But, my son"--and he took the dauphin
upon his knee, and looked down into his face tenderly--"you are
still a child, and might forget. You have heard what I have said,
but as an oath is more sacred than a word, raise your hand and swear
to me you will fulfil my wish and forgive all our enemies."
The boy, turning his great blue eyes fixedly on the king, and his
lips trembling with emotion, raised his right hand, and even the
officials in the next room could distinctly hear the sweet child's
voice repeating the words: "I swear to you, papa king, that I will
forgive all our enemies, and will do no harm to those who are going
to kill my dear father!"
A shudder passed through the hearts of the men in the next room;
they drew back from the door with pale faces. It seemed to them as
if they had heard the voice of an angel, and a feeling of
inexpressible pain and regret passed through their souls.
Within the king's room all now was still, and the abbe in the
cabinet heard only the gentle murmuring of their prayers, and the
suppressed weeping and sobs.
At last the king spoke. "Now, go, my dear ones. I must be alone. I
need to rest and collect myself."
A loud wail was the answer. After some minutes, Clery opened the
glass door, and the royal family were brought into the view of the
officials once more.
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