A noise was heard like that the instrument of death would make if moved upon the block.
“Do not touch the axe,” said the king, and resumed his speech.
At the end of his speech the king looked tenderly around upon the people. Then unfastening the diamond ornament which the queen had sent him, he placed it in the hands of the priest who accompanied Juxon. Then he drew from his breast a little cross set in diamonds, which, like the order, had been the gift of Henrietta Maria.
“Sir,” said he to the priest, “I shall keep this cross in my hand till the last moment. Take it from me when I am—dead.”
“Yes, sire,” said a voice, which Athos recognized as that of Aramis.
He then took his hat from his head and threw it on the ground. One by one he undid the buttons of his doublet, took it off and deposited it by the side of his hat. Then, as it was cold, he asked for his gown, which was brought to him.
All the preparations were made with a frightful calmness. One would have thought the king was going to bed and not to his coffin.
“Will these be in your way?” he said to the executioner, raising his long locks; “if so, they can be tied up.”
Charles accompanied these words with a look designed to penetrate the mask of the unknown headsman. His calm, noble gaze forced the man to turn away his head. But after the searching look of the king he encountered the burning eyes of Aramis.
The king, seeing that he did not reply, repeated his question.