My duty and the peace of my conscience before everything, sire." "But such duty will kill you, monsieur." "Eh! sire, I have performed it for thirty years, and in all France and Navarre there is not a man in better health than I am.

Moreover, I entreat you, sire, not to trouble yourself about me.

That would appear very strange to me, seeing that I am not accustomed to it." The king cut short the conversation by a fresh question.

"Shall you be here, then, to-morrow morning ?" "As at present?
yes, sire." The king walked several times up and down his chamber; it was very plain that he burned with a desire to speak, but that he was restrained by some fear or other.

The lieutenant, standing motionless, hat in hand, watched him making these evolutions, and, whilst looking at him, grumbled to himself, biting his mustache: "He has not half a crown worth of resolution! _Parole d'honneur!_ I would lay a wager he does not speak at all!" The king continued to walk about, casting from time to time a side glance at the lieutenant.