‘Take her away,’ he said in a whisper; so Des Barres stood up between him and the woman.

But Alois put her hands out, as a blind man does.

‘Soul’s health, Des Barres; I purge old sins.  Avoid, all of you,’ she said, ’and leave me with him.  Save only his confessor.  What I have to say must be said in secret, as it was done secretly.’

Richard sighed.  ‘Let her stay; and let Milo stay,’ he said.  The rest went out on tip-toe.  Alois came and knelt at the head of the bed.

‘Listen now, Richard,’ said she; ’for thy last hour is near, and mine also.  Twice over I have sought to tell thee, but was denied.  Each time I might have done thee a service; now I will do thee good service.  Thou art not guilty of thy father’s death, nor he of my despair.’

The King did not turn his head, but looked up sideways, so that she saw his eye shining.  His lips moved, then stuck together; so Milo put a sponge with wine upon them.  Then he whispered, ’Tell me, Alois, who was guilty with thee?’

She said, ‘Thy brother John of Mortain was that man.  A villain is he.’

A moaning sigh escaped the King, long-drawn, shuddering, very piteous.  ‘Eh, Alois, Alois!  Which of us four was not a villain?’

Said Alois, ’What is past is past, and I have told thee.  What is to come I cannot tell thee, for the past swallows me up.  Yet I say again, thy brother John is a sick villain, a secret villain, and a thief.’

‘God help him, God judge him,’ said Richard with another sigh.  ’I can do neither, nor will not.’  He moaned again, but so hopelessly, as being so weary and fordone, that Abbot Milo began to blubber out loud.  Alois lifted up her drawn face, and struck her breast.

‘Ah, would to God, Richard,’ she cried, ’would to God I had come to thee clean!  I had saved thee then from this most bitter death.  For if I love thee now, judge how I had loved thee then.’

He said, with shut eyes, ’None could love me long, since none could trust me, and not I myself.’  Then he said fretfully to the abbot, ’Take her away, Milo; I am tired.’

Alois, kneeling, kissed his dry forehead.  ‘Farewell,’ she said, ’King Richard, most a king when most in bonds, and most merciful when most in need of mercy.  My work is done.  Remains to pray and prepare.’  She went out noiselessly, as she had come in, and no man of them saw her again.

* * * * *

Next came Queen Berengere, about the time of sunset.  She came stiffly, as if holding herself in a trap, with much formal bowing to Death; quite white, like ivory, in a black robe; in her hands a great crucifix.  At the door she paused for a minute, the Earl of Leicester being with her.

‘Grief is quick in me, Leicester,’ she said; then to the ushers of the door, ’Does he live?  Will he know me?  Does he wake?  Does he not cry for me now?’

‘Madame, the King sleeps,’ they told her.