"Well?"
"The personages you expect have come, your Holiness."
"Bring them in," said the Pope.
XIII
The young King, who wore the uniform of a cavalry officer, with sword and long blue cloak, knelt to the Pope and kissed his ring, while the Prime Minister, who was in ordinary civilian costume, bowed deeply, but remained standing.
"Pray sit," said the Pope, seating himself in the gilded arm-chair, with the Capuchin on his left.
The King sat on one of the wooden stools in front of the Pope, but the Baron continued to stand by his side. Between the Pope and the King was a wooden table on which two large candles were burning. The young King was pale, and the expression of his twitching face was one of pain.
"It was good of your Holiness to see us," he said, "and perhaps the gravity of our errand may excuse the informality of our visit."
The Pope, who was leaning forward on the arms of his chair, only bent his head.
"His Excellency," said the King, indicating the Baron, "tells me he has gained proof of an organised conspiracy against my life, and he says that your Holiness holds the secret of the conspirators."