I let go of him, and went straight towards the steps that led up into
His Majesty's room. As I reached the foot of them, he had seized my arm
from behind.

"Where are you going?" he whispered sharply. "That is the way to the
King's room."

I turned and looked at him.

"Yes," I said very slowly, "I know that."

"Well--well, you cannot," he stammered.

"Then you must take me," I said.

He still stared at me as if either he or I were mad. Then, of a sudden
his face changed; and he nodded. I could see how distraught he was, and
unsettled.

"I will take you," he whispered, "I will take you, Mr. Mallock. For
God's sake, Mr. Mallock--"

He went up the steps before me, in his soft shoes; and I went after, as
quietly as I could. As he put his hand on the handle he turned again.

"For Christ's sake!" he whispered in a terrible soft voice. "For
Christ's sake! It must be but five minutes. I am sent to fetch the
Bishops, Mr. Mallock."

He opened the door a little, and peered in. I could see nothing, so dark
was the chamber within--but the candles at the further end and a few
faces far away. A great curtain, as a wall, shut off all view to my
left.

"Quick, Mr. Mallock," he whispered, turning back to me. "This side of
the bed is clear. Go in quick; he is turned on this side. I will fetch
you out this way again."

He was his own man again, swift and prompt and steady. As for me, the
beating of my heart made me near sick. Then I felt myself pushed within
the chamber; and heard the door close softly behind me.

* * * * *

At first I could see nothing on this side, as I had been staring over
the candle just now, except a group of persons at the further end of the
great room, and among them the white of a Bishop's rochet; and the
candlelight and firelight on the roof. The clocks were all chiming four
as I came in, and drowned, I suppose, the sounds of my coming.

Then, almost immediately I saw that the curtains were drawn back on this
side of the great bed that stood in this end of the room, and that they
were partly drawn forward on the other side, so as to shroud from the
candlelight him who lay within them, and beneath the Royal Arms of
England emblazoned on the state.

And then I saw him.

He was lying over on this side of the bed, propped on high pillows, but
leaning all over, and breathing loudly. His left, arm was flung over the
coverlet; and his fingers contracted and opened a