Still no one issued; instead, something which the nearest could not catch was said, and a tall lady, closely hooded, stepped stiffly out and pointed to the house.

On which the landlord and two or three servants hurried in; and all was expectation.
The men were out again in a moment, bearing a great chair, which they set with nicety at the door of the carriage.

This done, the gapers saw what they had come to see.

For an instant, the face that all England knew and all Europe feared--but blanched, strained, and drawn with pain--showed in the opening.

For a second the crowd was gratified with a glimpse of a gaunt form, a star and ribbon; then, with a groan heard far through the awestruck silence, the invalid sank heavily into the chair, and was borne swiftly and silently into the house.
Men looked at one another; but the fact was better than their fears.