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　　Whitehall
　　The　parliament　condemned　Charles　to　death；　as　might　have　been　foreseen。　Political　judgments　are　generally　vain　formalities；　for　the　same　passions　which　give　rise　to　the　accusation　ordain　to　the　condemnation。　Such　is　the　atrocious　logic　of　revolutions。
　　Although　our　friends　were　expecting　that　condemnation；　it　filled　them　with　grief。　D'Artagnan；　whose　mind　was　never　more　fertile　in　resources　than　in　critical　emergencies；　swore　again　that　he　would　try　all　conceivable　means　to　prevent　the　denouement　of　the　bloody　tragedy。　But　by　what　means？　As　yet　he　could　form　no　definite　plan；　all　must　depend　on　circumstances。　Meanwhile；　it　was　necessary　at　all　hazards；　in　order　to　gain　time；　to　put　some　obstacle　in　the　way　of　the　execution　on　the　following　day　　the　day　appointed　by　the　judges。　The　only　way　of　doing　that　was　to　cause　the　disappearance　of　the　London　executioner。　The　headsman　out　of　the　way；　the　sentence　could　not　be　executed。　True；　they　could　send　for　the　headsman　of　the　nearest　town；　but　at　least　a　day　would　be　gained；　and　a　day　might　be　sufficient　for　the　rescue。　D'Artagnan　took　upon　himself　that　more　than　difficult　task。
　　Another　thing；　not　less　essential；　was　to　warn　Charles　Stuart　of　the　attempt　to　be　made；　so　that　he　might　assist　his　rescuers　as　much　as　possible；　or　at　least　do　nothing　to　thwart　their　efforts。　Aramis　assumed　that　perilous　charge。　Charles　Stuart　had　asked　that　Bishop　Juxon　might　be　permitted　to　visit　him。　Mordaunt　had　called　on　the　bishop　that　very　evening　to　apprise　him　of　the　religious　desire　expressed　by　the　king　and　also　of　Cromwell's　permission。　Aramis　determined　to　obtain　from　the　bishop；　through　fear　or　by　persuasion；　consent　that　he　should　enter　in　the　bishop's　place；　and　clad　in　his　sacerdotal　robes；　the　prison　at　Whitehall。
　　Finally；　Athos　undertook　to　provide；　in　any　event；　the　means　of　leaving　England　　in　case　either　of　failure　or　of　success。
　　The　night　having　e　they　made　an　appointment　to　meet　at　eleven　o'clock　at　the　hotel；　and　each　started　out　to　fulfill　his　dangerous　mission。
　　The　palace　of　Whitehall　was　guarded　by　three　regiments　of　cavalry　and　by　the　fierce　anxiety　of　Cromwell；　who　came　and　went　or　sent　his　generals　or　his　agents　continually。　Alone　in　his　usual　room；　lighted　by　two　candles；　the　condemned　monarch　gazed　sadly　on　the　luxury　of　his　past　greatness；　just　as　at　the　last　hour　one　sees　the　images　of　life　more　mildly　brilliant　than　of　yore。
　　Parry　had　not　quitted　his　master；　and　since　his　condemnation　had　not　ceased　to　weep。　Charles；　leaning　on　a　table；　was　gazing　at　a　medallion　of　his　wife　and　daughter；　he　was　waiting　first　for　Juxon；　then　for　martyrdom。
　　At　times　he　thought　of　those　brave　French　gentlemen　who　had　appeared　to　him　from　a　distance　of　a　hundred　leagues　fabulous　and　unreal；　like　the　forms　that　appear　in　dreams。　In　fact；　he　sometimes　asked　himself　if　all　that　was　happening　to　him　was　not　a　dream；　or　at　least　the　delirium　of　a　fever。　He　rose　and　took　a　few　steps　as　if　to　rouse　himself　from　his　torpor　and　went　as　far　as　the　window；　he　saw　glittering　below　him　the　muskets　of　the　guards。　He　was　thereupon　constrained　to　admit　that　he　was　indeed　awake　and　that　his　bloody　dream　was　real。
　　Charles　returned　in　silence　to　his　chair；　rested　his　elbow　on　the　table；　bowed　his　head　upon　his　hand　and　reflected。
　　〃Alas！〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃if　I　only　had　for　a　confessor　one　of　those　lights　of　the　church；　whose　soul　has　sounded　all　the　mysteries　of　life；　all　the　littlenesses　of　greatness；　perhaps　his　utterance　would　overawe　the　voice　that　wails　within　my　soul。　But　I　shall　have　a　priest　of　vulgar　mind；　whose　career　and　fortune　I　have　ruined　by　my　misfortune。　He　will　speak　to　me　of　God　and　death；　as　he　has　spoken　to　many　another　dying　man；　not　understanding　that　this　one　leaves　his　throne　to　an　usurper；　his　children　to　the　cold　contempt　of　public　charity。〃
　　And　he　raised　the　medallion　to　his　lips。
　　It　was　a　dull；　foggy　night。　A　neighboring　church　clock　slowly　struck　the　hour。　The　flickering　light　of　the　two　candles　showed　fitful　phantom　shadows　in　the　lofty　room。　These　were　the　ancestors　of　Charles；　standing　back　dimly　in　their　tarnished　frames。
　　An　awful　sadness　enveloped　the　heart　of　Charles。　He　buried　his　brow　in　his　hands　and　thought　of　the　world；　so　beautiful　when　one　is　about　to　leave　it；　of　the　caresses　of　children；　so　pleasing　and　so　sweet；　especially　when　one　is　parting　from　his　children　never　to　see　them　again；　then　of　his　wife；　the　noble　and　courageous　woman　who　had　sustained　him　to　the　last　moment。　He　drew　from　his　breast　the　diamond　cross　and　the　star　of　the　Garter　which　she　had　sent　him　by　those　generous　Frenchmen；　he　kissed　it；　and　then；　as　he　reflected；　that　she　would　never　again　see　those　things　till　he　lay　cold　and　mutilated　in　the　tomb；　there　passed　over　him　one　of　those　icy　shivers　which　may　be　called　forerunners　of　death。
　　Then；　in　that　chamber　which　recalled　to　him　so　many　royal　souvenirs；　whither　had　e　so　many　courtiers；　the　scene　of　so　much　flattering　homage；　alone　with　a　despairing　servant；　whose　feeble　soul　could　afford　no　support　to　his　own；　the　king　at　last　yielded　to　sorrow；　and　his　courage　sank　to　a　level　with　that　feebleness；　those　shadows；　and　that　wintry　cold。　That　king；　who　was　so　grand；　so　sublime　in　the　hour　of　death；　meeting　his　fate　with　a　smile　of　resignation　on　his　lips；　now　in　that　gloomy　hour　wiped　away　a　tear　which　had　fallen　on　the　table　and　quivered　on　the　gold　embroidered　cloth。
　　Suddenly　the　door　opened；　an　ecclesiastic　in　episcopal　robes　entered；　followed　by　two　guards；　to　whom　the　king　waved　an　imperious　gesture。　The　guards　retired；　the　room　resumed　its　obscurity。
　　〃Juxon！〃　cried　Charles；　〃Juxon；　thank　you；　my　last　friend；　you　e　at　a　fitting　moment。〃
　　The　bishop　looked　anxiously　at　the　man　sobbing　in　the　ingle…nook。
　　〃e；　Parry；〃　said　the　king；　〃cease　your　tears。〃
　　〃If　it's　Parry；〃　said　the　bishop；　〃I　have　nothing　to　fear；　so　allow　me　to　salute　your　majesty　and　to　tell　you　who　I　am　and　for　what　I　am　e。〃
　　At　this　sight　and　this　voice　Charles　was　about　to　cry　out；　when　Aramis　placed　his　finger　on　his　lips　and　bowed　low　to　the　king　of　England。
　　〃The　chevalier！〃　murmured　Charles。
　　〃Yes；　sire；〃　interrupted　Aramis；　raising　his　voice；　〃Bishop　Juxon；　the　faithful　knight　of　Christ；　obedient　to　your　majesty's　wishes。〃
　　Charles　clasped　his　hands；　amazed　and　stupefied　to　find　that　these　foreigners；　without　other　motive　than　that　which　their　conscience　imposed　on　them；　thus　bated　the　will　of　a　people　and　the　destiny　of　a　king。
　　〃You！〃　he　said；　〃you！　how　did　you　penetrate　hither？　If　they　recognize　you；　you　are　lost。〃
　　〃Care　not　for　me；　sire；　think　only　of　yourself。　You　see；　your　friends　are　wakeful。　I　know　not　what　we　shall　do　yet；　but　four　determined　men　can　do　much。　Meanwhile；　do　not　be　surprised　at　anything　that　happens；　prepare　yourself　for　every　emergency。〃
　　Charles　shook　his　head。
　　〃Do　you　know　that　I　die　to…morrow　at　ten　o'clock？〃
　　〃Something；　your　majesty；　will　happen　between　now　and　then　to　make　the　execution　impossible。〃
　　The　king　looked　at　Aramis　with　astonishment。
　　At　this　moment　a　strange　noise；　like　the　unloading　of　a　cart；　and　followed　by　a　cry　of　pain；　was　heard　beneath　the　window。
　　〃Do　you　hear？〃　said　the　king。
　　〃I　hear；〃　said　Aramis；　〃but　I　understand　neither　the　noise　nor　the　cry　of　pain。〃
　　〃I　know　not　who　can　have　uttered　the　cry；〃　said　the　king；　〃but　the　noise　is　easily　understood。　Do　you　know　that　I　am　to　be　beheaded　outside　this　window？　Well；　these　boards　you　hear　unloaded　are　the　posts　and　planks　to　build　my　scaffold。　Some　workmen　must　have　fallen　underneath　them　and　been　hurt。〃
　　Aramis　shuddered　in　spite　of　himself。
　　〃You　see；〃　said　the　king；　〃that　it　is　useless　for　you　to　resist。　I　am　condemned；　leave　me　to　my　death。〃
　　〃My　king；〃　said　Aramis；　〃they　well　may　raise　a　scaffold；　but　they　cannot　make　an　executioner。〃
　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　the　king。
　　〃I　mean　that　at　this　hour　the　headsman　has　been　got　out　of　the　way　by　force　or　persuasion。　The　scaffold　will　be　ready　by　to…morrow；　but　the　headsman　will　be　wanting　and　they　will　put　it　off　till　the　day　after　to…morrow。〃
　　〃