The hand that had thrown this plate made a sign to the two gentlemen, and then disappeared.

Athos and Raoul, approaching each other, commenced an attentive examination of the dusty plate, and they discovered, in characters traced upon the bottom of it with the point of a knife, this inscription: "_I am the brother of the king of France--a prisoner to-day--a madman to-morrow.

French gentlemen and Christians, pray to God for the soul and the reason of the son of your old rulers_." The plate fell from the hands of Athos whilst Raoul was endeavoring to make out the meaning of these dismal words.

At the same moment they heard a cry from the top of the donjon.

Quick as lightning Raoul bent down his head, and forced down that of his father likewise.