The man bowed and passed into the bedroom.

The king was asleep; when roused he seemed to know nothing of letter or packet, and to expect no visitor.

Herbert's ready fears revived; he whispered that the stranger carried a revolver.

Whatever the king's faults might be--and God forbid that I should speak hardly of him whom fate used so hardly--he was no coward.

He sprang from his bed; at the same moment the great boar-hound uncoiled himself and came from beneath, yawning and fawning.