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me； gazing at me piteously； but his only answer； to my surprise；
was that he had nothing to confess。
〃Come； come；〃 I replied sternly； 〃this will avail you nothing； if
you do not speak quickly； rogue； and to the point； we shall find
means to compel you。 Who counseled you to attempt his majesty's
life？〃
On this he stared so stupidly at me； and exclaimed with so real an
appearance of horror： 〃How？ I attempt the king's life？ God
forbid！〃 that I doubted that we had before us a more dangerous
rascal than I had thought； and I hastened to bring him to the
point。
〃What； then；〃 I cried； frowning； 〃of the stuff Master la Riviere is
to give you to take the king's life to…morrow night？ Oh； we know
something； I assure you； bethink you quickly； and find your tongue
if you would have an easy death。〃
I expected to see his self…control break down at this proof of our
knowledge of his design； but he only stared at me with the same
look of bewilderment。 I was about to bid them bring in the
informer that I might see the two front to front； when the female
prisoner； who had hitherto stood beside her companion in such
distress and terror as might be expected in a woman of that class；
suddenly stopped her tears and lamentations。 It occurred to me
that she might make a better witness。 I turned to her； but when I
would have questioned her she broke into a wild scream of
hysterical laughter。
From that I remember that I learned nothing； though it greatly
annoyed me。 But there was one present who didthe king。 He laid
his hand on my shoulder； gripping it with a force that I read as a
command to be silent。
〃Where；〃 he said to the man； 〃do you keep the King and Sully and
Epernon； my friend？〃
〃The King and Sullywith the lordship's leave；〃 said the man
quickly； with a frightened glance at me〃are in the kennels at the
back of the house； but it is not safe to go near them。 The King is
raving mad； andand the other dog is sickening。 Epernon we had to
kill a month back。 He brought the disease here； and I have had
such losses through him as have nearly ruined me； please your
lordship。〃
〃Get upget up； man！〃 cried the king； and tearing off his mask he
stamped up and down the room； so torn by paroxysms of laughter that
he choked himself when again and again he attempted to speak。
I too now saw the mistake； but I could not at first see it in the
same light。 Commanding myself as well as I could； I ordered one of
the Swiss to fetch in the innkeeper； but to admit no one else。
The knave fell on his knees as soon as he saw me； his cheeks
shaking like a jelly。
〃Mercy； mercy！〃 was all he could say。
〃You have dared to play with me？〃 I whispered。
〃You bade me joke；〃 he sobbed； 〃you bade me。〃
I was about to say that it would be his last joke in this world
for my anger was fully arousedwhen the king intervened。
〃Nay；〃 he said； laying his hand softly on my shoulder。 〃It has
been the most glorious jest。 I would not have missed it for a
kingdom。 I command you； Sully； to forgive him。〃
Thereupon his majesty strictly charged the three that they should
not on peril of their lives mention the circumstances to anyone。
Nor to the best of my belief did they do so； being so shrewdly
scared when they recognized the king that I verily think they never
afterwards so much as spoke of the affair to one another。 My
master further gave me on his own part his most gracious promise
that he would not disclose the matter even to Madame de Verneuil or
the queen； and upon these representations he induced me freely to
forgive the innkeeper。 So ended this conspiracy； on the diverting
details of which I may seem to have dwelt longer than I should； but
alas！ in twenty…one years of power I investigated many； and this
one only can I regard with satisfaction。 The rest were so many
warnings and predictions of the fate which； despite all my care and
fidelity； was in store for the great and good master I served。
Robert Louis Stevenson
The Pavilion on the Links
I
I was a great solitary when I was young。 I made it my pride to
keep aloof and suffice for my own entertainment； and I may say that
I had neither friends nor acquaintances until I met that friend who
became my wife and the mother of my children。 With one man only
was I on private terms； this was R。 Northmour； Esquire； of Graden
Easter； in Scotland。 We had met at college； and though there was
not much liking between us； nor even much intimacy； we were so
nearly of a humor that we could associate with ease to both。
Misanthropes； we believed ourselves to be； but I have thought since
that we were only sulky fellows。 It was scarcely a companionship；
but a coexistence in unsociability。 Northmour's exceptional
violence of temper made it no easy affair for him to keep the peace
with anyone but me； and as he respected my silent ways； and let me
come and go as I pleased； I could tolerate his presence without
concern。 I think we called each other friends。
When Northmour took his degree and I decided to leave the
university without one； he invited me on a long visit to Graden
Easter； and it was thus that I first became acquainted with the
scene of my adventures。 The mansion house of Graden stood in a
bleak stretch of country some three miles from the shore of the
German Ocean。 It was as large as a barrack； and as it had been
built of a soft stone； liable to consume in the eager air of the
seaside； it was damp and draughty within and half ruinous without。
It was impossible for two young men to lodge with comfort in such a
dwelling。 But there stood in the northern part of the estate； in a
wilderness of links and blowing sand hills； and between a
plantation and the sea； a small pavilion or belvedere； of modern
design； which was exactly suited to our wants； and in this
hermitage； speaking little； reading much； and rarely associating
except at meals； Northmour and I spent four tempestuous winter
months。 I might have stayed longer； but one March night there
sprung up between us a dispute； which rendered my departure
necessary。 Northmour spoke hotly； I remember； and I suppose I must
have made some tart rejoinder。 He leaped from his chair and
grappled me； I had to fight； without exaggeration； for my life； and
it was only with a great effort that I mastered him； for he was
near as strong in body as myself； and seemed filled with the devil。
The next morning； we met on our usual terms； but I judged it more
delicate to withdraw； nor did he attempt to dissuade me。
It was nine years before I revisited the neighborhood。 I traveled
at that time with a tilt…cart； a tent； and a cooking stove；
tramping all day beside the wagon； and at night； whenever it was
possible； gypsying in a cove of the hills； or by the side of a
wood。 I believe I visited in this manner most of the wild and
desolate regions both in England and