And winding in and out of all he heard was that mysterious voice asking: "Whither bound ?" Aye, whither bound, indeed! Visions of golden days flitted across his mind's eye, snatches of his youth; the pomp and glory of court as he first saw it; the gallant epoch of the Fronde; the warm sunshine of forgotten summers; and the woman he loved!.

.

.

The Chevalier was conscious of a pain of stupendous weight bearing down upon his eyes.

Waves of dizziness, accompanied by flashes of fire, passed to and fro through his aching head.