"Your Highness!" he said.
The ancient title struck some chord of memory. The King raised his head; Sunderland was certainly startled at his face.
"Who spoke to me?" asked William thickly.
"The Prince of Orange," answered the Earl, "cannot fail before anything—the King of England must not——"
"Fail?" muttered the King. "Fail? Have I failed? They put too much upon me. Did they tell you of the Queen? My enemies may be satisfied now, for I shall never lift my head again——"
"The Queen," said Sunderland, "will not depart in peace unless she leaveth you calm. Sire, for her sake will you not recall your ancient courage?"
The King shook his head in a faint, exhausted fashion.
"You would not have thought that she would die so young," he murmured, "would you—she was gay, too—there was to have been a ball to-night—and she cannot live till morning——"
Lady Temple came from the Queen's room and whispered something to Lord Portland, who instantly addressed the King.
"Sire, the Queen is awake."