After about half-an-hour, as he supposed, the voices waxed louder in the
other room; and presently one came out from it in the black dress of a
physician. He was a pale man, shaven clean, a little bald, and very
thin. It was that physician that died last year.

He said nothing, though his face worked, and he beckoned sharply to
Master Richard.

Master Richard went immediately across the floor and through into the
further room.

There were a dozen persons gathered there, all staring upon the King,
who sat in a great chair by the table. Two or three of these were
servants, and the rest of them, with my lord cardinal, the nobles that
had been in the palace at the time of the King's seizure. My lord
cardinal was standing by the chair, very stern and anxious-looking; and
all turned their faces, and there was an angry whisper from their
mouths, as the young man came forward and halted; and the physician shut
to the door.

But Master Richard did not observe them closely at that time; for he was
looking upon the King.

The King sat very upright in his chair; his hands rested on the carved
arms; and his face and eyes were as if made of Caen stone, chalky and
hard. He was looking out from the room, Master Richard said; and Master
Richard knew at once what it was that he was seeing. It was that of
which the holy youth had spoken; and was nothing else than the passion
and death that came upon him afterwards. The words that the King had