“Come in, my lord King,” said Master Richard very faintly.  “I have done what was to be done, and there now is nothing but to make an end.”

The King knelt down at the further side of the bed.

“Is it the priest you want, Master Hermit?” he asked.

“Sir John will read the prayers presently,” said Master Richard.

I heard the King swallow in his throat before he spoke again.

“And you will remember us all,” he said, “before God’s Majesty, and in particular my poor soul in its passion.”

“How could I forget that?” asked Master Richard, and by his voice I knew that he laughed merrily to himself.

I asked him whether he would have lights.

“No, my father,” he said, “there will be light enough.”

* * * * *

It would be an hour later, I should suppose, after Master Blytchett was come back, when he put out his hand again, and I knew that he wished for the prayers.

Now there was only starlight, for he would have no candles, and the moon was not yet risen.  So I went across to the parlour door, and as I went through I could see that the chamber was full of persons all silent, but it was too dark to see who they were.  I asked one for a candle, and presently one was brought, and I saw that my lord cardinal was there, and ... and ... [The names are omitted as usual.  This discreet scribe is very tiresome.] and many others.  It was such a death-bed as a king might have.

So I read the appointed prayers, kneeling on my knees in the doorway, and I was answered by those behind me.

When I had done that, I stood up to go back, and my lord cardinal caught me by the sleeve.

“For the love of Jesu,” he said, “ask if we may come in.”

I went back and leaned over Master Richard, taking his hand in my own.

“My lord and the rest desire to come in, my son,” I said.  “If they may come, press my hand.”

He pressed my hand, and I spoke in a low voice, bidding them to come in.

So they came in noiselessly, one after another; I could see their faces moving, but no more—­my lord cardinal and the great nobles and the grooms and the rest—­till the room was half full of them.

The door was put to behind them, but I could see the line of light that shewed it, where the candle burned in the parlour beyond; and I could hear the sound of their breathing and the rustle once and again of their feet upon the rushes.

Then I knelt down, when the others had knelt, and waited for the agony to begin, when I should begin the last commendation.

My children, I have prayed by many death-beds, but I have never seen one like this.

The curtains were wide, and the windows, behind me, that he might have breath to send out his spirit; and without, as I saw when I turned to kneel, the heavens were bright with stars.  This was all the light that was in the room; it was no more than dark twilight, and I could see no more of him than what I saw before, the glimmer of his face upon the pillow and his long hair beside it.  His fingers were in mine, but they were very cold by now.