"He died a violent death, in a terrible night, rendered so
by the passions of man and a tempest from God. His body,
pierced by a dagger, sank to the depths of the ocean. God
pardon his murderer!"

"Proceed, then," said Charles II., seeing that the count was
unwilling to say more.

"The king of England, after having, as I have said, spoken
thus to the masked executioner, added, -- `Observe, you will
not strike till I shall stretch out my arms saying --
REMEMBER!'"

"I was aware," said Charles, in an agitated voice, "that
that was the last word pronounced by my unfortunate father.
But why and for whom?"

"For the French gentleman placed beneath his scaffold."

"For you, then, monsieur?"

"Yes, sire; and every one of the words which he spoke to me,
through the planks of the scaffold covered with a black
cloth, still sounds in my ears. The king knelt down on one
knee: `Comte de la Fere,' said he, `are you there?' `Yes,
sire,' replied I. Then the king stooped towards the boards."

Charles II., also palpitating with interest, burning with
grief, stooped towards Athos, to catch, one by one, every