The king went back a pace from me and paled suddenly. I did not know what he might do next, for I could not tell that this was but certainty to him of that which he had reason to fear. But he kept a tight rein on himself, and in a moment spoke to me clearly, if in low tones.
"You are Carl's messenger to Ethelbert, and therefore trusted by him. You have no need to keep aught from me, nor do you fear me, as it seems. Tell me plainly what has been done."
I think that he had not understood that Ethelbert had been taken hence, and that he dreaded to look on him. So I told him once more.
"Through the old passage which lies beneath his chamber men crept and slew Ethelbert. Then they took him hence; whither we cannot tell. It has been but chance that we have found it out before we went to call him in the morning."
"Silently, without noise, was this wrought, then?" he said, as if he hardly believed it.
"So silently that if noise there was we could not tell it from the sounds of men about the house. I pray you come and see what was planned."
He hesitated for a moment, and then knew that go he must, sooner or later.
"So let it be," he said. "Bide here, you others."
I turned, and led the way into the bedchamber. There I stooped and opened the trapdoor, and held the torch so that the light fell into the pit, without a word. He saw the fallen props, and the chair, and all else that told him the terrible tale. And as he saw he reeled a little, and I caught his arm. But he shook off my hand savagely.
"Tell me," he said, between his teeth, "have you hunted for those who did this deed?"