heard these words:

--"Sweet Jesus. Amen.... Mercy, Sweet Jesus, Mercy!"

That was the King's voice that I heard: and I kneeled down when I heard
them.

* * * * *

It would be about ten minutes later, as I still kneeled, that I heard,
upon the outside of the door that led down the winding stairs, a very
small tapping.

I ran to the door to open it, wondering who it could be; for I had
forgotten all about the Portuguese priest, though I had set the candles
ready burning, with a napkin on the table between them, in readiness for
his coming. And there he stood, with his eyes cast down, and his hands
clasped upon his breast.

I beckoned him forward, pointing to the table, and kneeled down again.

He went past me without a word, kneeled himself before the table and
then, unbuttoning his cloak he drew from round his neck the chain and
the Pyx from his breast, and laid it all upon the table, continuing
himself to kneel.

Presently he turned and looked at me, lifting his brows.

I knew what he wished; rose from my knees and went up the stairs, but
very cautiously, lest I should hear anything that I should not. There
was but a very faint murmur of the priest's voice, so I took courage and
pushed the door a little open so that I could see the King.

It was very dark within the curtains, for they were drawn against the
candlelight; but I could see what was passing. His Majesty was lying
flat upon his back, with his hands clasped beneath his chin, and Mr.
Huddleston was in the very act of arranging the coverlet over him again,
after the last Anointing. As I looked the priest turned and caught my
eyes, as he put the oil-stock and the wool away again in his cassock
breast. I nodded three times very emphatically--(His Majesty did not see
me at all, for his eyes were closed)--and went back again down the
stairs and kneeled once more. A few moments later Mr. Huddleston came
through.

I have never seen so swift a change in any man's face. He had been
terrified as he had gone in--all pale and shaking. Now he was still
pale, but his eyes shone, and there was a look of great assurance in his
face. He came straight down the steps without speaking, kneeled, rose
again, took up the Pyx and the corporal which Father de Lemoz had spread
beneath it, and passed up and out again. His priesthood, I suppose, had
risen in him like a great tide, and driven out all other emotions.

* * *