At one o'clock in the morning, Guenaud had administered the last remedy.

This was a relic of the old customs of that fencing time, which was about to disappear to give place to another time, to believe that death could be kept off by some good secret thrust.

Mazarin, after having taken the remedy, respired freely for nearly ten minutes.

He immediately gave orders that the news should be spread everywhere of a fortunate crisis.

The king, on learning this, felt as if a cold sweat were passing over his brow;--he had had a glimpse of the light of liberty; slavery appeared to him more dark and less acceptable than ever.