“Doubleyourguards，sire，forto-night——thatisall。IwillanswerfortheBastileandtheArsenal；andholdingtheseweholdParis。“
ButthereuponIfoundthatthekinghadcometoadecision，whichI
feltittobemydutytocombatwithallmyinfluence。Hehadconceivedtheideaofbeingtheonetoaccompanymetotherendezvous。“Iamtiredofthedice，“hecomplained，“andsickoftennis，atwhichIknoweverybody’sstrength。MadamedeVerneuilisatFontainebleau，thequeenisunwell。Ah，Sully，IwouldtheolddayswerebackwhenwehadNeracforourParis，andknewthesaddlebetterthanthearmchair！“
“Akingmustthinkofhispeople，“Iremindedhim。
“Thefowlinthepot？Tobesure。SoIwill——to-morrow，“hereplied。Andintheendhewouldbeobeyed。Itookmyleaveofhimasifforthenight，andretired，leavinghimatplaywiththeDukeofEpernon。Butanhourlater，towardeighto’clock，hismajesty，whohadmadeanexcusetowithdrawtohiscloset，metmeoutsidetheeasterngateoftheLouvre。
Hewasmasked，andattendedonlybyCoquet，hismasterofthehousehold。ItooworeamaskandwasesquiredbyMaignan，underwhoseorderswerefourSwiss——whomIhadchosenbecausetheywereunabletospeakFrench——guardingtheprisonerAndrew。IbadeMaignanfollowtheinnkeeper’sdirections，andweproceededintwopartiesthroughthestreetsontheleftbankoftheriver，pasttheChateletandBastile，untilwereachedanobscurestreetnearthewater，sonarrowthatthedecrepitwoodenhousesshutoutwell-nighallviewofthesky。Heretheprisonerhaltedandcalleduponmetofulfillthetermsofmyagreement。IbadeMaignanthereforetokeepwiththeSwissatadistanceoffiftypaces，buttocomeupshouldIwhistleorotherwisegivethealarm；andmyselfwiththekingandAndrewproceededonwardinthedeepshadowofthehouses。
Ikeptmyhandonmypistol，whichIhadpreviouslyshowntotheprisoner，intimatingthatonthefirstsignoftreacheryIshouldblowouthisbrains。However，despiteprecaution，Ifeltuncomfortabletothelastdegree。Iblamedmyselfseverelyforallowingthekingtoexposehimselfandthecountrytothisunnecessarydanger；whilethemeannessofthelocality，thefetidair，thedarknessofthenight，whichwaswetandtempestuous，andtheuncertaintyoftheeventloweredmyspirits，andmadeeverysplashinthekennelandstumbleonthereeking，slipperypavements——mattersoverwhichthekinggrewmerry——seemnolighttroublestome。
Arrivingatahouse，which，ifwemightjudgeinthedarkness，seemedtobeofrathergreaterpretensionsthanitsfellows，ourguidestopped，andwhisperedtoustomountsomestepstoaraisedwoodengallery，whichintervenedbetweenthelaneandthedoorway。
Onthis，besidesthedoor，acoupleofunglazedwindowslookedout。
Theshutterofonewasajar，andshowedusalarge，bareroom，lightedbyacoupleofrushlights。Directingustoplaceourselvesclosetothisshutter，theinnkeeperknockedatthedoorinapeculiarfashion，andalmostimmediatelyentered，goingatonceintothelightedroom。Peeringcautiouslythroughthewindowweweresurprisedtofindthattheonlypersonwithin，savethenewcomer，wasayoungwoman，who，crouchingoverasmolderingfire，wascrooningalullabywhilesheattendedtoalargeblackpot。
“Goodevening，mistress！“saidtheinnkeeper，advancingtothefirewithafairshowofnonchalance。
“Goodevening，MasterAndrew，“thegirlreplied，lookingupandnodding，butshowingnosignofsurpriseathisappearance。
“Martinisaway，buthemayreturnatanymoment。“
“Ishestillofthesamemind？“
“Quite。“
“AndwhatofSully？Ishetodiethen？“heasked。
“Theyhavedecidedhemust，“thegirlansweredgloomily。ItmaybebelievedthatIlistenedwithallmyears，whilethekingbyanudgeinmysideseemedtorallymeonthedestinysocoollyarrangedforme。“Martinsaysitisnogoodkillingtheotherunlesshegoestoo——theyhavebeensolongtogether。Butitvexesmesadly，MasterAndrew，“sheaddedwithasuddenbreakinhervoice。“Sadlyitvexesme。Icouldnotsleeplastnightforthinkingofit，andtheriskMartinruns。AndIshallsleeplesswhenitisdone。“
“Pooh-pooh！“saidthatrascallyinnkeeper。“Thinklessaboutit。
Thingswillgrowworseandworseiftheyareletlive。TheKinghasdoneharmenoughalready。Andhegrowsoldbesides。“
“Thatistrue！“saidthegirl。“Andnodoubtthesoonerheisputoutofthewaythebetter。Heischangedsadly。Idonotsayawordforhim。Lethimdie。ItiskillingSullythattroublesme——
thatandtheriskMartinruns。“
AtthisItookthelibertyofgentlytouchingtheking。Heansweredbyanamusedgrimace；thenbyamotionofhishandheenjoinedsilence。Westoopedstillfartherforwardsoasbettertocommandtheroom。Thegirlwasrockingherselftoandfroinevidentdistressofmind。“IfwekilledtheKing，“shecontinued，“Martindeclaresweshouldbenobetteroff，aslongasSullylives。Bothorneither，hesays。ButIdonotknow。Icannotbeartothinkofit。ItwasasaddaywhenwebroughtEpernonhere，MasterAndrew；andoneIfearweshallrueaslongaswelive。“
Itwasnowtheking’sturntobemoved。HegraspedmywristsoforciblythatIrestrainedacrywithdifficulty。“Epernon！“hewhisperedharshlyinmyear。“TheyareEpernon’stools！Whereisyourguarantynow，Rosny？“
IconfessthatItrembled。Iknewwellthattheking，particularinsmallcourtesies，neverforgottocallhisservantsbytheircorrecttitles，saveintwocases；whenheindicatedbytheseemingerror，asonceinMarshalBiron’saffair，hisintentiontopromoteordegradethem；orwhenhewasmovedtothedepthsofhisnatureandfellintoanoldhabit。Ididnotdaretoreply，butlistenedgreedilyformoreinformation。
“Whenisittobedone？“askedtheinnkeeper，sinkinghisvoiceandglancinground，asifhewouldcallespecialattentiontothis。
“ThatdependsuponMasterlaRiviere，“thegirlanswered。“To-
morrownight，Iunderstand，ifMasterlaRivierecanhavethestuffready。“
Imettheking’seyes。Theyshonefiercelyinthefaintlight，whichissuingfromthewindowfellonhim。Ofallthingshehatedtreacherymost，andLaRivierewashisfirstbodyphysician，andatthisverytime，asIwellknew，wastreatinghimforaslightderangementwhichthekinghadbroughtuponhimselfbyhisimprudence。ThisdoctorhadformerlybeenintheemploymentoftheBouillonfamily，whohadsurrenderedhisservicestotheking。
NeitherInorhismajestyhadtrustedtheDukeofBouillonforthelastyearpast，sothatwewerenotsurprisedbythishintthathewasprivytothedesign。
Despiteouranxietynottomissaword，anapproachingstepwarnedusatthismomenttodrawback。Morethanoncebeforewehaddonesotoescapethenoticeofawayfarerpassingupanddown。ButthistimeIhadadifficultyininducingthekingtoadopttheprecaution。YetitwaswellthatIsucceeded，forthepersonwhocamestumblingalongtowardusdidnotpass，but，mountingthesteps，walkedbywithintouchofusandenteredthehouse。
“Theplotthickens，“mutteredtheking。“Whoisthis？“
AtthemomentheaskedIwasrackingmybraintoremember。Ihaveagoodeyeandafairrecollectionforfaces，andthiswasoneI
hadseenseveraltimes。ThefeaturesweresofamiliarthatI
suspectedthemanofbeingacourtierindisguise，andIranoverthenamesofseveralpersonswhomIknewtobeBouillon’ssecretagents。Buthewasnoneofthese，andobeyingtheking’sgesture，Ibentmyselfagaintothetaskoflistening。
Thegirllookedupontheman’sentrance，butdidnotrise。“Youarelate，Martin，“shesaid。
“Alittle，“thenewcomeranswered。“Howdoyoudo，MasterAndrew？
Whatcheer？What，stillvexing，mistress？“headdedcontemptuouslytothegirl。“Youhavetoosoftaheartforthisbusiness！“
Shesighed，butmadenoanswer。
“Youhavemadeupyourmindtoit，Ihear？“saidtheinnkeeper。
“Thatisit。Needsmustwhenthedevildrives！“repliedthemanjauntily。Hehadadowncast，reckless，lucklessair，yetinhisfaceIthoughtIstillsawtracesofabetterspirit。
“ThedevilinthiscasewasEpernon，“quothAndrew。
“Aye，cursehim！IwouldIhadcuthisdaintythroatbeforehecrossedmythreshold，“criedthedesperado。“Butthere，itistoolatetosaythatnow。Whathastobedone，hastobedone。“
“Howareyougoingaboutit？Poison，themistresssays。“
“Yes；butifIhadmyway，“themangrowledfiercely，“Iwouldoutoneofthesenightsandcutthedogs’throatsinthekennel！“
“Youcouldneverescape，Martin！“thegirlcried，risinginexcitement。“Itwouldbehopeless。Itwouldmerelybethrowingawayyourownlife。“
“Well，itisnottobedonethatway，sothereisanendofit，“
quoththemanwearily。“Givememysupper。ThedeviltakethekingandSullytoo！Hewillsoonhavethem。“
OnthisMasterAndrewrose，andItookhismovementtowardthedoorforasignalforustoretire。Hecameoutatonce，shuttingthedoorbehindhimashebadethepairwithinaloudgoodnight。Hefoundusstandinginthestreetwaitingforhimandforthwithfellonhiskneesinthemudandlookedupatme，theperspirationstandingthickonhiswhiteface。“Mylord，“hecriedhoarsely，“I
haveearnedmypardon！“
“Ifyougoon，“Isaidencouragingly，“asyouhavebegun，havenofear。“WithoutmoreadoIwhistleduptheSwissandbadeMaignangowiththemandarrestthemanandwomanwithaslittledisturbanceaspossible。Whilethiswasbeingdonewewaitedwithout，keepingasharpeyeupontheinformer，whoseterror，I
notedwithsuspicion，seemedtobeinnodegreediminished。Hedidnot，however，trytoescape，andMaignanpresentlycametotellusthathehadexecutedthearrestwithoutdifficultyorresistance。
TheimportanceofarrivingatthetruthbeforeEpernonandthegreaterconspiratorsshouldtakethealarmwassovividlypresenttothemindsofthekingandmyself，thatwedidnothesitatetoexaminetheprisonersintheirhouse，ratherthanhazardthedelayandobservationwhichtheirremovaltoamorefitplacemustoccasion。Accordingly，takingtheprecautiontopostCoquetinthestreetoutside，andtoplantaburlySwissinthedoorway，thekingandIentered。IremovedmymaskasIdidso，beingawareofthenecessityofgainingtheprisoners’confidence，butIbeggedthekingtoretainhis。AsIhadexpected，themanimmediatelyrecognizedmeandfellonhisknees，anearerviewconfirmingthenotionIhadpreviouslyentertainedthathisfeatureswerefamiliartome，thoughIcouldnotrememberhisname。Ithoughtthisagoodstarting-pointformyexamination，andbiddingMaignanwithdraw，I
assumedanairofmildnessandaskedthefellowhisname。
“Martin，only，pleaseyourlordship，“heanswered；adding，“onceI
soldyoutwodogs，sir，forthechase，andtoyourladyalapdogcalledNinettenolargerthanherhand。“
Irememberedtheknave，then，asafashionabledogdealer，whohadbeenmuchaboutthecourtinthereignofHenrytheThirdandlater；andIsawatoncehowconvenientatoolhemightbemade，sincehecouldbeseeninconversewithpeopleofallrankswithoutarousingsuspicion。Theman’sfaceashespokeexpressedsomuchfearandsurprisethatIdeterminedtotrywhatIhadoftenfoundsuccessfulinthecaseofgreatercriminals，tosqueezehimforaconfessionwhilestillexcitedbyhisarrest，andbeforeheshouldhavehadtimetoconsiderwhathischancesofsupportatthehandsofhisconfederatesmightbe。Ichargedhimthereforesolemnlytotellthewholetruthashehopedfortheking’smercy。Heheardme，gazingatmepiteously；buthisonlyanswer，tomysurprise，wasthathehadnothingtoconfess。
“Come，come，“Irepliedsternly，“thiswillavailyounothing；ifyoudonotspeakquickly，rogue，andtothepoint，weshallfindmeanstocompelyou。Whocounseledyoutoattempthismajesty’slife？“
Onthishestaredsostupidlyatme，andexclaimedwithsorealanappearanceofhorror:“How？Iattempttheking’slife？Godforbid！“thatIdoubtedthatwehadbeforeusamoredangerousrascalthanIhadthought，andIhastenedtobringhimtothepoint。