaintolookaboutme，Iwasawareofalightinthepavilion。Itwasnotstationary；butpassedfromonewindowtoanother，asthoughsomeonewerereviewingthedifferentapartmentswithalamporcandle。Iwatcheditforsomesecondsingreatsurprise。WhenIhadarrivedintheafternoonthehousehadbeenplainlydeserted；nowitwasasplainlyoccupied。ItwasmyfirstideathatagangofthievesmighthavebrokeninandbenowransackingNorthmour’scupboards，whichweremanyandnotillsupplied。ButwhatshouldbringthievesatGradenEaster？And，again，alltheshuttershadbeenthrownopen，anditwouldhavebeenmoreinthecharacterofsuchgentrytoclosethem。I
dismissedthenotion，andfellbackuponanother。Northmourhimselfmusthavearrived，andwasnowairingandinspectingthepavilion。
Ihavesaidthattherewasnorealaffectionbetweenthismanandme；but，hadIlovedhimlikeabrother，IwasthensomuchmoreinlovewithsolitudethatIshouldnonethelesshaveshunnedhiscompany。Asitwas，Iturnedandranforit；anditwaswithgenuinesatisfactionthatIfoundmyselfsafelybackbesidethefire。Ihadescapedanacquaintance；Ishouldhaveonemorenightincomfort。Inthemorning，ImighteitherslipawaybeforeNorthmourwasabroad，orpayhimasshortavisitasIchose。
Butwhenmorningcame，IthoughtthesituationsodivertingthatI
forgotmyshyness。Northmourwasatmymercy；Iarrangedagoodpracticaljest，thoughIknewwellthatmyneighborwasnotthemantojestwithinsecurity；and，chucklingbeforehandoveritssuccess，tookmyplaceamongtheeldersattheedgeofthewood，whenceIcouldcommandthedoorofthepavilion。Theshutterswerealloncemoreclosed，whichIrememberthinkingodd；andthehouse，withitswhitewallsandgreenvenetians，lookedspruceandhabitableinthemorninglight。Hourafterhourpassed，andstillnosignofNorthmour。Iknewhimforasluggardinthemorning；