With the aid of the two servants, who had now left their horses, they carried him back, by easy degrees, into the Palace, and his own apartments.
Before the doctor could be called he came to his senses and asked for Albemarle. On being told he had arrived, he bid him rest a little before he delivered his news, and, having sent the message, called M. Zulestein to bring him his yet unfinished letter to M. Heinsius.
When it was brought, and quill and ink, he sat up in his great chair with arms, and added painfully these words: "God be praised, all difficulties are overcome," and his name.
He bid them, in a broken whisper, send off this letter immediately, and fell back again in his chair, very white and frowning.
The alarmed gentlemen were for his seeing the doctor immediately, but he desired to give Albemarle his audience first.
My lord came on the instant, spurred and dusty, and all in a reek from travel.
He entered, with a breathless air of dread, the throne-room, where they had brought the King.
William was seated in a great low chair of red velvet, in front of the blue dais and throne, which bore in silver the Royal arms and the motto of Nassau: "Je Maintaindrai." He still wore his buff hunting-coat with the gold galloon on the wide skirt and the tight doeskin boots with the gilt spurs; his waistcoat was open on his laced shirt, and he held his right hand over his heart.
Lord Albemarle fell on his knees and passionately kissed the King's free hand.
William looked down at him affectionately, and said, between quick little gasps—