commit a sacrilege, I must speak to you. Yes, I have spoken to men -
yes, I have spoken to God, and I speak to you the last. To sustain a
cause which I thought sacred, I have lost the throne of my fathers and
the heritage of my children.'"

Charles II. concealed his face in his hands, and a bitter tear glided
between his white and slender fingers.

"'I have still a million in gold,' continued the king. 'I buried it in
the vaults of the castle of Newcastle, a moment before I left that
city.'" Charles raised his head with an expression of such painful joy
that it would have drawn tears from any one acquainted with his
misfortunes.

"A million!" murmured he, "Oh, count!"

"'You alone know that this money exists: employ it when you think it can
be of the greatest service to my eldest son. And now, Comte de la Fere,
bid me adieu!'

"'Adieu, adieu, sire!' cried I."

Charles arose, and went and leant his burning brow against the window.

"It was then," continued Athos, "that the king pronounced the word
'REMEMBER!' addressed to me. You see, sire, that I have remembered."

The king could not resist or conceal his emotion. Athos beheld the
movement of his shoulders, which undulated convulsively; he heard the
sobs which burst from his over-charged breast. He was silent himself,