The King's Esquires; or, The Jewel of France, by George Manville Fenn. 

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This excellent book is, as always with this author, a constantsuccession of tense moments. 

Dated at the beginning of the 1500s, the action starts in the Court ofthe King of France. He is fretting because at some time in the past, when the English ruled part of France, one of the French Crown Jewels, abeautiful ruby, was taken from France and put among the English CrownJewels. So Francis, the King, decides on going to England on a visit tothe English King, the young Henry the Eighth, finding out where thejewel is, purloining it before leaving, and restoring it to its placeamong his own Crown Jewels. This all goes pretty well, except that KingHenry notices that the jewel is missing, and a chase is made after them. 

They are all brought back, but no jewel is to be found. So eventuallythey return to France, where to the amazement of all it turns out thatthey were successful in their mission, and they really did manage tobring back the famous ruby. 

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THE KING'S ESQUIRES; OR, THE JEWEL OF FRANCE, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. 

OR, THE JEWEL OF FRANCE. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

HOW YOUNG DENIS KEPT GUARD. 

His Most Christian Majesty King Francis the First had a great preferencefor his Palace of Fontainebleau among the many places of residence fromwhich he could choose, and it is interesting to glance into thatmagnificent palace on a certain afternoon in the year 151--. In aspecial apartment, from which direct access could be obtained to theguard chamber, where a detachment of the favourite musketeers of theKing of France was on duty, and which also communicated with themonarch's private apartments, a youth, nearly a man but not quite wasimpatiently striding up and down. He stopped every now and then toglance out of the low window, from which a view could be obtained overthe great Forest of Fontainebleau, where Philip Augustus in the olddays, centuries before, loved to go hunting. It seemed as though to theyoung man there was a chafing disquietude in the silence, the inaction, of the afternoon, when the inmates of the palace, like the inhabitantsof the tiny little white town, retired to rest for a time in order to beready for the evening, when life began to be lived once more. 

It was a very handsome chamber in which the young man was evidencing aspecies of disquietude, as of awaiting the coming of somebody, or asummons. As he stopped once in his feverish pacing up and down, amassive clock was heard to strike three. Rich mats lay on the polishedfloor, and the _salon_ was so lofty that high-up it seemed almost greydusk by contrast with the bars of sunshine which came through thewindow. 

From outside there came the challenging clarion note of a trumpet. 

"Changing guard, " he muttered, "already!" And then he fell to thinkingof other things, for there was beneath the thud of horses' feet, thebaying of a dog and a loud shout. 

He turned away from the window at last and tapped the dark arras withwhich the walls were draped. 

He was a tall, dark-eyed, well-made lad, looking handsome enough in hisrich velvet doublet, evidently one who spent a large part of his time inthe open air, in the chase, or perhaps in sterner work still. 

"How much danger?" he murmured, and he went to one side of the room, raising the heavy folds of a curtain which concealed a door, andlistening intently a minute, before dropping the drapery and thenimpatiently springing on to a chair. The chair stood before a long, narrow, slit-like window, and from it likewise there was little to beseen but forest, all deep green and silent, and a strip of blue sky. Hesprang down again with a sigh, crossed to the other side of the chamber, lifted the curtain again, opened a door, and looked out, before closingthe door, dropping the curtain, and resuming his restless walk, as ifsaying, "What shall I do with myself?" Somehow the answer seemed tocome to that question, for he suddenly clapped his hand to its side, drew a long, thin, triangular-bladed sword from its sheath, andadmiringly and caressingly examined the beautiful chased and engravedopen-work steel hilt and guard, giving it a rub here and there with hisdark velvet sleeve. Then he crossed to the great open carvedmantelpiece, took hold of the point of the sword, passing the blade overso that the hilt rested beyond his right shoulder; and, using the keenpoint as a graver, he marked-out, breast high upon one of the supportersof the chimney-piece, which happened to be a massive half-nude figure, the shape of a heart--the figure being about four inches in diameter. Apparently satisfied with his work, he drew back a few feet, turned uphis right sleeve, and grasping his rapier by the handle, made the thinblade whistle as he waved it through the air and dropped gracefully atonce into position, as if prepared to assault or receive an enemy, theenemy being the dark oak, chipped and much rubbed, semi-classic figure, the work of some wood-carver of a hundred years before, and whose grimaspect was rendered grotesque by the want of a nose. The next minutethe polished floor gave forth sounds of softly shuffling feet, andstamps, as the lad, page or esquire, and evidently for the time guardianof the ante-chamber, began to fence and foin, parry and guard, every nowand then delivering a fierce thrust in the latest Italian fashion rightat the marked-out heart upon the grim figure's breast. It was warmwork, for the lad put plenty of spirit and life into his efforts, andbefore long his clear, broad forehead and the sides of a rather aquilinenose began to glisten with a very slight dew. But the efforts werequite unsuccessful, bringing forth softly uttered ejaculations ofimpatience as the keen point of the rapier stuck into the solid woodabove, below, to the right and left, never once within the ellipsetraced out to represent a heart. But evidently under the belief thatpractice makes perfect, and regardless of coming shortness of breath, the lad kept on thrusting away, so intent upon his work that he did notbear the faint smothered click as of a latch behind him, nor note awhite hand from one of whose fingers glistened dully the stone _encabochon_ of a big ruby ring. 

This hand looked thin and ghastly against the dark curtain which itgrasped and held on one side for some minutes, while its owner, hiddenby the arras, seemed to be watching the sword-play of the lad. Thiswent on vigorously as ever even when the tapestry was lightly brushedaside and a rather short, keen-looking, grizzled-bearded man appeared, in square black velvet cap and long gown, which half hid a closelyfitting black velvet doublet and silken hose. He was armed, accordingto the custom of the time, with a long rapier balanced by a stiletto athis girdle, and as he dropped the curtain, his hands moved as ifinvoluntarily to these occupants of his belt and rested there. It wasnot a pleasant face that watched the sword-play, for the wrinklestherein were not those of age, but deeply marked all the same. 

They showed, fan-like, in two sets of rays at the corners of his eyes, and curiously about the corners of his mouth and beside his nose, as ifhe were about to laugh, the sort of laugh that one would give whoenjoyed seeing a fellow-creature in pain; while his dark right eyeseemed to glow beneath the grey shaggy brow, at one moment in a strangefiery way, while the next, as its owner made some slight movement, itliterally flashed as if sending forth scintillations of light, giving tohis countenance a weird, strange aspect, emphasised by the peculiarfixed stare of his left optic, which suggested that it was doing thefixed, quiet, patient work of its master, while the other searched andflashed and sought for fresh subjects upon which its fellow might gaze. Whatever value such a pair of eyes might be to their possessor, they hadone great drawback, and that was that they caused distrust in a strangerwho met him for the first time, making him involuntarily feel that thisman must be having him at a disadvantage, for it was as if one eye heldhim in play and took up his attention, while that other with its strangefixed stare searched him through and through. 

His was not a pleasant smile, and there were people about the Court whosaid sinister things about Master Leoni, the King's physician, and whowould not have taken a dose of his medicine even to save their lives, for he had acquired a bad name, and Saint Simon had once half laughinglysaid:

"He knows too much about poisons to please me. "

It was no wonder, then, that taking into consideration his quiet andunexpected approach, and the grim aspect of his face, the fencing ladshould, when he became aware of his presence, give a violent start andslightly change colour, his exercise-flushed face turning for the momentpale. It was just after one of his most vigorous attacks upon thesupporter of the great mantelpiece, one which ended in a reallysuccessful thrust delivered with a suppressed "Ha, ha!" followed by adull thud, and a tug on the lad's part to extricate the point of hissword from its new sheath, quite a couple of inches being firmly thrustinto the hard old wood right in the centre of the marked-out heart. 

"Humph! At last!" said the watcher, as the boy faced round. "You won'tkill many of the King's enemies, Master Denis, if you can't do betterwork than that. "

"What!" cried the boy, flushing. "You've been watching?"

"Of course, I watch everything, " said the other, smiling. "That's theway to learn. You must watch, too, my boy--good fencing masters--andlearn how to parry and thrust. It's of no use to carry a fine bladelike that if you don't master its use. Some day you may have to draw itto defend the King, and aim its point perhaps at an assassin's heart;and that will be a harder target to hit than that motionless mark. Youseem to have drawn upon the King's furniture to the great damage of thecarving. Denis, my lad, you ought to be able to handle a sword tobetter purpose than that. Why, even I, old man as I am, who have notheld a blade in my hand this many a year, could make a better show. "

"At binding up wounds perhaps, " said the boy scornfully. 

"Ay, and making of them too. --His Majesty is not in his chamber, Isuppose?"

"Yes, he is, " said the lad shortly; "asleep. "

"Soundly, then, or the noise you made must have aroused him. Go and seeif he is yet awake. I want to see him. "

The boy frowned, and gave a tug at his weapon, which refused to leavethe wood. 

"Gently, my lad, " said the doctor. "That is a very beautiful weapon, too good to spoil, and if you use it like that you will snap off thepoint, or drag the blade from the hilt. "

"But it is in so fast, " cried the lad impatiently, and he pulled withall his might, his anger gathering at being dictated to and taught. 

"Let me, " said the doctor, raising one hand; and the lad resented theoffer for the moment, but on second thoughts gave way. 

"Perhaps you will find it as hard as I do, " he said, with a malicioussmile. 

"Perhaps I shall, " said his elder; "but I should like to try. Sometimes, my boy, the _tactus eruditus_ will succeed when main forcefails. "

"I wish you wouldn't talk Latin, " said the boy impatiently, and hesnatched his hand from the sword-hilt, leaving it vibrating and swayingup and down where it stuck in the wood. 

"Worse and worse, " said the doctor quickly, as he caught it by theguard. "Why, Denis, you don't deserve to possess a blade like that. There, " he continued, as, apparently without an effort, he drew therapier from its imprisonment and handed it back to the owner. "There;sheathe your blade, and if his Majesty is awake, tell him that I beg anaudience. "

"And if he is asleep?" said the lad. 

"Let him rest, " replied the other, with a smile. "Let sleeping--kingslie. They are always better tempered, my lad, when they have restedwell. Take that as being the truth from an old philosopher, Denis, myboy, and act accordingly. You and I don't want to lose our headsthrough offending the master we serve. "

"I don't, " cried the boy sharply. 

"Nor I, " said the doctor, with a smile that was more unpleasant thanever. "There, go softly. "

"Yea, I'll go, " said the lad; "but I am sure he's asleep. "

"If he is, make haste back and while I wait till his Majesty has endedhis afternoon nap, suppose I give you one of my prescriptions on theproper way to use a sword. "

"But will you?" cried the lad eagerly, his whole manner changing. 

"To be sure I will. There was a time when I used to fence, and hadsometimes to wound or take life to save my own. But of late years mywork has been to heal. "

The lad nodded sharply, rested his left hand upon the hilt of his nowsheathed sword, drew aside the arras to the right of the fireplace, andpassed through the door that faced him, one which closed behind him witha soft click. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

A FENCING LESSON. 

"Pert--impudent--all over the young courtier, " said the doctorthoughtfully; "but I like the boy for his father's sake. Yes, all thatwas good and true. Now then, what will he say to me this time? I movedhim a little yesterday, and I think that his love of adventure will makehim think well of my proposals. "

He stood thoughtful for a few moments, bent of form and dreamy of eye. Then with a sudden movement he drew himself up quick and alert, andlooking ten years younger, as he swung back his long gown from hisshoulders, grasped his rapier by the sheath, brought round his righthand to the hilt, and drew forth a glistening blade, to hold it at arm'slength, quivering in the rays of light which came athwart the room fromthe high-up narrow window. Then falling into position, his whole bodyseemed to glide forward following the blade, as he made a thrust in themost effortless way, the point of his weapon passing into the hole madea few minutes earlier by the young esquire; and he was in the act ofdrawing it forth to thrust again, when the arras to his right wasplucked aside and the boy stood before him. 

"What, you trying!" he cried. 

"Yes. --But the King?"

"Asleep, and he will not awaken for an hour yet. No one can hear us, "continued the lad eagerly. "Do give me a fencing lesson, Master Leoni. I remember how Saint Simon once said that you were the finest swordsmanabout the Court. "

"Did he say that?" said the doctor quietly. 

"To be sure he did, " cried the lad, drawing his sword and puttinghimself on guard. --"Come on. "

"Better not now, " said the doctor. "We may awaken the King. "

"Don't I tell you he's fast asleep?"

"Yes; but the guard may hear. "

"Not they; and what matter if they did? Now then; shall I attack you?"

"Yes, " said the doctor quietly. "Would you like a place marked-out uponmy chest?"

"There, now you are mocking at me. "

"Yes: I was. "

"Well, you shall attack. But had I better get some buttoned swords? Ishouldn't like to hurt you, sir. "

"I'll take care you do not, " said the doctor quietly; "and there will beno need, for I will not hurt you. "

The lad coloured slightly as the thought flashed through him that heshould like to humble the other's confidence and pride. The next momenthe was looking on, half astonished, as his adversary slipped off hislong robe-like gown and stood before him in his tight doublet and hose, upright, keen, and active as a man of half his years, ready to fall intoposition the next moment and challenge him to come on. 

The lad required no second invitation, for, calling up all he knew offencing, he crossed swords and attacked vigorously, with the sensationthe next moment that he had received a sharp jerk of the wrist as hisrapier described a curve in the air and the doctor leaped up, making asnatch with his left hand, and catching it by the middle of the blade asit fell, to hold it to its owner with a smile. 

"Bad, " he said. "Don't let me do that again. "

"You can't, " cried the lad defiantly, as, tingling with annoyance, heattacked once more, to feel his adversary's blade seem as if endowedwith snake-like vitality, and twine round his own, which then twitchedand fell with a sharp jingle upon the oaken boards. 

"Oh, " cried the lad impatiently, "I can't fence a bit! But tell me, doctor; is there any--no, absurd--stuff! I don't believe in magic. I'dgive anything, though, if you would teach me how to do that. "

"You must learn to fence first, my boy, and work hard. I did not learnto do that in one lesson. Now attack again, and keep a good grip ofyour hilt. There, come on. "

"No, not now, sir, " said the boy huskily. "This has made me hot andangry, and one ought to be cool when handling pointed weapons. Ishouldn't like to hurt you, sir. "

"Neither should I, my lad, " said the doctor calmly; "but you need notfear doing that. Come on, I tell you. There, I'm not speakingboastingly, Denis, my lad. I am no master of fence, but I can doprecisely what I please with your weapon, disarm you at every encounter, or turn your point whichever way I choose. There: you see. " Fornettled by his words, and in a futile effort to prove that they wereuntrue, the lad attacked sharply once again, made about a dozen passes, to find himself perfectly helpless in his adversary's hands, and at laststopped short, lowered his point to the floor, and stood with both handsresting on the hilt. 

"You are right, sir, " he said. "It's horrible. I thought I could; butI can't fence a bit. "

At that moment there was a sharp click of the outer door, and the doctorhurriedly began to sheathe his rapier, but not quickly enough for hisaction to be unseen. The arras was thrown aside, and a tall handsomeyoung cavalier strode into the ante-chamber and stopped short inastonishment. 

"Words and wonder!" he cried. "A duel? or young Denis defending hisMajesty from an attempted assassination on the part of Master Leoni witha sword instead of physic?"

"Does it ever occur to you, Saint Simon, that your tongue runs at timessomewhat too fast?" said the doctor coldly. 

"Oh yes, often, " was the laughing reply; "but it's a habit it has. Whathave I interrupted, though?"

"Master Leoni was giving me a fencing lesson, Saint Simon, " cried thelad eagerly. 

"Then you are the luckiest fellow at Court, " cried the new arrival. "Why was I not here? There, pray go on, and let me stand by and learn. "

CHAPTER THREE. 

HIS MAJESTY. 

Denis glanced at the doctor, grasping his hilt tightly the while, andready to spring into position for a fresh encounter; but at the samemoment he noted the change which came over his adversary, who from beingtense, erect and active, suddenly seemed to grow limp of body, thoughhis face was more animated than ever. He hung his head till his chinrested upon his chest, his eyes literally flashed, and he gazed upthrough his bushy brows at the young courtier who had just joined them, while for answer to his request he slowly finished sheathing his rapierand then took his heavy gown from where he had thrown it upon a chair, and held it out to Denis. 

"Help me, " he said. "I am growing old and stiff. "

The lad looked at him wonderingly as he recalled the marvellous activityof a few minutes earlier, and then helped his instructor to resume hisgarment. 

"What!" cried Saint Simon warmly. "You will not go on? Why, doctor, Iwant to learn. "

The doctor gave him a peculiar, double sinister look, and said, with hisunpleasant smile playing about his thin lips:

"The time to bend and train the wand is while it is young and green. You, sir, have grown too old and tough and stubborn to learn. "

"At five and twenty?" cried the young man, flushing. 

"Yes, at five and twenty. The soil of a court makes a tree old beforeits time, and--hark! Did I not hear his Majesty ring?"

"Yes, " cried Denis quickly, and hurriedly smoothing his hair, which hungloose from his late exertions, and then, readjusting his doublet andseeing to the hang of his sword, he hurried through the arras, those whowaited hearing the click of the door latch as he passed into the King'schamber. 

"You don't like me, doctor, " said Saint Simon, as soon as they werealone. 

"I don't dislike you, " said the other, smiling. "Have I ever treatedyou as an enemy?"

"No; but--"

"Hist!" whispered the doctor, as voices were heard beyond the hangings;the door fastening clicked again, and the lad appeared, carrying himselfin stiff and formal fashion. 

"Gentlemen, " he said, "enter. His Majesty will give you audience. "

"Both? Together?" said the doctor. 

"Yes. His Majesty asked who waited. I told him, and he bade me showboth in. "

"There, doctor, " said Saint Simon; "it is not my doing, so don't visitthis upon my head. I daresay he will soon send me away. "

Then, following their young escort, the two men stepped into thedarkened chamber where his Majesty, heavy-eyed, as if he was hardly yetawakened from sleep, lolled back in a short fur-trimmed robe in thecorner of a couch, his left hand behind his neck, his right resting uponthe shaggy head of a huge boar-hound which glanced suspiciously at thenew-comers and uttered a deep muttering growl. 

The King's fingers closed tightly upon the animal's ear, and he gave ita jerk. 

"Quiet, Tonnerre!" he said. "Can't you see they are friends?"

_Ugh_! grunted the dog. 

"Brute!" cried the King. "You see, gentlemen, he seeks the company ofthe wild boar so much that he has acquired his uncouth expressions. Well, Saint Simon, you want to see me?"

"Always, your Majesty, " said the young man lightly. "You told me towait upon you this afternoon. "

"Did I? Well, I don't know that I want you. But to return yourcompliment, the place seems dull when you are not here. "

The young man smiled and darted a triumphant glance at thesaturnine-looking doctor, before turning to give Denis a look, his eyessparkling with pleasure the while. 

"And you, Leoni, " said the King, yawning. "Tut, tut!" he addedimpatiently. "I am hardly awake. I was tired, gentlemen. Tonnerre andhis brother here led us such a race yesterday that I feel it yet. Well, Leoni, what do you want?"

"Your Majesty told me that I might come and continue our little debateof yesterday--"

"To be sure, yes, " said the King, yawning again. "Let me see; it was asort of historical, half prophetic discourse, very learned and hard fora hunting man to understand, about the past and the future, and thesafety of my throne, and its depending upon the recovery of a certainmystic stone carried off--carried off--let me see, Leoni, who did yousay carried it off?"

"The enemy and invader of your country, your Majesty: Henry, the EnglishKing. But, your Majesty--" The doctor ceased speaking and turnedslowly, to let his eyes rest meaningly upon the two young men in turn. 

"Eh? What? You mean this is secret, and not for other ears?"

The two young men made a quick movement as their eyes sought the King's, and mutely asked the question:

Your Majesty wishes us to go?

"My liege, what I communicated was of the gravest import to you andyours, meant for your ears alone. "

"To be sure, Leoni, but kings need very long ears indeed to take in allthat concerns them--and have them too, sometimes, my learned doctor, asI have no doubt you men of wisdom think. But to be serious; I find Icannot hear all I want for myself, and am glad to have the help of otherears that I can trust. You are suspicious, my good old friend. "

"No, your Majesty: cautious in your service. Years of experience havetaught me to trust no one in your Majesty's service but myself. "

"Ah, but you are not a king. Where should I be if I trusted none?"

The doctor bowed. 

"There, you see, I trust you; and what is more, I trust these two boysas thoroughly as anyone at Court. You know, old friend, that there arehundreds here who will say they would die for me. Now, those two ladswould not say such a thing to save their lives. "

"Your Majesty!" cried the two young courtiers, in the same tone ofprotest. 

"Well, " said the King, smiling; "I am right. I believe you would eitherof you die to save me, and without saying word. "

The pair drew back, smiling and satisfied, each glancing at the doctoras much as to say, Do you hear that?

"There, " said the King, "I trust you all; so now go on, Leoni, and saywhat you have to say; and, boys, mind this; we are in secret conclavenow. There must be no chattering afterwards, or discussion. "

"Your Majesty commands, " said the doctor gravely. "Shall I continuefrom where we left off yesterday?"

"No; let's have it all again. My gallop yesterday through the forestgave me so much to do in managing a fiery horse and keeping him frombreaking my neck amongst the boughs as he carried me into so many realdangers, that all your imaginary notions were swept away. Let's have itall again. "

The doctor bowed. 

"It will save me, " said the King, "from making only a half confidence tomy young friends here. But be brief. Put it if you can into a fewwords. You in your studies and porings over black books are convinced--of what?"

"That your Majesty's throne and succession--"

"Well, really, Leoni, I don't know that I care much about thesuccession. But my throne is not a safe seat unless--"

"Unless, your Majesty, that half sacred mystic balas ruby that wascarried off by Henry of England is brought back and restored to itsplace in the French Crown. "

"Yes, that's it, " said the King. "I remember all now. But do youbelieve, Leoni, as a man who has long studied the secrets of nature, andthe mysteries of life, that there can be such virtue in precious stonesthat they can influence our lives?"

"Yes, your Majesty, " said the doctor solemnly; "and everything goes toprove it the wide world through; amongst the greatest and most civiliseddown to the most savage nations these talismanic gems have beenpreserved and treasured up. Prosperity and safety of life have alwaysaccompanied their possession; misfortune and destruction their loss. "

"Well, " said the King thoughtfully, "I don't think that I believe it. It sounds to me like an old woman's tale. "

"If your Majesty would read and study the history of the past--"

"I haven't time, " said the King. "But look here; do you mean to tell methat this present Henry--what is he--the Eighth?--of England believesall this?"

"Yes, your Majesty, and proves it by treasuring up the ruby that byright is yours. "

"Then you think that the holding of this stone, reft from our crown, hadsomething to do with the hold of these English upon our fair domains ofFrance?"

"Certainly, your Majesty, and moreover, I hold that it is your sovereignduty to restore it to its place. "

"How?" said the King, and his eyes rested upon those of the two youngmen, whose intent and watchful faces told how they were drinking in withintense interest the subject that was being discussed. 

"That, your Majesty, " said the doctor gravely, "is what I am here tourge upon you. "

"But what do you want, man?" cried the King impatiently. "If Henry ismore wise than I, and believes in all this mystic stuff, is it likelythat he will give me back this talisman, as I suppose you would call it, that his ancestors plundered from our crown?"

"No, your Majesty. Efforts have been made by statesmen of the past, inprevious reigns, to get the jewel back, but all in vain. "

"Very well, " said the King impatiently; "and France seems to have got onvery well without it. We are at peace with England. Why should Idisturb our friendly brotherly intercourse by raking up the past? I amquite content and happy to enjoy my hunting pursuits. Do you want me togo to war, invade England, and bring the jewel back?"

"Far from it, your Majesty. "

"Then why disturb the pleasant present?"

"For fear of a troubled future, Sire. It is to ensure your long andprosperous reign that I speak like this. Believe me, Sire, I have noother aim. "

"Well, Leoni, I believe your words. You have a good position here atCourt, and a good master ready to give you anything in reason; andbelieve me, I want to enjoy a quiet prosperous reign. Mine is a verypleasant life. There are plenty of boars to kill, and I would ratherslay them than Englishmen. War is very attractive and very grand. Theclash of arms, the trumpets' bray, and the thunder of chargers' hoofs, all thrill me to the core; but I prefer it in the tourney, the mimiccharge, and I don't much care for blood. But you as a wise andthoughtful man, you tell me that I ought to stir in this and get theruby back?"

"I do, Sire, " said Leoni sternly. 

"Well, well, then I suppose it must be done. "

The dog gave a sharp growl and showed his teeth. 

"What, sir!" roared the King, snatching back his hand to grasp thedagger in his girdle. "Do you dare to turn upon your lord?"

"No, no, Sire, " cried Denis excitedly. "It was not his fault. "

"What do you mean, sir?" said the King angrily. 

"You were pulling his ears so hard, Sire, and dragging his head to andfro. "

"Was I?" said the King. 

"Yes, Sire. He bore it as long as he could. "

"Poor old Tonnerre!" said the King, clapping his hand upon the dog'shead again; and the dog whined with pleasure at the caress. "I wasgrowing excited, I suppose. Well, never mind the hound. Now then, Leoni; we must have this ruby back?"

"Yes, Sire. I shall never rest till I see it safely in the ancientcrown. "

"And I suppose I must say the same, " said the King. "But how is it tobe done? There: speak. You have studied all this out, I suppose? Howis it to be done?"

"By a trusty mission to England, Sire. "

"Absurd! I am sure King Henry would never give anything up. "

"And I, Sire. He must be forced. "

"Send force?"

"No, Sire. The force must be that of one strong, daring envoy who wouldseize upon the gem and bring it back. "

"What, steal?" cried the King. 

"Can one steal that which is one's own, Sire?"

"True. No, " said the King. "This is ours by right. "

"Your Majesty speaks well, " said the doctor triumphantly. "This gembelongs to France's ancient crown, from which it was wrenched, plundered, stolen, carried away as spoil. And now it must berecovered. "

"Openly, " said the King. 

"No, Sire. That means war. My plan is that you should send a trustedenvoy to watch his opportunity, seize the gem or gems, and bring themback. "

"Hah!" ejaculated Denis, in the excitement of the moment; and SaintSimon turned upon him sharply, and with a resentful look which wasreturned. 

"But it means a deal, " said the King thoughtfully. "That ambassadorwould risk his life. "

"Hah!" ejaculated Saint Simon, giving vent to his suppressed excitementin his turn; and Denis now gave him back his resentful jealous look. 

"Yes, Sire, " continued Leoni; "the envoy would risk his life, ofcourse--in the service of his King. But there are men who would do thisfor their master's sake, to ensure his long and peaceful reign. "

"And if he fails?" said the King. 

"He would not fail, Sire. He would be carried forward by the knowledgethat he was fighting in the cause of right and duty towards the masterthat he loved. Have no fear of that, Sire. He would succeed. "

"But I have fear, " cried the King. "Find me such a man as that, and Ishould look upon him as a treasure whose life I would not risk. "

"There would be no risk, Sire. It would be a question not of force butguile. He would make his way to the Court of your brother of England ina way which I have planned. "

"With recommendations from me?"

"Perhaps, Sire. I have not settled that. "

"No, " said the King angrily. "Why, man, when the gems were missed, thetheft would be laid at my door. I would sooner march my people acrossEnglish ground and take them honestly by force. "

"That could not be done, Sire. Leave that to me. Your messenger mustgo, and carry out his ambassage by guile. "

"And who is to be the man?" asked the King. 

"I!" cried Denis, springing forward, to sink upon one knee beforeFrancis, and so suddenly as to rouse the dog, which leaped towards him, barking furiously. 

"You, my boy!" cried the King. 

"No, Sire, " cried Saint Simon excitedly, following Denis's example, tospring to the King's feet. "I will go. It is work for a man grown, notfor a puny boy. "

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the King merrily. "Quiet, Tonnerre! Quiet!" Forthe great hound, roused by the excitement, was filling the chamber withhis deep-toned bay, his eyes glaring redly, and his glistening whitefangs bared, as he gazed in his master's face as if asking for orders asto whom he should seize by the throat and pin. 

"Down, sir!" cried the King again. "Quiet! There, Leoni, was I notright in letting these boys share our confidence? Who says that Francisof Valois has not followers in whom he can trust?"

"Not I, Sire, " said the doctor grimly; "but this is no work for them. "

"Not for Denis here, " cried Saint Simon excitedly, "but, your Majesty, for me. I would strike, and strike now. Mine be the task to do ordie!"

"Silence, boy!" cried the King, laying his hand on Denis's head as hedumbly looked up at him in protest, his eyes appealing the while thathis monarch's favour should be awarded to him alone. "No, no;emphatically no! Neither of you will go alone. You hear, boys? I willnot send you on this quest. "

Francis turned to Leoni as he spoke, and the doctor bowed his head inacquiescence. 

"Yours are the words of wisdom, Sire, " he said. "The work is not forsuch as these--these two gallant followers of their King. "

"Who then is to follow out the task?" said Francis. "For I like itwell, and it must and shall be done. You hear me, Leoni? I have spokennow, and I will not rest, since you have roused me to this task, untilthis jewel glistens once more in its rightful place above my kinglycrown. "

"Spoken like the King of France!" cried the doctor, drawing himself up. "And now, Sire, it will be done. "

"By whom?" cried Francis sternly. 

"By your servant, Sire, who has dwelt upon this for years, thought outand nurtured the plans until the fruit is ripe. By the man whopossesses the energy, the guile, and the determination to serve hismaster in this great duty to his King. "

"And who is that man?" cried Francis, rising to his feet and standingproudly before his three courtiers kneeling before him; for as heuttered his next words Leoni sank in turn upon one knee and bent hishead, to say in a low deep tone, almost a whisper, but which seemed tofill the silence of the place:

"I, Sire--your faithful servant. I am that man. "

The silence for the next few moments was profound, while a cloud thathad eclipsed the sun for some time past floated slowly from before theglowing orb, which poured its full beams through the gorgeous panes ofthe stained-glass windows of the chamber, and flooded the standingmonarch with its glowing light as he made reply. His words were quick, sharp, and decisive, and fell upon the listeners like a thunderbolt, stunning them for a moment with the astonishment they felt; but theywere only these:

"Neither are you the man to carry out this quest. I will go myself. "

CHAPTER FOUR. 

THE DOCTOR'S EYES. 

For some moments the trio remained kneeling and staring up at the Kingin absolute wonderment; for in a few brief words he had swept away, asby the touch of a magician's wand, the gathering feeling of jealousannoyance which was forming in each breast. Leoni was the first to findthe use of his tongue; but it was in a hesitating way quite foreign tohis usual speech that he faltered out:

"You go, Sire?"

"Yes, I said so, " said the King sharply. 

"But it is impossible, Sire. You could not stoop to do such a thing asthis. "

"Then what's the use of being a king, " cried Francis, "if one cannot dowhat one likes?"

Leoni slowly rose to his feet and shrugged his shoulders. 

"That is a question I cannot answer, Sire. It forms part of the schemeof life. I have lived fifty years in the world, thirty of which havebeen spent in thinking and in study of my fellows. I never met one manyet who could do exactly as he liked. "

"Well, if you come to that, " said the King, "I don't think that I everdid; but I mean to do this all the same. "

"But how could you, Sire? If the King of England chose to play youfalse he might throw you into prison. "

"What!" cried Francis hotly. 

"And hold you to ransom, Sire. "

"Ah! I didn't think of that; but if he did it would give young Denis achance to come and rescue me. You would, wouldn't you, boy?"

"Yes, Sire, or die in the attempt. "

"Don't you be so fond of talking about dying, " cried the King. "Whowants to die? Here, with all France at my feet, one wants to live andenjoy oneself. But let's see, Leoni; that wouldn't do at all. What'sto be done?"

"Your Majesty will have to stay at Fontainebleau and let your servant dothis duty, as he has said. "

"No!" shouted the King. "I told you I would go myself. "

"With a powerful following, Sire, " cried Saint Simon, giving Leoni atriumphant look. "Let me choose and lead your bodyguard. "

Denis frowned and set his teeth hard in his annoyance at being passed inthe race by his companion; but he brightened directly on hearing theKing's next impatient words:

"Hang your bodyguard! Leoni is right. "

"Yes, Sire, " said that individual, just loud enough for the young man tohear. 

"This must be done with guile. "

Denis's eyes flashed. 

"Pardon, Sire, " he cried eagerly. "You might go in disguise. " And thenext moment the boy's heart swelled within his breast, for the Kingslapped him heartily on the shoulder. 

"Good!" he cried. "That's it! Do you hear, Leoni? That's the idea:I'll go in disguise. "

"Sire! It is impossible!" cried the doctor. 

"Quite, " said the King, laughing; "but I like doing impossible things. Let me see, what's the proper way to go to work? I have it! As alearned doctor like you. H'm, no. They'd want me to cure somebody, andI should be killing him perhaps. Here, Saint Simon, how should Idisguise myself?"

"Well, Sire, if I were going to undertake the task I should dress myselflike a--like a--like a--"

"Minstrel, Sire, " cried Denis excitedly, "like the English King Alfred. "

"Or Richard Coeur de Lion, " shouted Saint Simon, striving not to bebeaten in the race. 

"Here, hallo!" cried the King, "that won't do! I do know better thanthat. It was Richard's minstrel who went in disguise. "

"Yes, Sire, " cried Denis eagerly, while Leoni, with his eyelids nearlyclosed, glanced from one to the other with a look of contempt. 

"That will not do, " said the King gruffly. "There is no instrument thatI could play; but I must go as something. "

"Is your Majesty seriously determined to go in disguise?" said thedoctor. 

"Yes, old Wisdom. Now then, what do you propose?"

"I can only think of one way, Sire, and that is that I should go as whatI am--a doctor--a part, I believe, that I could worthily play. "

"Of course, " said the King. "There is not a better doctor in theworld. "

Leoni's eyes flashed, as he bowed his head gravely. 

"But you are not going, " said the King decisively. 

"No, Sire, unless your Majesty thought it wise that I should go, andtake you as my servant. "

"What!" shouted the King. 

"In disguise, of course, Sire. "

"That I won't!" cried the King. "Either in disguise or out of it. Bah!Pish! The idea is absurd. Go as your servant! Are you growing intoyour dotage, man?"

The two young men exchanged glances, brothers once again in combinationagainst their rival for the King's favour, who seemed to be coming tothe front and leaving them behind. 

"Pardon me, Sire, " said the doctor humbly. "I proposed that, as itseemed an easy way to achieve your ends. "

"I would sooner give up the project, Master Leoni, " said the Kinghaughtily. "Propose something else. "

The doctor spread his hands apart in the most self-abasing way, but theKing was not appeased. 

"Picture me, the eldest son of Holy Church, His Most Christian Majesty, masquerading as the servant of a leech! Have a care, Master Leoni. Youhave a way of handling a lancet and letting your patients' blood. Recollect that kings have a way too of treating patients so that theynever bleed again. "

"I am your Majesty's humble slave, " said Leoni, in low, deprecatingtones; but Denis noticed that there was no humility in the half veiledeyes as they were lowered to the ground; "You are forgiven, " said theKing. "But have a care. By the Faith! It brought the blood hotly tomy eyes! Now then, speak again. In what habit shall I go?"

There was silence in the chamber, broken the next moment by theimpatient trampling of the monarch's feet as he paced up and down, whilefor a time nobody ventured to speak. And then in his excitement lest heshould be supplanted, it was Denis who sprang into the gap. 

"I have a plan, Sire, " he cried. "Go as a powerful French noble, travelling to see the Courts of Europe, and--and--"

"Yes, go on, boy. That notion likes me well. "

"Your Majesty might take me as your esquire, or page, " added the boy, trembling lest he should have brought his master's wrath down burningupon his head. 

"Hah!" shouted the King, and for a moment the boy's heart sank, for theKing's hand came down upon his shoulder in a painful grip; but the nextmoment the sinking heart rose with a bound, his eyes flashed withexcitement, and for the life of him he could not keep from dartingtriumphant glances at his fellow-courtiers. "There, Master Leoni!There, Saint Simon! Who dares tell me we haven't got a young Solomon ofwisdom in our Court? Hear him! That's the very idea I had in my ownbreast, only I couldn't think it then. Yes, Denis, that's the plan, andwe will go at once. "

"But your Majesty will want other followers, " cried Saint Simonexcitedly. "I could--"

"Select a score of quarrelsome, fiery young blades like yourself, topick quarrels with the English courtiers and spoil our plans? No, sir;that will never do. "

"Oh!" groaned the young man, so despairingly that the King laughedmerrily. 

"Well, you're not a bad fellow, Saint Simon, and I might get into sometrouble and want the help of your sword as well as my own. Denis, boy, shall we take him with us?"

The lad flushed deeply at the "shall we?"

It was his moment of triumph. He was called upon to say yes or no, andhe turned his eyes, which flashed with pride, upon his elder companion, who gazed at him imploringly, and generosity prevailed. 

"Oh yes, Sire, " he cried. "He will be a splendid follower to have withus at such a time. "

"Then he shall come, " cried the King; and Saint Simon sprang forward tokiss his sovereign's hand, while as he rose he turned his eyes uponDenis, and the boy react in them, as it were, the extinction of rivalry, for they seemed to say, I shall never forget this. 

"Then that's about all, " cried the King, with a sigh of mingled reliefand content. 

"Sire, may your servant speak?" said Leoni humbly. 

"Yes. What is it?" was the impatient reply. 

"You are going into a strange country to encounter many perils. "

"Pooh! Adventures. "

"And adventures, " said Leoni--"and may meet with injuries, suffer inyour health. Would it not be wise to have the leech in your train?"

"My faith, no!" cried the monarch. "I know you of old, my plotting, scheming friend. You would be having me ill, stretched upon a pallet, within a week, and then it is the doctor who becomes the King. I thinkwe three can manage without your help; but I won't be forgetful of oldservices, and I'll trust you in this. There is no such scribe about theCourt as you, so you shall keep a chronicle of everything that happenshere while the cat's away, and read the record of the sporting of mymice to me on my return. I can trust you to see twice as much as anyother man about the Court, in your double-sighted way. "

"Double-sighted suggests duplicity, Sire, " said the doctor. 

"No, no; I don't mean that, " cried the King, "and you know it. If Ithought that you were guilty of duplicity, Leoni, do you think that Ishould trust you as I do? There, " he continued impatiently, "don't lookat me like that, man. It worries me. "

"It is my misfortune, Sire, not my intention. "

"Of course. I know; I know. But you look sometimes as if you werekeeping me in conversation with one eye, while the other was seeking howto take me at a disadvantage. "

"That's what people about the Court say, Sire, " said the doctor, with agrim smile. 

"Yes, I know, " replied the King. "I have heard Saint Simon say so. Ishouldn't have thought of it myself. But it is quite right, all thesame. "

"In appearance, Sire; but it is not true. "

The King laughed. 

"My dear doctor, yes, of course; I know that. Do you know what I layand thought once when I was ill?"

"No, Sire; but something wise, no doubt. "

"Bah! None of your subtle flattery. No one knows better than I do, Leoni, that I am not a clever man. What I lay and thought was that youhad studied your two crafts so well that one eye was the window fromwhich the clever doctor's brain looked out, the other that of the calm, quiet, thoughtful statesman. I should long to have two such eyes asyours, Leoni, only that there are the ladies, you know. I don't thinkthat they would approve, eh, doctor? What is your experience?"

"That your Majesty is quite right, " replied the other, with his cynicalsmile. "I have never been a ladies' man. "

CHAPTER FIVE. 

A KING AT SEA. 

"Well, boys, we are fairly started, " said the King, "but this vesselmoves about a great deal. I hope we are not going to have roughweather. "

"Well, I'm sorry to say, Sire--" began Saint Simon. 

"Ah!" cried the King, in a low angry voice. "Four days since westarted, and I have been giving you lesson after lesson, and you beginat once addressing me like that. Once more, both of you, I am the Comtede la Seine, on my travels, and you, Saint Simon, are my friend, andyou, Denis, my esquire. Now look here, Denis, do I look at all like aking now?"

"Not in the least, Comte. "

"And now you, Saint Simon; what have you got to say about the weather?"

"That I have been talking to the shipmaster, and he says the weather isgoing to be very fine--"

"That's good, " cried the King. 

"--but very windy. "

"That's bad, " said the King--"for the poor horses, " he added hastily. "I wish we had had them fastened up below. "

As he spoke he glanced forward at where, a good distance apart, threevery beautiful chargers were doubly haltered to the rail, and whinnyinguneasily and pawing at the deck, and then made an uneasy gesture, for apuff of wind filled out the two big sails of the clumsy vessel and madeit careen, so that the royal passenger made a snatch at a rope which washanging loose and gave to his touch, when he made another snatch andcaught at Saint Simon to save himself from falling. 

"A bad, a clumsy vessel!" he cried angrily. "Here, I'm tired with ourlong two days' ride. I think I'll go into the cabin and lie down. Giveme your arm, Denis. " And, steadying himself by the lad, he went below, lay down at once, and dismissed his attendant, who returned on deck, tobe met by Saint Simon. 

The two young men, gazed silently at each other, and with mirth in theireyes. 

"The sea doesn't respect kings, " said Saint Simon merrily. 

"Nor anybody else, " replied Denis; "so don't let us holloa till we areout of the wood. "

"You mean across the water. "

"Yes, " said Denis. "It may be our turn next. I wish we were over inEngland now. "

"What, are you afraid?" cried Saint Simon. 

"Yes--for my poor horse. I'm afraid of his breaking away. Look how heis straining at his halter, and how rough his coat is. It looked likesatin yesterday. If he broke loose what should we do?"

"Try to tie him up again, " said Saint Simon bluntly. "But if one getsloose the others will follow, and then--"

He stopped short and spread his legs as wide as he could, for the vesselwas beginning to dance in the chopping sea. 

"Well, and what then?" cried Denis. 

"Our wild-goose journey would be at end, for those horses would gooverboard as sure as we stand here. "

"What!" cried Denis excitedly. 

"What I have said. My charger is safe to make a dash for the side, andrise at it; and he'd go over like a skimming bird, and the others wouldfollow at once. "

He had hardly spoken when the skipper of the vessel, a heavy, sun-tanned-looking man in scarlet cap, high boots and petticoat, came upto them. 

"Look here, young masters, " he cried, "I don't often take cattle in myboat, and when I do I have them slung down into the hold. My deck isn'ta safe place for beasts, and if those three don't break loose beforelong I'm no shipman. "

"Then what is to be done?" cried Denis hurriedly. 

"If the--" He stopped short, for Saint Simon gave him a sharp jerk withhis elbow and continued his speech. 

"--Comte's horse were to be lost overboard he'd never forgive us. "

"No, " said Denis, recovering himself. "Look here, you have plenty ofropes. Call some of your men to help; we must put slip-knots roundabove their hoofs and tie them in different places, so that theycouldn't get away. "

"Yes, that's right, " said the skipper. "But won't they kick?"

"No, " replied Denis; "we can manage that if your men will help. "

No time was lost, for the need for doing something grew more and moreevident; and with the young men standing by to calm and caress eachbeautiful steed in turn, running nooses were placed round theirfetlocks, and the ropes' ends slipped through ring-bolt and roundbelaying pin, to be made fast, so that before half an hour had passedthe horses were thoroughly secured, and stood staring-eyed andshivering, ready to burst out into a piteous whinnying if the young menattempted to move away. 

It was a rough passage, growing worse hour after hour till nightfall, and the cares that had come upon them were so onerous that the two youngmen were too busy and excited to feel any qualms themselves. Not onlywere there the horses, but their companion below made no little callupon their attention, and in turn they descended into the rough cabin tosee what they could do. But the second time that Saint Simon approachedthe spot where his suffering sovereign lay he was ordered back. 

"Send Denis, " he said. "You go on deck again and mind that nothinghappens to my horse. "

"He's very ill, " said Saint Simon, who did not look at all sorry, butmore disposed to laugh, as he joined Denis, who was dividing hisattention among the three horses, and patting each in turn. 

"Then why did you leave him?"

"Because he wants you. He's ashamed to let me see how bad he is. "

"Is he so very ill then?" said Denis. 

"He thinks he is; but you had better make haste down. "

Denis hurriedly went below, to find that the sea entertained not theslightest respect for the stricken monarch, who uttered a low groan fromtime to time, and grew less king-like in his sufferings. 

"This is very bad, Denis, " he said, "and it doesn't seem fair. Why am Iill, and you going about as if we were on dry land?"

"I wish I could suffer for you, my master, " said the lad earnestly. 

"Thank you. That's very good, " said the King; "but unfortunately youcan't. Denis, my lad, it takes all the bravery out of a man when he islike this. Do you think the shipmaster would call it cowardly if I wereto send word for him to turn the vessel round and make sail back forHavre de Grace?"

"I don't think he would notice it, my--Comte, " said Denis earnestly;"but I don't think he could do it now. "

"Why?" cried the King. 

"Because the wind is growing stronger, and blowing hard from behind, driving us fast for the other coast; and even if he could turn we shouldnot get back. "

"No, " said the King. "But this is very horrible, Denis, my lad. --Arethe horses safe?"

"Yes, sir, quite. "

"Ah! that's right, " moaned the King. "Say sir, not Sire, on your life. "

_Boomp_! _Rush_!

"What's that?" cried the King, in a startled voice, sitting up, butfalling back with a groan. "Oh, how my head swims! Can you swim, Denis, boy?" he moaned. 

"Yes, sir; but no one could swim in a sea like this. "

_Boomp_! _Crash_! _Rush_!

"What's that, boy?" groaned the King again. "Why don't you tell me?Didn't I ask before?"

"It was a big wave, sir, leaping at the vessel's bows, and curling overand rushing along the deck. "

"How dreadful!" said the King. "Why is it so dark? Is it the seaflooding the ship?"

"No, sir; it is nearly night. "

"Oh yes, I forgot. I think I have been asleep. Are we almost there?"

"No, sir. It is a long way yet. "

"If I could only go to sleep! Why didn't I let that doctor come?Denis, my boy, if I die, or if we are drowned, or--go up and ask theshipmaster how long it will be before we get across. "

In no wise troubled by the pitching and tossing of the clumsy vessel, Denis climbed on deck; but it was some moments before he could make outwhere the captain stood, and then only by the help of one of the men, who pointed out the dim figure in the semi-darkness lightened by thefoam, standing beside the man at the rudder beam; and then it needed nolittle care to pass along, holding on by the bulwarks, to ask thequestion the lad was sent to bear. 

"How long, my lad?" said the skipper. "Oh, very soon. We are flyingacross to-night. This is the fastest run I can remember to have made. "

"But are we nearly there?"

"Nearly there! No, not halfway; but if the wind holds on like this weshall be across in time for dinner at noon to-morrow, and perhapsbefore. "

"So long as that?" cried Denis. 

"So soon as that, " said the skipper, laughing. "There, I see how it is. You are afraid--"

"I'm not!" cried Denis sharply. 

"Don't be in such a hurry, my lad. You don't give a man time to speak--about your horses, I was going to say. But they're all right. I haveanother rope passed from neck to neck, and as soon as the poor beastsfelt it it seemed to give them comfort, like being more in company. Don't you be afraid. They're noble animals, but not fit for work likethis. Go and see. "

Denis hurried to where Saint Simon was standing with the horses, drenched with spray, and growing impatient at his task. 

"Oh, there you are!" he cried. "Why didn't you come before?"

"I couldn't leave him. He sent me up to ask how soon we shall beacross. "

"Well?"

"The skipper says at noon to-morrow. "

"Not till then?" said Saint Simon. 

"No. "

"Well, I'm glad of it. Serve him right. It will finish this wild-goosechase and send him back quite satisfied, ready to settle down again. "

"I hope so, " said Denis. "How wet you are!"

"Yes, I don't mind now, " said Saint Simon. "It was very horrible atfirst, but I can't get any wetter, and that's some comfort after all. "

"I'd stop and keep guard myself so that you could go into shelter, " saidDenis; "but I must go down again to tell him what I have learned. Butwhy couldn't you go?"

"Because he sent you, and he'd be furious perhaps. There, go and tellhim. "

"Yes, I had better go, " said the lad thoughtfully; "but--I am sorry toleave you, all the same. "

"Hah! That makes me feel warm, " cried Saint Simon--"that and theknowledge that the horses can't get loose. There, go on down. Afterall, he's worse off than we. "

Denis crept along by the bulwarks till he could reach the cabin hatch, lowered himself down to where a vile-odoured lamp was swinging from thecabin ceil, and then, moving slowly, having hard work to keep his feet, he reached the spot where the suffering monarch lay, to find to hisgreat relief that Francis had sunk into a deep sleep, and was breathingheavily, leaving him nothing to do but sit down and watch. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

HOW TO LAND HORSES. 

It was a long and dreary night, full of suffering; but, like the worst, it slowly came to an end. The grey dawn began to creep through the dimskylight, grew stronger and brighter, and at last the sun arose, withthe King still sleeping profoundly, and Denis standing at the top of thecabin ladder, gazing out over a glorious foaming sea, all purple, orange, and gold, wide awake to the beauty of the scene, and ready towonder what had become of the horror and darkness of the night. 

There was a fresh breeze blowing and the sea was rough, but the clumsycraft rode more easily and had ceased to pitch and toss. Far ahead toothe sea looked smoother, and so Denis said to the rough-looking skipper, who came up with a nod and smile. 

"Only looks so, " he said, "because it is so far off. But the wind isgoing down, and in a couple of hours we shall be in smooth water. How'syour master?"

"Fast asleep still, " replied Denis. 

"Best thing for a man not used to the sea. Well, you see, we shall getyour horses over safely. Poor beasts! They are worse sailors than men. How are you? Feel as if you could eat some breakfast?"

"Yes, I'm getting horribly hungry. "

"That's right. You are the best sailor of the lot. There will be somein an hour's time. "

The skipper passed on, leaving Denis with a look of disgust upon hisfeatures, for he was thinking of the roughness of the common vessel uponwhich they had been obliged to take their passage, and the pleasant mealof which he would have eaten at Fontainebleau. 

Just then Saint Simon turned, caught sight of him, and signalled to himto come. Denis started, hesitated, and then ran down into the cabinagain to see whether the King had awakened. But far from it: he wasflat on his back and looking far from king-like, for his mouth was openand he was giving forth sounds which in a common person would have beencalled snores. 

Hurrying back to the deck, Denis ran forward, awakening to the fact thatthe sea was much smoother, for he could not have progressed like thatover-night. 

"Well, how are you?" he cried. 

"Beginning to get dry, " was the morose reply. "Look here, boy, if I hadknown that I was going to play horse-keeper all through a night likethis I wouldn't have volunteered to come. I shall want a week's sleepto put me straight. "

"Why didn't you ask one or two of the sailors to come and help you?"

"Why didn't you come and help me?"

"You know: because I was obliged to be in attendance on the--"

"Comte!" shouted Saint Simon. "You will be spoiling the expeditionbefore you have done. "

"Yes, it is hard work to remember. I am sorry, though, Saint Simon. You know that I would have come and helped you if I could. "

"Oh yes, I know, " said the other. "I couldn't trust anyone to help, forthe poor beasts knew me, and at the worst times a word or two and a paton the neck seemed to calm them, and they left off shivering with coldand fear; but I have had a night such as I don't want to have again. "

"You must have had. But the skipper says that we shall soon be insmooth water, and that there will be some breakfast in an hour. "

"Heugh!" ejaculated Saint Simon. "Breakfast here! I don't wantanything till we get on shore--if we ever do. Here, look behind you. "

Denis turned sharply, to see a familiar face in the full sunshinepeering over the edge of the hatchway and looking about, but apparentlynot seeing what was sought till a hand appeared to shade its owner'seyes, sending forth a flash or two of light from a ring upon one of thefingers. 

"Why, it's the--"

"Comte!" said Saint Simon quickly. "Stop here, and lay hold of hishorse. "

Saint Simon said no more, and Denis obeyed, grasping his companion'sreason, while the next minute the King had mounted to the deck, and cameforward to join them, after making a rush to the bulwarks and graspingthe rail. 

"Oh, you're here, gentlemen, " he said sharply. "Why was not somebody inattendance--oh, I see; you're minding our steeds. It has been a verybad night for them. Not injured, I hope?"

"No, sir, " replied Saint Simon; "but during the worst part of the stormwe had to have extra ropes. I was afraid at one time that we shouldlose them all. "

"But they are safe, " said the King, "thanks to you, gentlemen. Poorboys, " he continued, as he passed amongst the ropes, each charger inturn uttering a low, piteous whinny, and stretching out its muzzle toreceive the King's caress, each too snorting its satisfaction the nextmoment, and impatiently pawing the deck. 

"Morning, master!" cried the skipper, hurrying up. "Been a windy night, but it will be all smooth directly. Wind's veered round to the north, and coming off the shore. Sha'n't be getting on so fast now. "

"But these horses, " said the King; "they ought to have water and food. "

"Not they, master. They wouldn't touch it if you gave them of the best. They want to feel solid ground under their hoofs. "

"And how soon will they get that?" asked Denis quickly. 

"Two or three hours if the wind doesn't drop, " replied the skipper;"and, " he continued, as he held up his hand and shouted an order or twoto his men to stand by the sheets, "it's chopping round again to thesouth. Give us an hour like this, and we shall be in shelter, sailingbetween the island and the mainland. You can't say but what we have hada splendid run. "

There was such a quaint comical expression upon the King's countenancethat Denis felt obliged to swing swiftly round and bend down to makebelieve to loosen the slip-knot about his charger's leg. 

"If I hadn't done so, " he said afterwards to Saint Simon, "I should haveburst out laughing in the Comte's face. There, " he added quickly, intriumphant tones, "I have got it now!"

"Yes, and you would have got it then, " replied Saint Simon, "for my lordwill forgive a good deal sooner than being laughed at. "

This was some time later, when they were gliding gently on through thesmooth water on a bright sunny morning with their port close at hand andfull prospect of being, some time during the next half-hour, close up tothe landing-place; and before long so it proved, for the King, quiterecovered now from his indisposition, was in eager converse with theskipper as to the best means of getting the horses ashore. 

"Well, master, you see this: Southampton isn't Havre de Grace. "

"Bah!" ejaculated the King impatiently. 

"We had nothing to do there but walk the horses straight from the wharfover the planks, and down through the gangway on to the deck; but yousee it's different here. "

"Nonsense!" said the King. "There are landing-places here, for I cansee them. Work your vessel up quite close, and then boards can be laidfrom the deck, and the same thing can be done the other way on. "

"Yes, master, that's what I meant; but I forgot all about the tide. Yousee, we are coming in just at low water, and I sha'n't be able to getwithin fifty fathoms of the shore till well on towards night. "

"What! And we have to stop here all day?" cried the King angrily. 

"Yes, that's about it. I'll get in as close as I can, and then we shallbe in the mud. "

"But is there no other way farther along?" cried the King. 

"The only other way is for me to hail a barge or a flat, and swing thehorses down into that; but I shouldn't like to undertake the job. "

"It must be done, " said the King. His words were law, and, in hisimpatient eagerness to get clear of the vessel where he had passed somany uncomfortable hours, he promised to hold the skipper free fromresponsibility. 

Taking advantage of the King going aft with Saint Simon, Denis went upto the skipper. 

"Do you think there will be any danger, " he said, "to the horses?"

"Shouldn't like to promise, my lad, " was the reply, "but if they were myhorses I should go to your master and say, What's the use of being insuch a hurry? It's only waiting a tide, and then we could get closein. "

"But you don't know him, " said Denis. "He will have his own way. "

"Yes, I can see that, " said the bluff skipper. "It'd do him good to besix months aboard my vessel under me. I'd make another man of him. Ah, you may laugh, my young sharper. You think I'm a quiet, good-temperedsort of an old chap, but a ship's captain has to be a bit of a Tartartoo. Do you know what he is aboard his ship? Well, I'll tell you. He's a king. "

Denis gazed sharply in the man's face, wondering whether he had anysuspicion as to who his passenger really was, as he went on talking. 

"You see, my boy, I'm used to this sort of thing. Sometimes it'scattle, sometimes it's pigs and sheep. Well, they don't like going downinto a flat-bottomed boat; but, " he added, with a chuckle and a nudge, "they have to go, and if they won't go decently like passengers, we justshoves them overboard and lets them swim ashore. But with horses likethese it would be spoiling them to treat them roughly. "

"But you need not treat them roughly, " said Denis. "You could slingthem with your ropes and tackle into the boat. "

"Yes, you could, " said the skipper; "but they wouldn't let you. "

"Oh, they would, " said Denis. 

"Well, sir, " said the skipper, "you wait and see. "

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

ONLY A BOY. 

The rough old skipper was right, for after getting in as close as hecould, the vessel took the ground, and some time was spent in hailingand getting a large flat barge close alongside to the open gangway. 

A big spar with its blocks and tackle was run out, and proceedings werecommenced with the men for slinging the horses off the deck and loweringthem down; but everything was of the roughest kind and perfectlyunsuitable, while the horses, which were recovering fast from theirstormy journey, grew more and more restless, and after several attemptswith the King's charger, which was to be the first, it resented thehandling of the men, lashed out, and then began to rear, proving in ashort time that disaster must follow the attempt, for plainly enough, ifthe horse began to struggle when raised from the deck, it would freeitself from the badly fitted on ropes and be seriously damaged andmaimed before being finally lowered down. 

The worse matters grew the more the King lost his temper. He bullied, raged, and stormed, called the skipper and his men clumsy idiots andimbeciles, till temper was lost on the other side, the skipper's face, always ruddy and brown, grew red and black, and he ended by telling hisMajesty that he would have to wait, for the men should do no more. 

"This will be the end of our travels, " whispered Saint Simon, "for theKing will now betray himself. "

"The Comte, you mean, " said Denis quietly; for he had been standing verythoughtful and quiet, thinking over his conversation with the skipperhours before, and starting forward suddenly just as the King wasclapping his hand to his sword, he whispered to him quickly:

"I think I can get the horses ashore, Sire. "

"How dare--here--how?"

"Will your Majesty let me try--I mean, Monsieur le Comte, will you letme try?"

"Hah! That's better, boy. But speak; what do you mean to do?"

"Let me show you, sir, " cried the boy excitedly, and going to where hissteed was tethered, he patted and tried to soothe it for a few momentsbefore taking bit and bridle and fitting them on. Then he called to theskipper. 

"What do you want?" said the man gruffly, as he came up scowling. 

"Have that flat hauled away, " said Denis quickly, "and then give me aclear space on the deck. There isn't much room, but I think I canmanage. "

"Hah!" cried the skipper. "Well done, youngster! I see what you mean, and if you can do that there will be no trouble with the others. Welldone! Good idea!"

The anger against the King seemed to die out at once, and giving hisorders sharply, in a very brief space of time the shallow barge had beenallowed to drift astern, there was a fairly clear space on deck, therewas the open gangway on the side of the vessel nearest the shore, andthe time had come for the young esquire to act. 

The next minute Denis cast loose the halter which tethered his chargerto the vessel's side, turned it round, patted the arched neck once more, and then, bridle in hand, sprang up, threw over one leg, and the nextmoment was seated upon his barebacked steed. 

The sailors gave a cheer, which startled the horse, but a few words fromDenis quieted it again, and in obedience to the pressure of the rider'sheels it paced forward along the deck as far as the hamper of the vesselwould allow, turned in obedience to the pressure on the rein, and pacedback again in the other direction, to be turned once more. 

Everyone else on board was turned into a spectator now, the men in theflat watching as eagerly as the rest. "He will never do it, SaintSimon, " said the King. 

"Think not, sir?" was the reply. "I believe he will. Look!"

For after walking his beautiful steed to and fro again, Denis waitedtill they reached the open gangway, and then turned the noble animal'shead and let it stop to stretch out its muzzle towards the shore to gazewith starting eyes at the solid land and moving people there. 

It snuffed the air loudly, and then a loud neigh rang out like achallenge, which was answered by one of the horses attached to a trolleyhigh-up on a wharf. 

This had the effect of setting the other two chargers challenging inturn, and as they ceased, Denis spoke to and patted his steed, bendingwell forward the while. Then he turned its head again and rode a fewyards up and down the deck once more. 

"Well done, my lad, " cried the skipper, coming to his side. "You willdo it. Go on. "

"How deep is the water here?" said Denis eagerly. 

"About a fathom. Plenty of room for you to swim. "

Denis set his teeth, walked his horse up and down once more, turned itsharply toward the gangway, and then with voice and heel urged itforward, but only to elicit a loud snort as it stood with all four feetpressed firmly on the deck. 

Once more, half despairing now, Denis rode up and down again, beforeturning toward the open gangway, and it happened that just as he reachedit a neighing challenge came afresh from the shore, sending a quiverthrough the charger, which snorted loudly, and then, in obedience to therider's voice and the pressure of his heel, rose and bounded bravelyforward from the vessel's side, out into the water, descending with aheavy splash, and then submerged all but the extended neck, and with thelad with the water rising above his hips, but firmly in his seat, bending forward and giving as if part of the brave animal that had begunswimming steadily towards the shore. 

A ringing cheer rose from the vessel, was taken up by the men on theflat, and answered from the shore, while all watched the progress ofhorse and rider, who both seemed as if to the manner born. 

"That means success, sir, " said Saint Simon eagerly. "Will you gonext?"

"But I shall be so wet, man. You had better follow with my chargernow. "

"Yes, sir, I will if you wish, " whispered Saint Simon; "but--this is thebeginning of our adventures, and--"

"Yes, " said the King, in a voice full of vexation, "it seems so cowardlyif I hang back. I am not afraid to do it, man, but I shall be sohorribly drenched. "

"You can get dry, sir, when we are ashore. "

"Yes, of course, " whispered the King. "Here, I'll go next. I am notgoing to be beaten by that boy. "

He was in full earnest, and bitting and bridling his horse himself, refusing Saint Simon's help and leaving him to perform the same task onhis own steed, almost as soon as Denis had reached the shore, for hissteed to stand snorting and shaking the water from its flowing mane andtail, the King was mounted, barebacked too. He rode his charger to theopen gangway, where the brave beast answered the neigh that came fromits companion on land, and without hesitation made the splashing leap sosuddenly that the rider nearly lost his seat, having an undignifiedstruggle to get himself upright again; while as soon as there was aclear way Saint Simon followed without the slightest difficulty, hischarger in a few strides getting abreast of the King's; and they swamtogether till the water shallowed and the swimming became a splashingwade to where, wet and triumphant, Denis was waiting their arrival. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

MADAME THE HOSTESS. 

A little crowd of idlers soon began to gather about the adventurers, whohad dismounted to shake the water from their clinging garments and makemuch of their brave steeds. 

"My faith!" said the King. "We are beginning our adventures indeed; butwe are in a sorry plight, and ought to change. "

"Here's the boat coming, sir, " cried Denis, who turned away from a manwho began questioning him eagerly as to who they were and why they hadcome ashore like this. 

The fellow's manner had annoyed him, for though he pretty wellunderstood his English he replied shortly in his native tongue. But theman was in no wise rebuffed, and turned now to Saint Simon, with whom hefared no better, in fact, rather worse, the result being that headdressed the King, who shortly told him to go and mind his own affairs. 

The boat, which soon reached the shore, contained the skipper, who hadthoughtfully brought on the travellers' light valises, their saddles, and the remains of the horse-gear, ready to offer them any furtherassistance, and praising their gallant swim; but warmed up by hisexcitement, the King made light of it all, seeming ready to forget thestate of his garments; and eager to get away from the crowd, he joinedwith his young companions in saddling up and mounting, to ride away fromthe curious crowd and the hangers-on, several of whom seemed on friendlyterms with the man who had first addressed Denis, and whose curiosityseemed in no degree abated. 

"I did think of going to some inn to change and rest, and start forwardlater on for Winchester, " said the King; "but we will start at once andget away from here. Do the people think we have come to make anexhibition for them?"

"But you will want rest and refreshment, sir, and to dry your clothes, "said Saint Simon. 

"No, " said the King. "Do you?"

"I am ready--we are ready, " said Saint Simon, "to follow you ineverything. "

"Are our valises fast in their places, and the saddles well girthed?"said the King. "Yes? Then we ride on at once till we are clear of thistown. We shall soon dry in the hot sunshine, and be better ready tomake a breakfast, for I feel as if I could touch no food. Follow, gentlemen, " he continued, and putting spurs to his charger he canteredaway along what seemed to be the main street, at the end of which a fewinquiries put them on their right road and direct for the open country, where, once amongst green fields and hedgerows, they dismounted, to resttheir horses by a river-bank and let them drink and graze. 

But for this the brave animals, which had suffered more than theirriders from the crossing, displayed no eagerness, and the travellersadvanced again, walking each with his bridle in his hand, enjoying theglowing sunshine and the simple beauty of the country, and graduallygrowing more light-hearted and ready for any fresh adventure that theymight encounter. 

The road became more and more deserted, a village or two was passed, andlater on in the day they were attracted by the appearance of asubstantial farmhouse whose very aspect suggested that here was the spotto put an end to certain qualms connected with the fact that they hadnot partaken of food for a considerable length of time. 

Here there was corn for their horses in a shady barn-like stable whoseloft shed a delicious odour of sweet hay, and in the house a clean whitescrubbed table with bowls of new milk, newly made bread, and freshlyfried ham, the whole forming a repast to which the party paid amplejustice, while it made the King declare that it was the most deliciousbanquet he had ever enjoyed. 

Then with the horses quite recovered, the journey was recommenced andthe travellers rode off, Denis turning in his saddle to wave his hand tothe farmer and his wife, just in time to catch sight of another partyriding up to the farm as if to take their places and enjoy a similarmeal. 

Winchester at last, with the square tower of the fine old cathedralstanding up from amongst the trees, the river sparkling in the sunshine, the wooded hills and verdant plains rising on all sides making Francisdraw rein to breathe his horse and half close his eyes as he gazedaround. 

"Well, " he said, "France is France, but my brother of England, if allhis country is like this, possesses a land that any king might envy; andI shall tell him so if we meet, as of course we shall. But after all, Idon't like this task. I am a king, and it begins to look to me, boys, as if I am going crawling up to the back door of this palace of his likesome lacquey. But there, I have said that I would do it. It is forFrance, and I will. What do you say, Saint Simon?"

"Oh, sir, you mustn't turn back now. "

"No: I must not turn back now, though we have been rather damped at thestart, eh?" he added, with a laugh. "But are you lads dry?"

They declared they were, and the conversation turned upon theirproceedings. 

"This is evidently a fine city, " said the King. "I have read enough toknow that it has been a home of kings, so we will sleep there to-nightand start afresh in good time to-morrow, though we shall not go to thePalace for a bed. But there is sure to be some good travellers' inn. "

And this proved to be the case as they rode through the city gate downthe High Street, to check their steeds by the Market Cross, the observedof all observers, and they were many lurking about the place, for it hadbeen market day. 

It was not the costume of the three horsemen, for they were purposelyvery plainly clad, everything about them, however, looking good andsoldierly. It was their beautiful horses that took the attention ofmost of the sturdy country-looking folks, and more than one keen-eyedman approached them with no little freedom, scanning their mounts fromhead to heel, one man giving the King a nod and stretching out his handto run it down his charger's leg. 

The King looked furious, darted a fierce glance at the intruder, andreined up his horse so suddenly that the fine beast reared and made theman start back, his discomfiture being greeted by a roar of laughter onthe part of the uncouth people around. 

"The insolence!" muttered the King to Denis. "These English islandersare brutal in their ways. If they knew who I was! Here, let's rideon. "

His horse answered to the pressure of his knees and moved off upwardthrough the crowd, Saint Simon following his track, and Denis cominglast, having no little difficulty in closing up, for the increasingcrowd obstructed his way, the people's curiosity being aroused by thestrangers. 

"These horses for sale?" said the man who had been rebuffed, pressing upto the young esquire's knee. 

"No, " said the lad, in fairly good English. "Why?"

"Hallo!" said the man. "You are a Frenchman. Then you have broughtthese over to sell. Look here, young man, I can help your master tofind a buyer in some great English lord. I deal in horses, and I'llmake it worth his while. Where are you going to stay?"

"I don't know, " replied Denis. "Keep back, please. My horse doesn'tlike crowding, and he may strike out. "

"I'll take care, " said the man. "I understand horses. Yes, this is anice animal you are riding too. "

Denis made no answer, but pressed forward. There was some shouting, butthe crowd gave way and he rode up close just as the King drew rein by agateway and then passed into a great inn-yard, where a couple ofhostlers hurried to meet them, and a buxom-looking landlady in widow'scoif came smiling to the door of the comfortable-looking inn. 

"Hah!" said the King, dismounting. "This looks like France. Here wecan rest and dine. Denis, my boy, talk to the dame there, and tell herto get us quickly a dinner of the best. "

Denis turned, meeting the pleasant-faced landlady's eye as he dismountedand threw his rein to one of the stablemen, noting, as he walked towhere the landlady stood waiting, that the man who had accosted them wasfollowing into the inn-yard with three or four others of the same stamp;and the sight of the fellow made the lad hesitate as he thought of thepossibility of the fellow's insolence raising the King's ire. But hehad his task to fulfil, and the next moment the landlady was receivinghim with bows and smiles, ready to show him into a comfortableold-fashioned room, and make his task easy by suggesting instead oftaking orders, the only one he found it necessary to give being thesimple one:

"Everything, and of the best; but quickly, for we have ridden far. "

This was in French, but to the lad's great delight the hostess spoke histongue, with a good accent, easily and well. 

"Anyone would think you were French, " he said, with a courtly bow. 

"Oh no, " she said, "I am English. I was in Rouen many years at school, and we have French travellers here sometimes. But let me show you thechambers for your lord and your young friend. He is a lord?" she said, with a pleasant smile. 

"He is what you English would call a lord, " replied Denis. "The Comtede la Seine. "

"Ah, " said the hostess, with a smile of satisfaction at the quality ofher guests, as she led the way to the best chambers of the fine old inn, Denis selecting two, one within the other, which were exactly such as hefelt the King would like--that is to say, a fine old bedroom with adouble-bedded ante-chamber, which he immediately determined should befor himself and Saint Simon. 

Within an hour, partly refreshed, the King and his two followers enteredthe room where their dinner was spread, unbuckled and laid by theirswords, and took their places at the well-furnished table, as a coupleof fresh-looking serving-maids, under the guidance of the hostess, brought in the soup and plates, the mistress seeing to the helping andthen retiring, leaving the guests to their repast. 

"Hah!" exclaimed the King. "My appetite is grand. What soup! Why, wemight be in France. No, it is better, thicker and stronger. But what'sthis? The insolence of these Englanders! Here, Denis, boy, read italoud. " And he tossed a folded paper, one end of which was sticking outfrom beneath his soup bowl, across to the young esquire. 

The lad's eyes flashed, as he read in a crabbed, clear hand the words:"_Imminent undique pericula_. "

"What's that, Leoni? Bah! He isn't here, " cried the King, letting hisspoon fall back into the bowl. "I thought it was the account. Latin. Read it again. "

Denis obeyed, while the King's left hand began to play with his dagger, as he darted a suspicious look at the closed door, and then at the sidedresser upon which he had thrown his sword. 

"What do you make of that, Saint Simon?" he said, in a low, deep voice. 

"Sir, I do not know Latin as I should, " was the reply. 

"Shame on you!" growled the King. "You, Denis, you were last at school. What do you make it to be?"

"In plain homely language, sir: Beware of danger. "

"Yes, imminent danger, " cried the King. "Poison! And I have eatennearly half my soup!"

"No, no, sir, " cried Denis. "I'll vouch for this. A woman with amotherly face like that could be trusted, I will vow. "

"I don't know, " said the King. "You are only a boy. Now I have grownold enough to think that it requires a very clever man to know exactlywhat there is behind a woman's pleasant smiling face. This one looksplump and comfortable and honest; but there's no knowing. Now, if wehad Leoni here he'd fix her with that quiet eye of his, and search herthrough and through with the other. He'd know. And I am beginning tofind out that I have done a very stupid thing in not bringing hisUgliness with us. By my sword, I wish we had brought him! I wished itlast night too, over and over again, when I felt so--ah, hum--when Icouldn't sleep for the creaking and groaning of that wretched vessel. "

As he pulled himself up short he looked searchingly from one to theother of the two young men, giving each a suspicious glance, suspectingas he did that he would find a mocking smile upon their lips; but he waspleasantly disappointed, for Saint Simon looked stolidly stupid, andDenis eager and expectant of the next words he should let fall. 

"Well, " said the King, "we haven't got him here, and we must think forourselves; but that must be right. The soup is too good for that, " andhe began to partake again. "Here, Denis, lad, on second thoughts itmust mean that we are being recognised. The islanders know who I am, and that pleasant-faced woman wishes to give us warning. Saint Simon, my lad, fetch our sword and hang it by the belt upon the corner of thechair. Do the same by your own. I am not going to leave this soup, andif we are to fight for what is evidently intended for an excellentdinner, why, fight we will. "

Saint Simon obeyed, and then at a sign from the King re-took his placeand went on eating with such appetite as he could command. 

"Shall I stand on guard by the door, sir, till you have dined?" saidDenis. 

"No, boy. Eat your soup and what else comes. We shall all three fightthe better for a meal. "

CHAPTER NINE. 

THE SCENT OF DANGER. 

It was hard to imagine that there was danger in the air, for in thatcomfortably furnished panelled room everything was suggestive of plentyand peace, and, noticing as he went on with his meal how impressed histwo followers seemed to be, the King paused, spoon in hand, and criedwith a laugh:

"Come, boys, where are your appetites? Are we to be scared with a scrapof paper, a Latin exercise, perhaps, written by our hostess's son?"

As he spoke there was a faint rasping sound as of wood passing overwood, making Denis turn sharply and put out his hand towards his sword, for it seemed to him that there was a tremulous motion in one of thepanels of the wall behind where the King was seated. 

"What's that?" cried the latter sharply, as with a bound the lad sprangpast him to stand between him and the side of the room. 

For answer Denis drew his sword and pointed to the panel. 

"Well? Why don't you speak?"

"There is a door there, sir, and I saw it move. "

"There is no door here, " cried Saint Simon, as he felt about the panel, which was perfectly rigid; and just then the hostess entered, followedby the maids bearing fresh dishes, to look wonderingly from one to theother. 

"Ah, mistress!" cried the King. "Is there a door there? Does one ofthose panels open?"

"Oh yes, my lord, " she replied. "It is a hatch to pass dishes throughinto a smaller dining chamber. " And she smilingly stepped to the wall, turned a carved rose at one corner of the panel, and pressed itsidewise, showing a square opening through which a similarly furnishedroom could be seen. 

"Send away those women, " said the King sternly. 

The hostess started, spoke to the two girls, who stepped back with thedishes, and she closed the door after them. 

"One of my followers saw that panel move, " said the King sternly. "There is some one there. "

"Oh no, my lord, " she cried, "The room is empty. Look. "

"But the panel moved, " cried Denis, "and I heard a sound. "

"Impossible, sir, " said the woman. 

"Then what does this mean?" said the King, taking up the scrap of paper. 

The woman took it, looked at it blankly, and passed it back. 

"I don't know, " she said. "It is a foreign tongue. "

"Humph!" ejaculated the King. "This is strange, madam. That paper laybeneath my plate, and some one must have been watching us at our meal. "

"No, my lord, " said the woman; "it is impossible. Nobody could havebeen there. If anyone has dared--" She said no more, but angrily thrustthe panel back into its place and turned the oaken rose, which gave asnap as of a bolt shooting into its socket, and then, raising her handto the diagonal corner, she turned a fellow ornament in the oakencarving, to produce another sound as of a second bolt being shot. 

"There, " she cried, "it is quite fast now. One minute, and I willreturn. "

She hurried out of the room, and the next minute they heard the soundsof knuckles rapping the panel on the other side and directly after theloud closing and locking of a door. 

A few moments later, as the party stood there waiting, the woman wasback at their side, to lay a large key upon the table, looking flushedand angry. 

"I am very sorry, my lord and gentlemen, " she cried, "and angry too"--afact which was plainly enough marked in her countenance. "But this is apublic inn, and some insolent idler, moved by curiosity, has dared towatch. I never imagined anyone would venture; and now I beg you willresume your meal. "

"But there is the paper, " said the King. 

"Yes, yes, " she said, "the paper. I do not understand. "

"Ah, well, " said the King, "we will not spoil our dinner; but I do notlike to have hungry dogs watching while I make my meal. Sit down, gentlemen, and let us finish. "

Setting the example, he recommenced, but thrust the half-finished bowlaway with an impatient "Bah! The soup is cold. Here, hostess! Callthose women back. And I want some wine. What have you in the house?"

"Some of the best vintages of France, my lord, " said the woman eagerly, and drawing a deep breath of relief in the feeling that the trouble wasat an end, though there was a twitching now and then at the corners ofher eyes suggesting that she was not quite at ease. 

The fresh dishes were placed upon the table as soon as the soup wasremoved, and soon after the hostess herself bore in a couple ofrush-covered flasks of wine. 

"Burgundy--Malvoisey, " she said, indicating each in turn. 

"The Burgundy, " said the King, and as the glasses were filled, and theywere once more quite alone, he made as if to tear up the paper, butaltering his mind folded it quickly, and thrust it in the pouch hecarried at his belt. 

"Come, gentlemen, " he said: "that scrap of paper shall not spoil apleasant meal. It is a mere molehill in our path. Here's success toour expedition. --Hah! better vine than my own. "

A few minutes later the hostess returned, and smiled once more uponfinding that her guests were hard at work evidently in the fullenjoyment of their meal. 

"Ah, madam!" cried the King, raising his glass and drinking again. "Youkeep good wine. I would not have wished for better; but tell me, whatother guests have you in the house?"

"None, my lord, " said the woman frankly. "There have been some of thecountry people at the market, but they have gone. There was an ordinarytraveller too, earlier in the day. He came from somewhere in the south, I believe, but he has gone. You are the only guests I have, and Ihumbly hope that the meats are to your liking. "

"Excellent, madam, excellent, " said the King, looking at her fixedly. "Then we are quite alone?"

The woman met his eye without wincing, and bowed gravely. 

"Yes, my lord; quite alone. "

"Then we will have no one here while we stay, madam. I like to beundisturbed. Understand me, please. I take the whole place, and youcan charge me what you please. "

The woman made a grave courtesy, and retired to see to the next courseshe had prepared, wiping her brow as soon as she was outside. 

"Some great French noble, " she muttered, "travelling to London, to theCourt perhaps. I wonder who he is. Yes, " she said to herselfexcitedly, "and I wonder too who dared to enter that next room. It musthave been that evil-looking traveller, that starveling. I believe hewas a thief. It could not have been--Oh no, I know them all by sight. "

CHAPTER TEN. 

HOW LEONI LOST HIS EYE. 

The meal was ended, and the King in the best of tempers, in thatcondition of mind which a good digestion produces, and ready to befriends with all the world. 

"It is absurd, " he said, "to let a scrap of paper which may meannothing, and the curiosity of some country idiot who wanted to get apeep at me, interfere with our enjoying a comfortable rest in thisexcellent inn, and then going on fresh and well in the morning. "

"Then you mean to stay here to-night, sir?" said Denis anxiously. 

"Of course, boy. "

Saint Simon shook his head as if in dissent, and the King glared at him. 

"Did you hear me, sir?" he cried. "I said I mean to stay hereto-night. "

Saint Simon drew back respectfully, and the King, apparently mollified, continued:

"An excellent dinner. I suppose it was having such a bad night, andtossing about. It has made me feel quite drowsy. " And as he spoke hesettled himself down in a big chair and closed his eyes, while those ofthe two young men met in a wondering glance, and had they dared, as theythought of the night they too had spent, they would have burst into aroar of laughter. 

But they contented themselves with just raising their brows, and thensat there for a time silent and thoughtful. They could not converse forfear of disturbing their lord and master, who now began to breatherather heavily. And then a curious thing happened to each: Saint Simonbegan to think of the frightfully wearying night he had passed, and inan instant the wind was whistling and shrieking through the rigging, thesea rising with a heavy splash against the vessel's bows, to now andthen deluge the deck, and the shivering horses in turn were strainingtheir muzzles towards him in the darkness as if appealing to be relievedfrom their miserable state. 

With Denis it was on this wise. He sat back in his chair watching theKing for a few minutes, before fixing his eyes upon the wall just to hisleft. Then he too as if in a moment was down in the dark cabin with thedim lamp swinging to and fro, and the King sleeping heavily and givingforth that deep breathing sound, while a panel seemed to have formeditself in the bulkhead of the ship, where it began gliding sideways tillthere was room for a hand to appear, holding a tiny scrap of paper. This was passed through very slowly, to be followed by wrist, elbow, andthen the whole of an arm so long that it stretched out like aspear-shaft, and the fingers reached the King's plate and thrust thepaper underneath. 

Then it gradually shrank back and grew shorter and shorter till it hadall passed through the panel, which next closed of itself with a softdull roar. Then Denis's eyes opened and he sat up with a start, realising the fact that he had been fast asleep and that the closing ofthe panel was only the King's deep snore. 

"Having no sleep last night, " the lad said to himself. "Enough to makeanyone drowsy; that and the long ride. Why, Saint Simon's worse than Iwas. Nice pair of guards we make! Suppose instead of an arm a spearwere thrust through that panel, an enemy might reach his heart. "

Making an effort to shake off his lethargy, the boy stepped to whereSaint Simon lay back sleeping soundly, and then, buckling on his swordthe while, he bent over him, took his sword-belt from where it hung overa corner of the chair back, and thrust the cold hilt into the heavysleeper's hand. 

"Quiet, my boy, " muttered Saint Simon, "and keep your nasty cold wetmuzzle out of my hand. We shall get there some time, " he addedmurmuringly, "and you are all right. I am not going away. "

"Pst! Pst! Saint Simon! Rouse up, man! Don't go to sleep. "

"Is it nearly morning, skipper?" grumbled the sleeper. 

"No, and it isn't night, " whispered Denis, with his lips close to theother's ear. "Quiet, or you'll wake the King. "

"The King--the King! Vive le roi!" muttered Saint Simon. 

"Stupid!" whispered Denis, laying one hand lightly over Saint Simon'slips and shaking him softly with the other. "Wake up. You're asleep. "

"I kiss your Majesty's hand, " babbled the sleeper softly. --"Eh? Asleep?Nonsense! Who's asleep?"

Then coming suddenly to himself, his hand closed tightly upon the hiltof his sword, and dashing away the fingers upon his lips he sprangfiercely to his feet, gazing wonderingly at his companion. 

"Pst! The King!" whispered Denis. 

"Eh? The King?" said Saint Simon, lowering his voice and glancing atthe slumbering monarch. "I say, I haven't been asleep, have I?"

"Sound as a dormouse in December. "

"Oh, horrible! Suppose he had woke up. But he would have found you onthe watch. "

"He wouldn't, " said Denis, laughing silently, "for I went off as soundas you; and no wonder after such a night. What with that and thedinner, and this hot room, a weasel couldn't have kept awake. Here, let's go outside into the open air. I want to see if the horses havebeen well fed. "

"Yes, of course. We ought to have thought of that before, " whisperedSaint Simon; and together they crossed softly to the door, passed out, and closed it behind them without a sound; and then, with a softpleasant air greeting their cheeks, they passed along the open hall, caught sight of their hostess, who smiled a reply to their salute, andentered the great inn-yard, going to the far end and the big range ofstables where they had left their steeds. 

"Yes, " said Saint Simon thoughtfully, in response to his own thoughts, "we must look after the horses, or else the chief will be wishing againthat he had brought the old physic-monger. Nice time we should have ofit if he were here! He always makes me uncomfortable with those eyes ofhis. I should like to catch him asleep some time. "

"Why? What for?"

"To put it to the test. But you never catch a weasel asleep, and Ibelieve old Leoni always snoozes with one eye open. "

"I daresay; and I wonder which. But what do you mean about putting itto the test?"

"Whether he can see with that fixed eye of his. "

"Whether he can see? Why shouldn't he?"

"Why, you know, of course?"

"Not I. Why, of course he can. "

"Do you mean to say that you have been all this time at Court and don'tknow about that?"

"About what?"

"About that eye of his. "

"I only know that it's precious ugly, and used to make me veryuncomfortable, because I always felt as if I must look at it instead ofat the other or at both at once. "

"But don't you know what they say?"

"Who do you mean by `they'?"

"Well, _on_; everybody. That he had the point of a sword jabbed into itonce when he was fencing. "

"Oh, I never heard that, " cried Denis. "Then that accounts for itsqueer fixed look. "

"Queer fixed look? It's horrible! I don't think that I am quite acoward; but old Leoni, when he fixes me with that eye of his, quitegives me the creeps. "

"Well, he does look queer sometimes. But I say, this is refreshingafter that hot room, " said Denis. "There's a great garden yonder, andopen fields. I should like to have a wander there for an hour or two. "

"So should I, " said Saint Simon; "but we must get back, in case hislordship wakes. "

"Yes. It won't do for us to forget ourselves. Esquires ought never towant to sleep, " said Denis; and then quickly, "nor grooms nor hostlersneither. Here, look at these two red-faced pigs. "

He pointed on to the two men who had taken charge of and rubbed downtheir chargers upon their arrival, and who were now lying in a heap ofstraw, eyes shut, mouth open, and with their heavy faces looking swollenand red, breathing stertorously. 

"Why, the brutes are drunk, " said Saint Simon. "If their mistress knew, I fancy their stay here would be short, for she seems a thoroughbusiness soul. "

"Sim!" cried Denis excitedly, gripping him by the shoulder. 

"What's the matter, lad? Can you see a ghost or a nightmare in the darkcorner there?"

"No, nor can I see our horses. They were haltered yonder. Where arethey now?"

"Ah!" yelled Saint Simon, and snatching out his sword he made as if toprick the two sleeping grooms into wakefulness; but Denis flung his armacross his chest and cried angrily:

"Never mind them! The horses, man, the horses--the horses! They may beonly in the field, led there to graze. "

"You are mad!" cried Saint Simon angrily. "But yes; go on out throughthat farther door. "

Denis was already making for an opening at the far end of the long lowbuilding, through which the afternoon sunshine streamed. Passing out, they found themselves in an inner yard, and beyond that there was a longopen meadow, surrounded by a high hedge. But for the moment all wasblank, and a feeling of despair made the young men's hearts sink as theymentally saw at a glance that their beautiful chargers had not excitedattention for nothing--that they had been followed, horse-thieves hadbeen at work, and that their noble steeds were gone. 

"How shall we dare to face the King?" thought Denis, and the nextinstant he grasped the fact that there must be a lane beyond the distanthedge, for he just caught sight of the head of a man whose coveringseemed familiar gliding along above the fencing, now seen, nowdisappearing, as if he were mounted on a walking-horse. 

"Look! Not too late, Sim, " he whispered. "They're over yonder. Wemust make for that lane. I'll go this way to cut that fellow off; yougo to the left there, to meet him if I turn him back. "

"Think the horses are there?" whispered Saint Simon hoarsely. 

"Think!" cried Denis, in a low, harsh voice that he did not know as hisown. "No: I am sure. "

No further words passed, for, separating at once, Denis dashed off tothe right to make for the far corner of the field, in the faint hope ofreaching it and getting through into the lane in time, while Saint Simonran swiftly to the left to get into the horse-track there and follow themarauders up. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

FIRST BLOOD. 

Denis was in no trim for running, but he ran. 

"This would wake anyone up, " he muttered to himself. "The villain! Thedog! I see it all: he must have given those two fellows drink till theywere helpless, and then led the horses quietly away. Oh, if I had onlybeen ten minutes sooner, instead of sleeping like the untrusty cur Iwas! I never dare face the King now! I'm running now as hard as ever Ican run, not to bring back the horses, but to go right away. I neverdare show my face before him again. Here, " he thought, "am I to go onwhining like some foolish girl? I can--I will get there first, in timeto stop him. I never used my sword in earnest yet, but if I can onlyget face to face with that insolent hound I'll make him bleed, or heshall me. Too late! Too late!" he groaned, for the man's head haddisappeared beyond the hedge. 

"There must be some turning yonder, and he has gone; and once out therein the open country he, a man who rides with such horses as ours, itwill be folly ever to expect to see him again. "

The boy ran on, not growing breathless, but nerved as it were to thehighest pitch of excitement, seeing nothing now, but reaching the hedgeat last close by a rough gate, over which he vaulted lightly, to findhimself in a winding green lane, but with nothing in sight to his left, nothing to his right, and no turning visible, and stretching right away. 

"There hasn't been time for him to get to here, for the horses were onlywalking, " he argued to himself, and then with sinking heart, "Oh!" heejaculated, half aloud. "Perhaps it was only my mistake. I jumped atthe conclusion that it was the man we saw. "

There was nothing for it but to continue along the lane till he metSaint Simon, and then he felt that they must go back to the inn androuse people to a pursuit. 

He began running at a gentle trot now, to husband his strength for whatmight come, when all at once his heart seemed to give a violent leap andthen stand still; for coming round a bend he caught sight of the black, heavily maned head of the King's horse, and then of the soft, pointedcap of the horse-dealer whom he had credited with the theft. 

He was not looking forward, but bending over to his right, evidentlydoing something to the rein of another horse he was leading--Denis'sown--while, in the middle of the three abreast, he was mounted on SaintSimon's. The three horses were fully in sight some fifty yards away, just as the man sat up again and began to urge them on from their walk, when he suddenly caught sight of Denis in the act of drawing his swordin the middle of the lane to bar his way. 

The effect was to make him pull up short, and then with a cry to thehorses he swung them round and set off back at a canter, to disappearround the bend directly after, with Denis running far in his rear. 

"Now, " panted the lad, "if Saint Simon has only done his work we havehim between us. " And he tried to utter a prolonged whistle, which hehoped might reach his charger's ear; but he had not breath to give morethan the faintest call. 

"Oh, if I could only run ten times as fast!" he groaned. "I know whathe'll do. He will get them into a gallop, and ride my poor comradedown. If I were only at his side! And I seem to crawl!"

But he was running pretty fast, though to his misery he heard the dull_thud, thud_ of the cantering horses grow fainter and fainter till itseemed to die right away. 

"Sim's let them pass him, " he groaned piteously. "_No_! No! No!" heliterally yelled. "They are coming back! Saint Simon's turned them, and it will be my chance after all. "

For still invisible, after the thudding of the hoofs had quite died out, the sounds came again; then louder, louder, and louder still, comingnearer and nearer, till all at once the noble animals swept into sightagain round the curving lane, galloping excited and snorting, SaintSimon's horse right in the centre being urged forward by the rider, while the other two hung away right and left to the full extent of theirreins. While perfectly unconscious of his peril, thinking of nothingbut checking the headlong gallop, the lad stood with extended bladeright in the middle of the lane. 

It seemed an act of madness. Certainly he was a well-built youth, accustomed to athletic exercises, but as a barrier to three finechargers urged by the rider of the centre one forward at a hand gallop, and armed only with a long thin Andrea Ferrara blade, he seemed but afragile reed to stem the charge. But the unexpected happens more oftenthan the reverse, and it was so here. One minute the horses weretearing along as far apart as the reins would allow; the next theyseemed to have passed over the brave youth, and went galloping down thelane at increasing speed, leaving Denis flat upon his back in the middleof the road and his sword-arm outstretched in a peculiar way above hishead, with the keen blade pointing in the direction taken by the steeds. 

He lay perfectly motionless for some moments as if dead, while thehorses tore on with the rider bending forward over his mount's neck tillthey had gone about a couple of hundred yards, when the man suddenlybegan to sway in his saddle to right, then to left, recovered himself, to sit upright for a few moments, and then with a sudden lurch wentheadlong down, to fall with a thud in the grassy track, roll over onceor twice, and then begin to crawl to the hedge on his left, creeppainfully through a gap, and disappear; while the horse he had riddenstopped short, like the well-trained beast he was, and turned to followhis late rider towards the hedge, snuffling and snorting in alarm. 

The others continued their gallop for some seventy or eighty yardsbefore, missing the guidance and companionship of their fellow, they toostopped short, to utter a low whinnying neigh, which was answered frombehind and drew them trotting back to the halted beast. 

By this time the marauder had disappeared, and the three chargers seemedto hold a consultation, uttering low whinnying neighs, and then, as ifmoved by one impulse, they trotted back slowly to where Denis lay withhis head towards them, apparently dead. As they stopped short theyouth's charger lowered its muzzle to begin to snuff at his face, whenall at once the lad made a sudden movement to jerk back his outstretchedarm into a more natural position, making his bright rapier describe anarc in the air, giving forth a bright flash in the afternoon sunshineand making a whistling sound like the lash of a whip. The consequencewas that all three chargers started violently, to move off for a shortdistance; but as the lad was motionless again they stopped short andbegan to return, led by their companion, which seemed drawn to itsfallen master. But before it could reach him there was the sound offeet, and Saint Simon came panting up to the group. 

"Hah!" he ejaculated breathlessly, as he dropped on one knee by Denis'sside. "Don't say you are hurt, lad! Not wounded, are you? Ah!There's blood upon his sword! Denis, lad, where are you wounded? ForHeaven's sake speak! Oh, my poor brave lad! He's dead--he's dead!"

The drops that started to his eyes were a brave man's tears, blindinghim for the time being as they fell fast, while he eagerly felt Denis'sbreast and neck, ending by unfastening his doublet and thrusting hishand within to feel for the beatings of his heart. 

Those hot blinding tears fell fast, several of them upon Denis'supturned face, and at the fourth the nerves therein twitched; at thefifth there was a quick motion; and when six and seven fell together thelad's left hand came up suddenly to give an irritable rub where he felta tickling sensation; and he opened his eyes, stared hard and blanklyfor some moments in the countenance so near his own, and exclaimedangrily:

"What are you doing?"

"Ah!" ejaculated Saint Simon, with a cry of joy. "Then the horses wereworth winning back, after all. "

"Horses? Winning?" faltered Denis wonderingly; and then as hiscompanion snatched a hand from his breast, he cried again impatiently, "Here, what are you doing to my face?"

Saint Simon dashed his hand hastily across his own, his already ruddycountenance glowing of a deeper red, as he stammered out confusedly:

"Drops--perspiration--I have been having such a run. "

"Drops? Run? My head's all of a buzz. Who ran? What have you beendoing to my neck?" continued the lad, passing his left hand across histhroat. "Something seemed to jerk across me just here. Ah, how ithurts!"

He made an effort then to raise his sword-arm, but it fell back upon thegrass. 

"Here, my shoulder's bad too, " he cried. "Just as if my arm waswrenched out of the socket. " Then as his wandering eyes fell upon hishorse, "Oh!" he cried, "I understand now. I have been thrown. "

"Never mind now, " cried Saint Simon, in a choking voice, as he masteredthe hysterical emotion that had seized upon him. "You're alive, boy, and we have saved the horses, and our credit with the--with the--"

"Comte, " said Denis faintly. "I am beginning to recollect now. Here, where's that ruffian who was galloping away?"

"You've killed him, I suppose, " cried Saint Simon, "for there's bloodupon your sword. How was it, boy?"

"I don't know, " said Denis dreamily; and then in an excited voice, "Yes, I do!" he cried. "I remember it all now. He came galloping along onthe centre horse, with the others on each side at the full extent oftheir reins. I stood there to stop them, and he came right at me toride me down. But I started a little on one side and thrust at him, when my horse's tight rein caught me right below the chin, and at thesame moment my right arm was jerked upwards, and--that's all. Where ishe now?"

"Gone, " said Saint Simon, "and with your mark upon him too. Why, youbrave old fellow! You, a mere boy! I daren't have faced threegalloping horses like that. But you are not wounded?"

"My right arm seems to be gone. Is it broken, Sim?"

The young man began to feel it gently from shoulder to wrist, raised it, and laid it down again, while the boy bore it for a time, flinchinginvoluntarily though again and again, till he could bear no more. 

"Oh!" he groaned at last. "Don't! It's horrible! How you do hurt! Isuppose I shall have no arm. It's horrible, Sim. I wish he had killedme out of hand. "

"What! Why, my dear brave old fellow, it's only a horrible wrench, andwill soon come right. "

"Not broken?" cried the boy wildly. 

"Broken? No, or it wouldn't move like that. Why, Denis, lad, when yougave point you must have run him through, and as he tore on your armmust have been wrenched round while he dragged himself or was carriedaway--of course, as the horses galloped on. "

"But where is he?" cried Denis. 

"I don't know. He wasn't here when I came up. He must have takenflight--I mean, crawled away, for he must have been wounded badly. "

"But the horses are all right?" said Denis faintly. 

"Yes; the brave beasts were as you see them now, standing round you. Ah! Stop a moment. What does this mean?"

He had been looking from side to side as he spoke, and caught sight ofthe crushed-down herbage which grew densely at the foot of the hedge, nettle and towering dock and hemlock looking as if something had crawledthrough; and, rising quickly, he found somewhat of a gap through which aperson might have passed. 

And he found ruddy traces which made him go on a few paces to where thehedge seemed thinner, so that he could force his way through, to returnon the other side to the gap and see traces again in the grass wheresome one had crawled. This track he followed for a few yards to a spotwhere the long grass was a good deal trampled, and beyond that therewere regular footprints, as if some one had risen and walked lightacross the field. 

"Gone, " said Saint Simon to himself; and he hurried back to the lane, where Denis was lying very still with his eyes closed, and the threehorses ready to raise their heads from where they were calmly croppingthe thick herbage and ready to salute him with a friendly whinny beforeresuming their meal. 

"Well, Denis, boy, " he cried, "how is it now?"

"Oh, a bit sick and faint, but I'm better. Have you found that brute?"

"No; he has gone right away. But we don't want him, unless he comesback to take revenge on you, and then I should like to see you use yoursword again. "

"Oh!" groaned Denis. "With an arm like this! I feel as if I should notlift it again for months. "

"Bah! Nonsense, man--boy, I mean, " said Saint Simon, with a laugh. "But I say, you must have given it to him somewhere. He was bleedinglike a pig. I followed his track to where he must have sat down on thegrass to bind up his wound. And there he stopped it, to rise and walkoff, making good strides for a dead man. You gave him his pay forhorse-stealing, and I'll be bound to say he feels more sore than you, myhero. Now then, how do you feel about getting up?"

"I feel sick, and as if I want to lie. "

"But the--ahem!--Comte? He must be awake by now. "

"Ah! I forgot him. Here, give me your hand--Thanks--Ah!--It hurtshorribly--my throat's better--but my arm feels as though it had beenscrewed out of the joint. Would you mind sheathing my sword? I can't. "

"I ought to have done it before, " said Saint Simon; "but I say, lad, letgo. Why, your fingers are grasping it with quite a grip. "

"Are they?" said the boy faintly. "I don't feel as if I had any. Everything is hot and numb. "

"Yes, you have had a nasty wrench. But that will soon be right. Wesoldiers don't mind unless we are killed. That's better. Here, let'swipe the blade, " and he picked a bunch of grass. "I am not going tosoil my kerchief with the ruffian's blood. That's better, " hecontinued, as he returned the long thin blade to its sheath. "I'll giveit a polish for you when we get back to the inn. Now do you think youcould mount?"

"No, not yet, " said the boy. "Give me a little time. "

"Hours, lad; and here, let me arrange your scarf. Stand still. That'sthe way. Over your right shoulder--tied in a knot--now opened outwidely here so that your arm can rest in it, like that. Those aresoldiers' knots for a wounded limb. --That feel easier?"

"Not much, " said Denis. "Yes, that's better. It seems to take theweight, and I'm beginning to feel that I've got one now. "

"Oh, yes, it will soon come round, " cried Saint Simon joyfully. "Now, boys, it's time you left off sullying your bits with grass, " hecontinued, to the horses, as he unbuckled their reins, so that inleading one he led all three; and offering his right arm to Denis, whogladly took it and leant upon it heavily, he led the way back along thelane to where they had parted, and from thence into the greatstable-yard and through the long stable to where the two hostlers werestill sleeping heavily, not in the slightest degree roused by thetrampling of the chargers upon the stone-paved floor. 

"Now then, " said Saint Simon, "shall we tie up the horses here again?"

"No, " cried Denis sharply. "Look--through the door yonder. There's theComte!"

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

A WELL-MEANT WARNING. 

Saint Simon glanced in the direction indicated, to see across the yardthe King standing at the open doorway, talking, and evidentlyquestioning their hostess, who was pointing towards the stable where theyoung men were. 

"Now for a storm, Denis, boy, with plenty of royal thunder, and flashesof lightning from his kingly eyes. Bah! How hard it is to forget hisrank! How are you now?"

"Oh, better. The sight of--the Comte seems to string me up. "

"Come on, then, to make our excuses for the breach of duty, and take ourthree witnesses to back our words. "

The young men led the chargers out through the low doorway into the yardand began crossing to where the King was drawing himself up with a sternlook upon his countenance, his right hand upon his hip, his left uponhis sword-hilt, which he kept on pressing down and elevating andlowering the long thin blade behind him, the afternoon sun throwing itout in a long dark streak from his shadow, giving him the effect of somemonster wagging its wiry tail. 

The hostess was still there, drawing back a little into the shadow ofthe comparatively dark doorway, a mingling of curiosity and sympathydetaining her to hear how her offending guests would fare. 

She had not long to wait, for as the young men came up with the horses'hoofs clattering upon the paved way, "Now, gentlemen, " was growledforth, "why am I left like this? And by whose orders have you broughtforth those steeds?"

"What!" thundered the King fiercely, after hearing a brief narration ofhis followers' adventure; and turning to their hostess, who heard everyword and stood loaning forward with agitated face and clasped hands, "And so, madam, you call this the safety of your inn! This, then, isthe meaning of that warning paper which you have disavowed. Gentlemen, we seem to have settled in a nest of thieves. Have your valises placedat your saddles. I thank you for the way in which you have saved usfrom disaster at the beginning of our journey. We will ride on atonce. "

"Oh, " ejaculated the hostess, "that it should come to this!" Andceasing to wring her hands she ran out past them and crossed the yard tothe open stable-door, disappeared for just long enough to verify theyoung men's words by a sight of the sleeping grooms, and then camerunning back to where her guests were making preparations to continuetheir journey. 

"Oh, my lord, " she cried, "it is a disgrace and shame to my house thatall this should have taken place. I pray your forgiveness. "

"Indeed, madam!" said the King haughtily. "Tell my gentlemen there whatthere is to pay, and spare your words. "

"But, my lord--"

"Silence, madam! I have spoken. Gentlemen--"

"But, my lord, " she interrupted, "I will have trusty strong men to watchthe stables and the house all night. This was the work of a stranger--some horse-thief from afar. It cannot occur again. "

The King waved his hand, and turned to his followers. 

"Gentlemen, you will not leave those horses a moment. Finish thepreparations. Pay this woman, Saint Simon, and come and tell me whenall is ready for the start. "

Then turning his back upon the hostess, he strode into the house, fumingwith rage and glowering fiercely at the group of servants whom hepassed. 

"Oh, woe is me!" sobbed the landlady, wringing her hands. "That thisgreat misfortune should happen to such a noble lord as this! And thisgallant boy too, hurt as he is! No, no, sir, " she cried pettishly toSaint Simon, who approached her, purse in hand; "don't talk to me aboutmoney. I am thinking of the honour of my house. There, there, " shecried, lowering her tone; and she caught Denis by the doublet and signedto his friend to come closer. "Your lord is angry, " she said, "and hehas just cause; but you two must speak to him and try to calm his wrath. I have made all preparations for his staying here to-night, and believeme, everything is safe. I will have trusty friends in, and not a soulhere but you shall close an eye. You must sleep here to-night. "

"Must, madam?" said Denis, forgetting his own sufferings in somethinglike amusement at his hostess's pertinacity. "There is no must with ourlord. "

"Don't say that, my child, " cried the woman anxiously. "He must giveway to-night. I can see with a mother's eye that you are not fit tomount your horse. You are hurt, and need rest. Go to him and persuadehim that he must stay. "

"Madam, it is impossible, " said Denis; "and leave me, please. You heardour lord's commands. We have our preparations to make. "

As he spoke Denis glanced at Saint Simon, who had waved back a man whocame to help, and was examining their horses' girths himself. Then, turning his eyes towards the doorway, he caught sight of the Kingreturning, unnoticed by the landlady, who clutched at Denis's doubletagain, and continued in a low, excited voice:

"You do not know, my child. Before long it will be dark. "

"There will be a moon nearly at the full, madam, " said Denis. 

"Oh yes, yes, sir; if it is not clouded over; but the road from heretowards London is through the forest and overhung with trees and--and, "she added, in a whisper, "it is not safe. "

"We have our swords, madam, " said the youth; but he winced as he spoke, for his right arm seemed to give him a sudden warning twinge of hisinability to use his weapon. "What do you mean about the road not beingsafe?"

The woman drew herself closer to him, and her ruddy buxom face becameblotched with white. 

"Bad men, " she whispered. "Robbers and murderers have a stronghold inthe forest, from which they come out to lay wait for rich travellers. "

"Are they mounted men?" said Denis, as the King slowly drew nearer. 

"Yes, " she said, "with the best of horses. "

"And do they steal horses too?"

"Oh yes, " she whispered, with a shudder. 

"Then that man who watched us here was one of them, was he not?" criedDenis excitedly. 

The woman's jaw dropped, and the whiteness in her countenance increased. 

"You saw that man, and you know!" cried Denis excitedly again. 

The woman closed her lips and seemed to press them tightly together, asshe said in a strange voice:

"You will be advised by me, and stay here, where you will be safe. Icannot--I will not--let you go. "

"Indeed!" said the King fiercely, and the woman started as she realisedthat her guest had heard her words. 

"Back into your own place, madam, " continued the King. "I allow no oneto tamper with my servants. "

The woman shrank trembling back, for there was that in her guest'smanner which she felt she must obey; and with her hands clasped to herbreast as if to restrain her emotion, she went slowly into the house, the King watching her, till she turned her head, started on encounteringhis eyes, and then disappeared. 

"There, it's plain enough, gentlemen. This woman is in league with aband of the rogues. "

"I think not, sir, " said Denis quickly. "I think she is honest, and hertrouble real. "

"Indeed?" said the King mockingly. "Wait till you have a few more yearsover your head, boy, before you attempt to give counsel to one who isused to judge mankind. Foolish boy! Can't you see that it is part ofher work to trap travellers into staying at her house? Why, I believeif we rested here we should be plunged into a long deep sleep, and onefrom which we should never wake. Now, Saint Simon, you ought to havefinished. I want to mount and go. "

"The horses are ready, my lord, " said the young man quickly. 

"But you have not paid the woman. "

"I offered her ample, sir, and she refused it. "

"Bah! Leave that to me, " said the King haughtily. "But what about you, Denis, boy? Don't tell me that you are too bad to mount, and force meto stay in this vile nest of thieves. "

"No, sir. If Saint Simon will help me to mount, I'll manage to ride thelong night through; but I fear if there is need that I could not fight. "

The King hesitated, and stood striking his two stout riding glovestwisted together sharply in his left hand. 

"Yes, you look hurt, boy. Perhaps it will be better that we shouldstay. We could hold one room, unless they burnt us out, and take turnand turn to watch. "

"Oh no, sir; I am well enough to go, " cried the lad. "Here, SaintSimon, give me a leg up. I am better now, and shall feel easier stillwhen in the saddle. "

"Keep back, Saint Simon!" said the King. "Let me be the judge of that. Here, your foot, boy? Do you hear me, sir? Quick!"

The lad raised his foot as the King impatiently clasped his handsstirrup fashion and raised the young horseman smartly, so that he flunghis right leg over and dropped lightly into the saddle. 

"Well, " continued the King, as he watched his young esquire keenly, "canyou sit there, or are you going to swoon?"

The boy smiled scornfully, and the King gave him an encouraging nod. 

"You will do, " he said, "and if you cannot use your arm you will be ableto ride between us if we are attacked and charge the scoundrels when wemake them run. Mount, Saint Simon. Have we left aught behind?"

"No, sir, " replied the young man, and he hesitated a moment to let theKing be first in the saddle; but an angry gesture made him spring intohis seat, urge his charger forward, and hold the bridle till his masterwas mounted, pressed his horse's sides, and then reined up shortly inthe great entry of the inn, level with the door at which the hostess wasstanding, pale and troubled, and backed up by the servants of the place. 

"Here, woman, " cried the King, drawing his hand from his pouch; "holdout your apron. Quick! Don't stand staring there. "

The words were uttered in so imperious a tone that the womaninvoluntarily obeyed, and half-a-dozen gold pieces fell into her stiffwhite garment with a pleasant chink. 

The next minute, in answer to a touch of the spur, the horses wentclattering through the entry out into the main street, the noise theymade arousing the two hostlers from their sleep to come yawning andstaring to the open stable-door, while the hostess stepped out into theentry and hurried to the front with hand clasped in hand. 

"Oh, that gallant boy, " she muttered, with her face all drawn. "If Ihad only dared to tell them more plainly! But they would have marked meif I had, and it is as much as my life is worth to speak. Why does notour King put an end to these roving bands who keep us all in a state ofterror and make us slaves?"

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

AN UNKNOWN LAND. 

The ride out from the town was uneventful, save that the people hurriedto their windows and doors to see them pass, and admire the beauty oftheir steeds. Then as the city gate was passed and they rode out intothe open country, with the way before them seeming perfectly clear, theKing cried cheerily:

"Hah! I can breathe freely now. I must tell my brother Henry that theroad to his Court is a disgrace, and travellers' lives not safe. Now, in my kingdom of beautiful France every road to the capital from theseaports is--Why are you looking at me like that, Saint Simon?"

"Well, sir, " said the young man bluntly, "I was thinking about two orthree cases where people have been waylaid and plundered and--"

"Yes, yes, yes, " said the King impatiently; "I think that there was acase or two, but surely we are better than this. Well, Denis, boy;how's the bad arm?"

"Very stiff, sir, and aches; but I don't mind now. "

"Not you, boy! Too brave a soldier! Ha, ha, ha! I almost think that Ican see it all. My faith! I would I had been there to have seen you, you stripling, standing sword in hand in that lane to meet thatruffian's charge with three horses abreast. And you wounded him too, and saved the beasts. I should like to see the young Englishman whowould do a deed like that! Why, Saint Simon, you and I must look afterour laurels. We ought to be proud of our companion, eh?"

"Oh, sir, " shouted Denis, giving a cry of pain, for as he spoke the Kinghad clapped him heartily upon the shoulder that was nearest to him--unfortunately the right. 

"Tut, tut, tut!" cried the King, leaning towards him, for the lad turnedghastly white. "There, hold up, boy. I wanted to show you how pleasedI was with the bravery of your deed, and I have only given pain. "

"Not only, sir, " said the lad quickly. "Your hand hurt me for themoment, but my K--lord's words of praise are thrilling still. "

"Just saved yourself, boy, " cried Francis; "for if you dare to say youknow what till we are back again in my own fair France your punishmentwill be short and sharp. " He gave Saint Simon a merry look as he spoke, and then rode gently on, sweeping the landscape with his eye and makingcomments from time to time. "Better and better, " he said pleasantly. "My brother Henry has a goodly land. All this woodland landscape formsa pleasant place. Hah! but he should see my hills and forests aboutRouen, with the silver river winding through the vale. But that is faraway, and this is near, and it will pass if we do not meet the dangersthat woman prophesied upon our road. "

They rode on in silence for a time, just at a gentle amble, the Kinggiving a shrewd look now and again at his young companion to see how hebore the motion of the horse. 

It was a glorious evening, and they saw the sun sink like a huge orangeglobe; the soft, warm, summer evening glow seeming to rise and spreadaround them from the west. 

There was a sweet delicious fragrance in the air, and the soft Englishlandscape began gradually to darken from green to purple, and then todeeper shades, while as the glow in the west disappeared the eastern skygrew more pearly; but the indications of the rising moon were not asyet. 

"Hah!" cried the King at last, speaking as if to two companions of hisown rank enjoying with him a summer evening ride. "Here have I been sotaken up with our late adventures that I have had no thought of what isto come. Our saddles are comfortable, and after that pleasant dinnerand my nap I feel ready for anything. But there will come a time whenwe shall want to think of supper and of bed, for we can't go on ridingall night even if we are undisturbed. Now then, Saint Simon, what haveyou to say?"

The young man slowly shook his head. 

"Bah!" cried the King. "What a dumb dog you are! And I know nothing ofthe way. I begin to feel that we ought to have had old Leoni with us, after all. He has maps, and knowledge always ready in his brain; and hespeaks these islanders' language better than they can themselves. Buthe would only have been in the way, and I wanted freedom. Here, Denis, boy, what have you to say? Where shall we sleep to-night?"

"I had scarcely time, sir, to mark down our course, and the only place Ican recall is one called Hurstham. "

"Ah!" cried the King. "What of that?"

"I know nothing, sir, except that there is a good road over hills andthrough forests, and that there is a castle there. "

"Then that will do, " cried the King. "Once within its walls we canlaugh at thieves and murderers. There, boy, you have your task beforeyou: lead us there. "

"But I do not know the way, sir. Would it not be best to get a guidefrom the first village we ride through?"

"Excellent!" cried the King--"for him to lead us straight into the denof the forest outlaws. "

"It would be his last journey, sir, " said Saint Simon grimly, as hesignificantly touched the hilt of his sword. 

"And what good would that do us, " said the King, "if we never sawto-morrow's sun? Here, I must lead. Look out sharp, both of you, forthe next guide-post or stone. I will warrant that those old Romansplanted some of them beside the road, telling the way to London. "

"Yes, sir, " said Denis drily, "but it will soon be dark. "

"Ah, well, we must chance everything. I don't believe that we shallfind the road unsafe; but even if it is we must keep to it all the same. It will lead us somewhere, and--hah! here comes the moon!"

It was a welcome light for the travellers, who rode slowly on to easetheir steeds, for as the King said, they had all the night before them, and sooner or later, even if they did not reach the castle, they weresure to pass upon this direct road to London some good town where theymight venture to stay. But the miles seemed to grow longer, the countrymore hilly, wild and strange, and, in spite of all endeavours to keepbravely to their task, the two young men had the weight of the pastnight's watch upon their brains. The consequence was that just aftercrossing what seemed to be an open furzy down, and when the road, looking white in the moonlight, had turned gloomy and black, save whereit was splashed by the silvery light on the trees of the forest patchinto which they had passed, they began to nod upon their horses, and theKing's voice grew as he talked into an incoherent drone. 

Then they were wide awake again, for just in the darkest part, where thetrees met together across the road, a shrill clear whistle rang out, which made all draw rein and listen to the sound of horses' hoofsclattering upon the hard road they had just traversed. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

THE WAR-CRY. 

The whistle in front and the sound of following horsemen had but onemeaning for Denis, and that was danger; and there was a movement commonto nearly everyone in bygone days when danger was afoot, and that was tothrow the right hand across the body in search of the hilt of the swordwith which every traveller was armed. 

It was involuntary then that, upon hearing the whistle and the tramplinghoofs, Denis tried to draw his sword, but only uttered a faint cry ofpain, for nerve and muscle had during the past few hours stiffened andmade him more helpless than before, so that his arm sank back into itssling, but with the hand sufficiently free to receive the reins, whichhe passed across, thus leaving his left hand at liberty for his dagger. 

"Hah!" said the King. "They are not fools. They have chosen a likelyplace for their trap, and we have walked right in. Well, gentlemen, wedon't surrender. Which is it to be--retreat or advance?"

"Advance!" cried the young men, in one breath, excitedly, and it soundedlike one voice. 

"Draw, then, and forward, " cried the King. "You, Saint Simon, guardDenis on the left; I shall have the honour of forming his right flank. But no desultory fighting. We advance and keep together as one man withone aim--to pass through the enemy, however many they may be. Forward!"

Denis writhed at his helplessness, as in obedience to a touch of thespur the three horses sprang forward, kept in the centre of the darkroad, and broke at once into a hand gallop; and for some fifty yards theway seemed perfectly clear. 

Then all at once the route was barred by a number of men who sprang fromeach side, yelling and shouting, while from behind the trampling ofhorses came nearer, and the advance was checked; for apparently withreckless bravery men rushed out of the darkness to seize the horsemen'sreins, with the result that the King struck at the nearest a downwardblow with the hilt of his sword, which took effect full in the man'sface, so that he sank with a groan, while, drawing back his arm, theKing's second movement was to give point, running the next man throughthe shoulder, and he fell back. 

Saint Simon's actions were much the same, but in reverse, for he thrustfirst, and equally successfully; while Denis sat supine, the feelingupon him strong that he was a helpless heavy log to his companions, andin their way. 

So successful was the resistance to the attack that for the moment theway seemed open, and the boy's breast began to throb with excitement ashe felt that they had won. But they had only dealt with four, and asthey were urging on their horses once again at least a dozen were readyto stay their progress, while with a loud shout of triumph four mountedmen came up in their rear to hem the trio in. 

"Give point! Give point!" roared the King, setting the example, andevery thrust seemed to tell; but where one enemy went down there seemedto be three or four more to take his place, and in the darkness therewas a _melee_ of writhing, struggling men hanging on to the panting, snorting horses and regardless of the keen steel, striving to drag thewielders down. 

"It's all over with us, " thought Denis, and a chill of despair seemed toclutch his heart, as he rose in his stirrups and, dagger in hand, strove, but in vain, to give some aid to his two defenders, who weregrowing breathless with their exertions and hampered and overpowered bytheir foes. 

The horses, too, were becoming frantic, and reared and plunged, greatlyto the riders' disadvantage, but advantage too, for more than one of theassailants fell back from the blows struck by their hoofs, to betrampled the next moment under foot; and then amidst yells, threats, andsavage cries, there was a fresh shout of triumph, for on either side thedefenders' arms were held, and but for the way in which the well-trainedhorses pressed together, both the King and Saint Simon would have beenpulled from their saddles. 

Just at this crucial moment, in the midst of the lull which followed thetriumphal yell, there was the loud trampling of hoofs upon the hard roadin front, the shouting of a war-cry--"France! France!"--seemed to cutthrough the darkness, and with a rush a single horseman looking like adark shadow dashed down upon the group, scattering, so to speak, withwondrous rapidity a perfect shower of thrusts, making those who pinionedKing and courtier fall back, some in surprise and dread, others in agonyor in death, leaving their prisoners at liberty to assume the offensiveonce again and aid their new supporter in his gallant efforts upon theirbehalf. 

"Right!" he shouted, in a strange shrill voice. "About at once! Now, all together, charge!" And, taking advantage of the temporaryastonishment of the enemy, the new-comer ranged himself by the King'sside, and all setting spurs to their horses, the brave beasts shookthemselves free from those who grasped their reins, and together brokeinto a gallop, trampling down and driving to the right and left thosewho, half-hearted now, held fast and strove to stop their way. 

The attempt was vain, and away the little party went along the dim, shadowy road for about a hundred yards, when the stranger's voice roseabove the trampling hoofs in the order to halt and turn, followed by alouder command to charge back once more. 

They needed no urging on the part of the riders, for the horses, excitednow to the fullest extent, recognised the orders, and broke into agallop once again, dashing back over the ground they had just traversedtowards where men were gathering together in obedience to excited voicesand preparing to once more stop their way. For the danger was not yetover; the first charge had driven the horsemen, who had so far not beenseen but heard, into a headlong flight; but at the halt they had ralliedagain, and as the gallant little band of four had turned for theirsecond charge were coming on in full pursuit. 

"Gallop!" yelled their new ally, and even in the wild excitement ofthose few moments, while he seemed borne here and there like theprisoner of his friends, the only help given being by the weight of hishorse, Denis fell to wondering who the gallant Englishman could be thathad come so opportunely to their aid; for there was a something notfamiliar in the tones which, trumpet-like, gave forth their orders, butsomehow strange in the way in which they seemed to raise echoes in hisbrain. 

"Gallop!" he yelled again. "France! France!" And like a flash thequestion darted through the boy's brain, why should he use thebattle-cry of France?

Momentary all this as, before reaching the little, dimly seen crowd thatonce more barred the way, the chargers attained their fullest speed; andthen there were a few slight shocks as man after man went down in theirhalf-hearted resistance, and the rest were scattered, the little line ofhorsemen passing through them, driving them here and there, and chargingon in their headlong gallop forward beneath the overhanging trees whichsuddenly ceased to darken their way, for the gallant band had passed outinto the full bright moonlight once again, and the sound of pursuit bythe enemy's mounted men had died away. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

THE FRIEND IN NEED. 

They must have gone a mile at full gallop before the King cried "Halt!"

As the beat of their horses' hoofs ceased he sat with raised hand as ifcommanding silence, listening; but the heavy breathing of the foursteeds was the only sound that broke the silence of the glorious night. 

"Forward slowly now, " said the King quietly. "The danger is past forthe moment, and we shall have good warning if they come on again, for itis not likely that they have thrown out a second detachment to take usif we escaped the first. Now, just one word--who is hurt? Denis, mybrave lad, how is it with you?"

"You took too much care of me, my lord. I am only hot. "

"Well done!" cried the King. "And you, Saint Simon?"

"A bit battered with blows, sir, " replied the young man; "and I expectwhen the day dawns I can show some rags. "

"No wounds?" cried the King. 

"Not a scratch, sir. "

"But what of you, sir?" cried Denis eagerly, "I am afraid you must havesuffered badly. "

"I have, " said the King shortly. "I feel as if my beauty is spoiled bya blow one ruffian struck at my face. But he was the one who suffered, "he added, with a low hiss suggestive of satisfaction. "But no moreselfishness. Though I have left him to the last, it is not that I donot want to thank our gallant English preserver, who has given us thebest of proofs that he is ready to welcome strangers to his shores. Idon't know by what means you knew, sir, of our peril, or why you shouldthink it worth your while to play the brave knight, and fight againstsuch odds to rescue us from the spoilers, and perhaps from death. Praygive me your name, sir, that we three strangers may bury it deeply inour hearts as one of the most gallant islanders we shall ever meet. "

"My name, your Majesty?" said the stranger quietly. 

"What!" cried the King. "You know who I am?"

"As well as your Majesty knows his faithful servant, " came now infamiliar tones. 

"Master Leoni!" cried all three, in a breath, the King's voice soundingloudest of all. 

"Yes, Sire, " said the owner of the name quietly, as if there were nosuch thing as excitement left in his composition, and instead of being afighting man he was the most peaceable of souls. "Your Majesty, in thefullness of your confidence, thought you would not need your follower'sservices, but I feared that you would, and hence I came. You see, youdid. "

"But how--and mounted! How came you here? You bade us farewell atFontainebleau a week ago. "

"Yes, Sire; a week gave me plenty of time, as you travelled slowly, toget to the port two days earlier than you. I have been well before youall the time. "

"Then that paper!" cried Denis excitedly. "It was you who placed thatbeneath the King's trencher at the inn?"

"I did, Master Denis, " said Leoni quietly, "and I think the warning wasneeded. It would have been safer if his Majesty had taken it to heart, though I feared in his reckless bravery he would laugh at my warning, and so I kept watch and came on in advance. "

"Then you knew that the road was haunted by folk like these?" said theKing. 

"Yes, Sire; I found that in a forest not far from here they have agathering place, and are always on the look-out for rich travellers onthe way to London. They have spies at the port and at the principaltowns to give them warning, and I wonder that you escaped so far withoutthe loss of your horses. "

"Humph!" ejaculated the King sourly. "We should have lost them but forthe brave action of young Denis here; but look you, Master Leoni, " hecontinued sternly, "I gave you my commands to keep watch and ward overmy goods and chattels at my palace of Fontainebleau until my return. "

"Your Majesty did, " said Leoni humbly. 

"And disobedience to my commands is treason, sir, and the punishment ofthat is death. "

"Yes, Sire; but your royal life is the greatest of your possessions, andI felt that might be in danger. You gave me a free hand to do what wasbest in your service, and even if I have offended I deemed it my duty tosave my sovereign's life even at the cost of my own. Your Majesty, Ihave no further defence to make. "

"Hah!" said the King. "He has disarmed me, boys, and I as his masteralmost feel that I cannot order him to execution for such a crime asthis. What say you, Denis, lad?"

"I say, sir, " said the boy, laughing softly, "that this is England, sir, and that you are not King, but my Lord the Comte de la Seine, who has nopower to inflict such a punishment as this. "

"Hah!" said the King, chuckling. "And you, silent Wisehead Saint Simon, what is your judgement?"

"Oh, sir, I think Denis is quite right; but I should like to add onething. "

"Hah!" cried the King. "This fight has made you find your tongue, mylad. Now then, let's have what you think about Master Leoni's offence. "

"I think, sir, that we had better get on a little faster, for I don'twant another fight to-night. "

"Neither do I, " said the King, laughing softly, "for I am sore all over, and I should be miserable if it were not for the thought that thisruffian gang must have suffered far more than we. Why, Master Leoni, the point of your sword I could well believe must have been everywhereat once. "

"A trick of fence, sir, merely a trick of fence, " said Leoni quietly. "Your lordship knows how for years I have studied every Italian trick, and it comes easy and useful at a time like this. "

"My faith, yes!" said the King, drawing a deep breath. "There, MasterLeoni, I must forgive you this time; but don't offend again. Now then, before we drop into a canter, I believe you know the English roads byheart: can you act as our guide to-night?"

"I have studied them a little, sir, and been along here three timesbefore. "

"Then you can take us to a place of safety?"

"Yes, sir, I can; and you will pardon me when I tell you that four daysago I sent forward a trusty messenger to an old town some ten miles fromhere where there is a fine old manor-house, the home of a studiousEnglish nobleman of whom I asked for hospitality for the noble Comte dela Seine should he by any possibility on his journey to the EnglishCourt appeal to him on his way. I and Sir John Carrbroke have oftencorresponded upon matters of scientific lore, and you will be madewelcome as my patron, you may be sure. "

"Hah!" cried the King. "There seems to be no end to you, Leoni. Youknow everything, and are always ready at a pinch. Well, I must let youserve me this time, but to-morrow morning, mind, I shall be sore andstiff, and savage as a Compiegne wild boar, so you had better keepbeyond the reach of my tusks when I order you back to France. "

"I take your warning, sir, " said Master Leoni, rising in his stirrupsand placing his hand to his ear. 

"Hah!" cried the King. "Are they coming on again?"

"No, sir; all is quiet, but we have many good English miles to ride, andit would be wise to keep our horses at a steady pace to get well beyondthe outlaws' grasp, for you do not want to reach my old friend's manorand rouse his people up with a following of outlaws at our heels. "

"There, I give up, " said the King, "and I must give you your due, Leoni. You are the wisest man I know, and I am afraid that you possess a veryungrateful master. Forward, gentlemen, and let's get there, for I ambeginning to grow boar-like and to long to stretch my sore and wearylimbs in a good bed, if I can, or merely on a heap of straw. Here, Leoni, I suppose you have not brought any of that healing salve withwhich you have treated me more than once when I came to misfortune inthe hunt?"

"By rights, sir, I am a _chirurgien_, or leech, " said Leoni gravely. "On my travels a few simples and my little case are things I never leavebehind. "

These were almost the last words spoken during the ten-mile ride, thelatter part being intensely silent, until Leoni drew rein upon the slopeof a wooded hill and pointed across a little valley, where a silverstreamlet flashed before their eyes, to the gables of a long low Englishmanor-house whose diamond-shaped casements glittered like the facets ofso many gems in a setting of ivy, full in the light of the uncloudedmoon. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

THE NEXT MORNING. 

"Yes! Hallo! What is it?"

Denis started up upon his left elbow, gazing in a confused way at aglistening oaken door. 

He was in a well-furnished room with tall narrow window through whichthe sun shone brightly, lighting up the furniture, and streaming acrossthe bed in which he lay; but for some moments it did not light up hisintellect, which was still oppressed with the impressions of a confuseddream, half real, half imaginary, of chasing horses, being ridden down, fighting for life, and then galloping on and on all through the night, while as he stared at the door he was conscious of a heavy, dull, achingpain extending from his right hand right up his shoulder, and giving himsharp twinges every time he breathed. 

"Some one called, " he thought to himself, and as the idea passed throughhis brain a pleasant-sounding voice said in English:

"Breakfast directly. May I come in?" Then the door was thrown open, and a handsome, frank-looking English youth of about his own age camequickly forward into the sunshine, to stand gazing at the guest from thefoot of the bed. 

"I hope you slept well?" he said eagerly. 

Denis looked at him admiringly, for there was something about the lad'sface which attracted him. 

"Oh yes, " he said--"Oh no. It has been all a troubled dream. I gothurt yesterday, and my arm throbs horribly. "

"Ah!" cried the new-comer. "I am very sorry. You are wounded?"

"No; I was in a bit of a fight with a man on horseback. "

"You were? I wish I had been there!" cried the new-comer eagerly. "Well? did you beat him?"

"I think so. He ran away. But I had my arm nearly wrenched out of thesocket. "

"That's bad. You have had it seen to by a doctor, of course?"

"Oh no. It will get well. But who are you?"

"Oh, I'm Sir John Carrbroke's son Edward; but he always calls me Ned. Iwas so tired last night and slept so soundly that I didn't hear you andyour friends come. Father woke me a little while ago and told me tocome and see you and welcome you to the Pines. Glad to see you. You'vejust come from France, haven't you? But I needn't ask, " continued theboy, smiling. "Anyone would know you were French. "

Denis flushed a little. 

"Of course I can't talk English like you, " he said pettishly. "But yousaid something about breakfast. "

"Yes. It will be all waiting by the time you are dressed. "

"Then would you mind going--and--"

"Oh yes, of course; I'll go. Only I wanted to see our new visitor, and--but you said your arm was all wrenched. "

"Yes. I have only a misty notion about how I managed to undress. "

"Of course. It must have been very hard. Here, I'll stop and helpyou. "

Denis protested, but the frank outspoken lad would not hear a word. 

"Nonsense, " he said. "I shall help you. I know how. I am a sort ofgentleman in waiting at the Court. "

"Indeed!" cried Denis, looking at him wonderingly. 

"Oh yes. I haven't been there long. My father used to be just the samewith the late King, and that made him able to get me there. It's onlythe other day that I left the great school--a year ago, though; andnow, " he added, laughing, "I am going to be somebody big--King Harry'sesquire--the youngest one there. I say, isn't it a nuisance to be onlya boy?"

"Oh no, " said Denis, laughing, and quite taken by the friendly chatterof his new acquaintance. "One wants to grow up, of course; but I don'tknow that I ever felt like that. "

"Perhaps not, " said his companion, busily helping him with his garments;"but then you see you're not at Court where there are a lot of fellowswho have been there for a bit, ready to look down upon you just becauseyou're new, and glare at you and seem ready to pick a quarrel and tofight if ever the King gives you a friendly nod or a smile. --No, no:I'll tie those points. Don't hurt your arm--but wait a bit. --I am youngand inexperienced yet, and they're too much for me, but I am hard atit. "

He ceased speaking, but stood with his mouth pursed up, frowning, as hetied the points in question. 

"I see you are, " said Denis, "playing servant to me; and it's very goodof you, for my arm does feel very bad. "

"Good! Nonsense!" cried the lad merrily. "You'd do the same for me ifI were visiting at your father's house, and crippled. "

"That couldn't be, " said Denis sadly. "I have no father's house--he'sdead. "

"Oh, I am sorry!"

"He was a soldier, and died fighting for the King. "

"Hah!" said the other softly. "That's very pitiful; but, " he added, with more animation, "it is very grand as well. --No, no, no: be quiet!I'm here, and what's the good of making your arm worse? You're avisitor; and you wouldn't like me to go away and send one of ourfellows. I shall be a knight some day, I hope; and it's a knight's dutyto fight, of course, but he ought to be able to help a wounded man. Nowyou're a wounded man and I'm going to help you, wash you and all, and Isay, you want it too. You look as if you had been down in the dust. And what's this? Why, there's clay matted in the back of your neck!"

"Well, " said Denis, smiling, "I am such a cripple I can't help myself, and so I must submit. "

"Of course you must. I'll feed you too, if you like, by-and-by. "

"But what did you mean, " said Denis, to change the conversation, as hesmilingly yielded himself to the busy helpful hands of his new friend. 

"What did I mean? Why, to help you. "

"No, no; I meant about those fellows riding roughshod over you andwanting to pick quarrels. "

"Oh, I see. I meant, I'm waiting my time. Can you fence--use a swordwell?"

"Not very, but I'm practising hard. "

"Are you? So am I. We've got a French _maitre d'armes_ at Court, andhe's helping me and teaching me all he knows. He's splendid! He likesme because I work so hand, and pats me on the back, and calls me `grandgarcon' and dear pupil. Ah, he's a wonder. Only he makes me feel sostupid. He's like one of those magician fellows when you cross swordswith him. Yes, it's just like magic; for when he likes he can make hislong thin blade twist and twine about yours as if it were a snake andall alive; and before you know where you are it tightens round, and then_twit, twang_, yours is snatched out of your hand and gone flying acrossthe room, making you feel as helpless as a child. Ah, you don't knowwhat it is to feel like that. I say, hold still. How am I to wipe you?That's better. "

"But I do know what it is to feel like that, " cried Denis, as soon as hecould get his face free from the white linen cloth his new friend washandling with great dexterity. 

"You do?" cried the latter. "What, have you got a _maitre d'armes_ overwhere you came from?"

"Yes, and he's here in this house now. You should have seen him in adesperate fight we had last night against about a score--"

"Of the road outlaws coming through the forest?"

"Yes, and they attacked us. "

"And you got away. "

Denis nodded. 

"My word! You were lucky!"

"It was through my fencing master, " said Denis warmly, as his dressingwas hurried on. "He can do all you say when he's teaching; and when hefights as he did last night--"

"Oh, I do wish that I had been there!"

"--his point seems everywhere at once. "

"That's the sort of man I love, " cried the English lad excitedly, and hegave his visitor so hearty a slap on the shoulder that Denis changedcolour and reeled. 

"Oh, what have I done!" cried the lad, catching him in his arms andhurriedly lowering him into a settee, before fetching him water in asilver cup and holding it to his lips. --"Feel better now?" he said. 

"Oh yes, it's nothing. Don't laugh at me, please. I turned faint likea great silly girl. You touched the tenderest place, where my arm washurt, and--"

"Denis, boy! May I come in?"

"Yes, yes, " said the lad faintly. "Come in. Carrbroke, this is MasterLeoni, the gentleman who handles his sword so well. "

"I am glad to know you, sir, " said the youth, drawing himself up andwelcoming with courtly grace the slight, keen-looking, elderly man whosestrange, penetrating eyes seemed to be searching him through andthrough. "I am so sorry that I was asleep when you came last night. Iwas helping my father's visitor just now, and I am afraid I have hurthim a great deal. His shoulder is hurt, and he tells me that it has notbeen treated by a leech. "

"Hurt?" cried Leoni, speaking quickly. "I did not know of this. Whydid you not tell me last night?"

"Oh, I didn't think, " said Denis. "I had enough to do to sit my horseand manage to get here; and, " added the lad lightly, "I thought that itwould be better. "

"Ah, " said Master Leoni quietly, "let me see. " And he looked at the boyfixedly with that curious hard stare of the left eye which Denis nevercould explain. 

"Oh no; I'm nearly dressed now, and breakfast is waiting. "

"How did this happen?" said Leoni, paying no heed to the lad's words. "Sit still, boy, and tell me everything at once. "

Denis gave a hurried narrative of his encounter, and his listenerseagerly grasped every word. 

"I see, " said Leoni gravely. "Your blade must have passed through theruffian, and been held long enough by the muscles for you to receive ahorrible wrench. There, set your teeth, and if I hurt you try and bearit. I will be as gentle as I can. "

A rapid examination followed, and then the carefully educated fingersceased their task, and Leoni spoke again as he drew a white kerchieffrom his pouch and gently wiped his patient's moistened brow. 

"There is nothing wrong, " he said, "but a bad strain at the tendons, andof course the slightest touch gives great suffering. I will returndirectly. I am only going to my room for something that will lull thatpain, and nature will do the rest. "

He nodded gravely to both the lads, and passed quickly from the room, while as the door closed the young Englishman said eagerly:

"I like him. He seems to know a deal. But you said that he was a_maitre d'armes_. "

"He's everything, " said Denis with a faint laugh--"_chirurgien_, statesman--oh, I can't tell you all. Oh, how he hurt me, though! Ifyou hadn't been here I believe I should have shrieked. "

"Not you, " cried the other. "I was watching, and I saw how you set yourteeth. Why, if he had pulled your arm off you wouldn't have said aword. I say, I wish you were English. "

"Why?" said Denis wonderingly. 

"Oh, I don't know, " said the other rather confusedly, "only I seem tolike a fellow who can act like that. "

"Then because I am French you feel as if you couldn't like me?"

"That I don't!" replied the lad bluffly. "Because I do like you, andI'm glad you've come. I say, can you shake hands?"

"Like the English?" said Denis. "Of course. "

"Oh, I did not mean that, " said the other. "Of course I know that youfellows embrace; but I meant about your arm. Can you shake handswithout its hurting? Because we always do it with our right. "

"Try, " said Denis, smiling, as, passing his left hand under his wrist, he softly raised the injured limb, and the next moment the two ladsseemed to seal the beginning of a long friendship in a warm, firmpressure, which had not ended when they became conscious that the doorhad softly opened and Master Leoni was standing there, adark, peculiar-looking, living picture in an oaken frame, aninscrutable-looking smile upon his lips and his eyes half closed. 

The blood flushed to the cheeks of both the lads, as the youngEnglishman tightened his grip and stood firm, while without appearing tohave noticed the lads' action, Leoni came forward, and they saw that hehad a little silver _flacon_ in his hand. 

"Feel faint now, Denis?" he said. 

"Oh no, " was the reply. "That passed away at once. Is that what youhave been to fetch?"

"Yes, " said Leoni, smiling, "and you need not think that I am going togive you drops in water such as will make you shudder. I am only goingto moisten this linen pad and lay it beneath your waistcoat. I believeit will quite dull the pain. There, " he said, a few minutes later, after carefully securing the moistened linen so that it should not slip, and fastening the lad's doublet to his throat, "it feels better now, does it not?"

"Better?" said Denis with a low hiss, and speaking through his teeth. "Why, it's as if a red-hot point was boring through my shoulder. "

"Yes, " said Leoni, smiling; "and that's a good sign. In another minuteyou will not feel the same. Come, Master Carrbroke, let us both finishdressing our patient and get him to his breakfast. "

"Oh, I couldn't have believed it, " cried Denis, five minutes later. "Master Carrbroke--"

"Ned, " said the young man correctively. "Ned always to my friends. "

"Ned, then, " said Denis warmly; "once more, this is Master Leoni, andyou ought to make him one, for you never before met such a man as he. "

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

A FEW BARS' REST. 

A short time later, the dull aching pain seemed to have passedcompletely out of the injured shoulder, and after a few words evincinghis gratitude, which Leoni received with a rather cynical smile, theypassed together, led by their new young friend, into the long lowdining-hall of the house, where the King, in company with Saint Simon, both apparently none the worse for the previous night's experience, wasimpatiently waiting, and conversing with his host, a tall grey-beardedman of sixty, whose aspect told at once that he was father to the youthwho ushered in the injured lad. 

"Let me introduce my son, my lord, " said Sir John. "Ned, my boy, thisis Comte de la Seine, a French nobleman about to visit your royalmaster's Court. My lord, my fighting days have long been over, and Ionly serve my King now with my counsel; but he has honoured me byaccepting the service of my only son for his father's sake, and has madehim, young as he is, one of the King's esquires. "

"And a brave one too, I'll warrant, " said Francis, holding out his hand, quite forgetful of his new character as a travelling nobleman, for hishost's heir to kiss. 

He winced slightly, his face twitched, and an ejaculation nearly passedhis lips, while the sinister look on Master Leoni's countenance deepenedas he half closed his eyes, at heart enjoying the scene; for the youthadvanced with the frank, manly courtesy of a young Englishman, andinstead of bending over and kissing, courtier-like, the extended hand, he took it and shook it with a hearty grip. 

"I am glad to know my father's guest, my lord, " he said. "It was notfrom want of respect that I was not here before. I have been with youresquire. --He was badly hurt yesterday, father; he mustn't go on. Youmust keep him here for days, till we have set him right. "

"Gladly, my boy, " cried Sir John, "if his lordship will honour my poorhome with his presence. "

"Oh no, no, " said the King shortly. "Why, Denis, boy, you are not sobad as that. Here, Master Leoni, what have you to say?"

"That he must rest two or three days at least, sir. His arm is badlywrenched, and he is not fit to sit a horse. "

"But he sat one bravely enough last night, " cried the King. --"But, SirJohn, are all your roads like this? If the people we passed last nightcould have had their way you would have no guests to throw themselvesupon your kindness, for we should have been lying somewhere in theforest to feed the English crows. But there, we have kept you waitinglong enough, " and he made a gesture towards the well-spread board. 

Sir John raised his eyebrows slightly, for his visitor's imperious, authoritative way impressed him unfavourably. But no suspicion of hisstatus occurred to him then, and directly after he was busily employeddoing the honours of his table, the good things spread thereon soonhaving a mollifying influence upon his guest, whose autocratic waysbecame less prominent under the influence of a most enjoyable meal. 

Thoroughly softened then by his meal as far as temper was concerned, theKing now began to find out that he was exceedingly stiff, and questionedSaint Simon a good deal about his sensations, to learn that he too wasin the same condition. 

"Ah, well, " he said, "riding will soon take that off. Here, let's goand have a look at the horses. "

Sir John accompanied his guest into the great stable-yard, followed bySaint Simon and the two young esquires. 

The chargers had been carefully tended by Sir John's men, who did notfail to point out that they were not taking their corn happily; and itwas perfectly evident to everyone that their hard day's work, followingso closely upon much riding down to the port and the stormy crossing, had made them in a very unsatisfactory condition. 

"Humph!" grunted the King. "They don't look as I should like. "

"Splendid beasts, " said Sir John; "but they want eight and forty hours'rest. You will not think of continuing your journey to-day?"

"Indeed but I shall, " said the King, --"er--that is--how do you thinkthey look, Saint Simon?"

"Bough, " said the young man laconically. 

The King grunted and frowned. 

"I fear you think that you will not be welcome, my lord, " said Sir John, "and I beg that you will dismiss all such thoughts. Make up your mind, pray, to stay for the next eight and forty hours. I beg you will. Thenwe shall see how the poor beasts are. Besides, we have to think of ouryoung friend. "

The result was that the King consented to stop for the aforesaidforty-eight hours, at the end of which time, feeling himself verycomfortable and enjoying his host's company, he needed very littlepressure to prolong his stay, especially as Leoni announced that, thoughDenis was mending fast, riding might have a bad effect and delay hisrecovery. 

The King's Esquires--by George Manville Fenn

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

THE DOCTOR IS BUSY. 

But the King could not conceal his anxiety to be once more in the saddle_en route_ for Windsor; and although Sir John Carrbroke urged him toremain so far as the dictates of hospitality required, yet he forborewhen he saw the impatience of his guest to be once more on his way, andat dinner the night before the departure he spoke only of the journey tobe undertaken on the following day. 

"You will find the roads safe enough from here onward, sir, " he saidcourteously, and the King bowed gravely. 

"I trust so, " he said; "I trust so. England had been represented to meas a land where everyone was safe. "

Sir John leaned forward. 

"I doubt not, " he said, "that when you represent to his Majesty theperil you encountered the south will be cleared of that roving band. "

The King laughed. 

"Well, we did something towards ridding the country of the robbers, eh, Leoni? I--" He stopped speaking, for at that minute there was the soundof a horse cantering into the courtyard, and a minute later Sir John'sown serving-man entered the apartment. 

"It is a message, Sir John, " he said, "for my young master. " And hehanded a document to Ned Carrbroke, who hastily unfastened it and read. 

"Lord Hurst orders me to return at once, " he said to his father. 

"Ah, " said Sir John. "You see, sir, " he exclaimed with a smile, lookingat the King, "how important an individual the boy there is becoming. But, " he went on, "you were expecting this summons, my lad, and now asit happens you will be able to act as additional escort to our guest--that is, if he will permit. "

"Permit!" cried the King. "I shall be glad to have our young friend'scompany--glad indeed. " And as he spoke Sir John gazed musingly at thesparkling ring which his guest wore, one which flashed in the light ofthe candles as Francis made a gesture with his hand. 

A few minutes later Ned Carrbroke glanced at his father, and then rosefrom his chair, making a sign to Denis as he did so. 

"Come, " he said quietly, as the two lads moved to the door and passedout. "It was in my mind before, and now it has happened just as I wouldhave wished. I shall come with you. "

"Yes, " answered Denis. "I am glad. "

"I shall be able to show you much, " the other went on. "You have neverseen a Court; I shall be able to introduce you to that of our King. "

"Well, " said Denis hesitatingly, "I have been to Fontainebleau. "

"Fontainebleau? Where's that?"

"The Court of the King of France. "

"Ah! You have seen King Francis?"

"Yes. "

"What is he like?"

"Brave, handsome, noble!"

"So is my King too. You will have to stop with me in England and serveKing Henry. "

While Denis accompanied his new-found friend the talk went on in the bigwainscotted dining-room, and the King, who was leaning back in hischair, had finished a long story of the chase, when his host half rose. 

"If you will excuse me, my lord, for a few minutes, " he said, "I have togive an order as to your departure to-morrow?"

Francis made an inclination of assent. 

"When you visit France, " he said, "I trust, sir, that I shall be able tomake you some return for your kindness to me and to my followers here. "And then a minute later, left alone with his two companions, the Kingyawned. "Gentlemen, " he exclaimed, "do not let me detain you. " AndLeoni and Saint Simon rose, the doctor hesitating a moment at the door. 

"You do not, sir, " he began, "see any disadvantage in--"

"In what?" said the King sharply. 

"Why, sir, in our taking this English stripling along with us on themorrow?"

"By my sword, no!" said the King. "Why should I?"

"He is keen and clever. "

"And what of that?"

"Simply this, sir: he might divine the truth. A word, a look--"

"Leoni, have I not acted my part well till now?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Then--"

"With your permission, sir; you are a King, and those who are chosen byHeaven to reign cannot assume the guise of other men. "

"But my disguise, Leoni--my disguise!"

"Has been admirable, sir. "

"Then trust me for the future, " was the reply. 

And as the door closed and a puff of air caused the lights on the tableto dance, the King leaned back in his chair and just then caught his ownreflection in a tall glass at the further end of the chamber. 

"Ah, " he mused, "Leoni doubts of my address. Let him be quite assured. And this Henry who has ambitions on my land of France! Shortly I shallmeet him, and my strength will be greater than his since I shall knowwho he is, and he--he will be ignorant as to who I am. 

 "Never in France Shall England reign!"

he hummed. 

"To-morrow I shall meet him, and then that stone--for Leoni must beright--that jewel will be mine, and the last link which binds us to theold invasion will be snapped. "

The King rose and took a turn up and down the apartment. 

"I must speak again with Leoni, " he said. "Where has he gone?" And helifted a _portiere_ and walked out of the apartment, entering a longcorridor where a coloured lamp hung from the ceiling. "Our host is welllodged, " he continued musingly, as he passed on, stopping at a doorthrough which a stream of light issued forth. 

The King pushed the door, which swung back noiselessly on its hinges, and gazed inside, to see Leoni sitting at a table, studiously intentupon some work--lost in the depths. He called softly:

"Leoni!"

The doctor did not turn his head. 

"Leoni!" said the King once more, raising his voice; and the man oflearning leaped to his feet and came towards his master. 

"My lord!" he ejaculated. 

The King stepped into the room, and the door closed behind him. 

"Busily engaged, Master Leoni?" he said bluffly. 

The doctor bowed. 

"In your service, sir, " he replied humbly. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

THE GLITTERING STONE. 

"You are satisfied, I trust, doctor, with our programme?" said the King, in a slightly ironical tone, as he passed to the window, humming an oldhunting song as he tapped the panes, while Leoni remained standing nearthe table at which he had been busily engaged writing. 

"Sir--" he began. 

"Sit down, Master Leoni; sit down. You can respect my disguise better, and also more thoroughly please me. I was saying, you are satisfied?"

"Everything, sir, that you order is the best. Of that I am convinced;and yet, sir, I am anxious about the Majesty of France. I am commonclay, sir. I am nothing; I can die; whereas you--"

"No, no, Leoni; not here, not here. We have left that in France. Doyou not understand? Just at present we are travelling companions, and Ilook to you and to your great learning for assistance, just as Ireceived it in the forest that night; and then it was timely indeed. "

"You are too indulgent, my lord, to any poor attainments that yourservant may possess. Such as they are, they will always be at my lord'sservice, " replied Leoni, and he slowly resumed his seat in thehigh-backed chair, in obedience to a commanding gesture from the King. 

Francis laughed lightly. 

"The best swordsman, " he said, "in all my fair kingdom of France--cut, parry, and point; the greatest savant; and, by my sword, the best ofpatrists. --No, no, Leoni, old friend, I am not too indulgent, " and hegave his follower a keen glance. "But as to the route; is it good tostart to-morrow?"

Leoni bowed. 

"Yes, sir, it is good, " he said, and he blew some few grains of sand offthe paper at which he had been engaged. 

"Ah!" said the King. "'Tis well. "

"And then, sir--"

"Then--I do not understand. "

Leoni leaned forward, and with his elbows on the table joined the tipsof his fingers, and then clasped his hands and, with the weird strangelook in his eyes, said:

"What does my lord propose to do?"

"To do? Why, to go to the Court of our quick-tempered brother Henry atthis palace of his at Windsor. "

"Ah!" said Leoni. 

"You are doubtful?"

"I think, sir, that there may be difficulties in the way. " And thespeaker glanced at the document before him. 

"Difficulties for me! You are mad. "

"No, sir, only cautious. When you are in France, at Fontainebleau, atCompiegne, in Paris, no matter where, does his Majesty the King receiveany errant English nobleman who may be abroad to study the world? Ithink not. Your minister would inquire into the traveller's papers, andask whence he came, and why. "

The King turned thoughtful in a moment, and the haughty look died awayon his lips. 

"By Saint Louis, I never thought of that! Leoni, you are wiser than I. "

Leoni gazed intently at the King, who winced; and Francis ended byputting his hand before his own eyes, as if the peculiar fixed stareannoyed him. 

"I was arguing by analogy, sir. Is it likely that this English monarchwill act differently from the first King in Christendom? I think not. Henry apes your Majesty. It is you, Sire, who lead, and whom otherkings follow. Go in your proper person, and there is not a door in allthis land, or in any other, which can be thrown open wide enough toadmit you; but--"

"Leoni, " interrupted the King, "what are you writing?"

"A suggestion, sir, to offer you. "

The King crossed the chamber, and, leaning over Leoni's shoulder, readout the words:

"To our well-beloved Cousin, Henry, King of England. 

"Dear Cousin and King, --

"The bearer of this our letter, the noble Comte Reginald Herault de laSeine of Angomar and Villay, is our good friend. We ask you to receivehim as such, and to permit him to see your Court, of which all the worldspeaks, and your kingdom of England, whose power is so beneficent and somighty an agent of Heaven's will on this earth. "

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Will it serve, sir?" asked Leoni. 

"Of course!" cried the King; and snatching the pen from the doctor'shand, he took the letter to the other side of the table and clumsilyscribbled down a signature. "There, " he cried, tossing the letter back;"will that do?"

Leoni fixed him with his eyes and shrugged his shoulders slightly, andhis peculiar cynical smile played about his lips. 

"I wish, Leoni, you wouldn't stare at me like that, " cried the Kingpetulantly. "Yes. I know; it is bad--not like your regular writing. Idon't pass my time handling a pen. "

"I was not thinking of the writing, sir, but of the signature. "

"Oh, I see, " cried the King; "I am not used to it. I shall write itbetter by-and-by. Well, won't that one do?"

"Your lordship had not thought before you put pen to paper. "

"Yes, I did; I thought that the sooner I got it over the better. Well, what do you want now?"

"I was wondering, " said Leoni, with a mocking smile, "what King Henrywould think of a Comte de la Seine who writes a letter in the King'sname to introduce himself. "

"Bah!" cried the King angrily. "What an idiot! No; it was my honestnature rebelling against deceit. Here, Leoni, what's to be done?"

"I'll write the letter over again, sir, and you will sign it this timeas the King. "

"Good!" murmured Francis. 

The letter was rewritten, and the King signed. 

"With this passport, sir, King Henry's Court at Windsor will be free toyou and to yours. "

"Excellent, " said the King, and he glanced at the document endorsed withthe royal signature--"Francois, R. "--at which he smiled withself-satisfaction. "Now nothing more remains to be done. "

The King looked fixedly at his servant, and then laid his hand on thelatter's arm. 

"It is good, " he said. "What you have done is well done. Leoni, withmind and sword you have served me well, and that France which we bothlove with loyalty and faith. And now--now that we are nearing ourjourney's end, you hold it still to be the truth that Henry guardsjealously in his possession this jewel, which in his hands is an agentfor the downfall of France?"

"I hold it to be true, sir, " said Leoni solemnly, and he laid his handon a little golden crucifix which lay on the table before him. "I holdit to be true, and that the old ambition which brought the Englishhordes to our country is kept alive by the influence of that jewel. Hewill serve France well who reclaims it and restores it to its rightfulplace--your crown, Sire. " And the speaker dropped on one knee, but theKing motioned him to rise. 

"Not now, " he said; "not now. " And then, as his royal master appearedto be lost in thought, Leoni went on; "Never, sir, would I have broughtthis matter to your notice, deeply though it concerns the welfare ofFrance, had I not been convinced. "

"And why so?"

"Because, sir, I knew your nature--reckless, valiant, ready to risk all, ay, even your life, when the interests of your country are involved. "

"And rightly so. It is as a Valois should act, as a Valois will act tothe end. "

"Yes, sir; and yet I dreaded at first to speak, for I foresaw somethingof what would happen, since to those who study deeply a vision of thefuture is vouchsafed at times, and I realised even then what might beyour resolve--namely, to undertake the perilous quest yourself. "

"It was for France. "

"Yes, sir--"

And then the King, in a softened voice, said slowly:

"You blame me, Leoni?"

"It is not for such as I to blame. All that you have done, sir, isgood; but there is the future. Of that we will take thought. You arein a strange land, sir, amidst people who to-morrow may be foes. Youare far from the army which would follow you to death, and to meet thedangers which may come into your path there are but three swords, threeloyal hearts. "

"And they will be enough, " said the King. "Leoni, old friend, you musthave no fear. "

"I have none, sir. "

"Well, " said the King, "between ourselves, Leoni, I have. This thingbegins to look more awkward now we are getting so near. King Henry isalways very civil to me in his letters, and no doubt he will give theComte de la Loire--"

"Seine, sir--Seine. "

"Bah! Yes, of course. I knew it was some river. I say: I mustn't makesuch a mistake as that again, or he will find me out. Here, hadn't webetter change the name to something else? Seine--Seine--it's rather astupid name. "

"Too late, sir, " said Leoni earnestly. "You must hold to it now. Butyou were about to say something, my lord. "

"Yes, of course, " cried the King hastily. "Suppose Henry does find meout, and has got me there. Why, by my sword, Leoni, he'll hold me toransom, and instead of my getting back that one jewel he'll make me giveup my whole crown. "

"No, sir; no, sir, " cried Leoni earnestly. "Have more faith inyourself, and go forward. You cannot turn back now. You will soon getused to the part you assume, and it will be easy. "

"I don't know so much about that, " said the King. "I am a bad actor. Why, you can't keep it up yourself. If I hadn't stopped you just nowyou'd have been down upon your knees to kiss my hand. "

"That was only my reverence and duty to my King. "

"Yes, I know, " said Francis angrily; "but just recollect that you haveno king now, and let's have no reverence, for if you get me regularlyinto trouble over this, good a servant as you have been to me, yourfriends will have to prepare your tomb, a short one too, for you willlose your head. "

"In the service of my country and my lord, sir, " said Leoni calmly. "Ishall have done my duty. But we shall not fail. "

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

THE KING'S BULLIES. 

It was towards evening that the little cavalcade came within sight ofthe town where was situated the famous castle which was so much to theliking of Henry; and at this point there was a separation, for youngCarrbroke took leave. 

"We shall soon meet again, " he said to Denis, as the two lads bade eachother farewell. "When does your master go to the Court?"

Denis shook his head. 

"I do not know. Ask him. "

"I dare not. "

"It will be soon, " exclaimed Denis, "for I believe that my lord will notremain in England long. "

The King took dinner that night at the hostelry by the side of the ferryand ford they had crossed that day, having previously despatched Deniswith the letter which was to bring him face to face with the King ofEngland, the lad shortly returning, having intrusted the missive to acaptain of the Royal Guards, by whom it was to be handed to thechamberlain on duty. 

But the meal was not concluded when Francis was asked to receive amessenger from the castle. 

"Bid him enter, " said the King, and he rose and stood by the widehearth, as the emissary of the English King entered and bowed low. 

"His Majesty, " he said, "wishes to welcome the noble Count de la Seine, and tells me to assure you, sir, that had he known of your coming hewould gladly have provided an escort from the coast. He begs that youwill honour him this evening with your presence at his Court. "

"Tell his Majesty, " said Francis gravely, "that I am very sensible ofhis kindness, and that it is my most urgent wish to wait upon him. "

The royal messenger was bowed out, and Francis turned sharply to Leoni. 

"Well, Leoni, we are outside the lion's den at present. Are we to goin?--Don't!" cried the King angrily. 

"My lord!"

"Don't stare at me like that. I know what you are thinking--that I amafraid. "

"Heaven forbid that I should think such a thing of--"

The King made a gesture, and in a hoarse whisper:

"You were going to say `King. ' One might think from your visage that inwalking into his palace I was stepping into a lion's den. --What now, boy? What were you thinking?" he cried, turning sharply to Denis, whohad been listening impatiently to his companion's words. 

"Only, sir, that if it be a lion's den the Comte de la Seine has hissword. "

"To be sure, " said the King. 

"And three followers who carry theirs, and--"

The boy stopped short, for as he uttered his boastful words he wasinterrupted by a hoarse, mocking laugh which came through the partlyopen door, rousing the boy's ire so that he clapped his hand to hisweapon, the others turning also in the direction from which the soundhad come. 

"What!" came in a loud, bullying tone. "The room engaged? Nonsense!Who are they! What are they doing here?"

"French gentlemen, Sir Robert. "

"French dancing masters, I suppose, come to teach the Court ladsminuets; and are they to keep English gentlemen waiting outside because, forsooth, they have engaged the public room? Come in, boys. Here, landlord; a stoup of wine. I'm thirsty. Frenchmen! Why, we can makethem dance!"

There was a thump struck upon the panel of the door, which flew open, and a big, soldierly-looking man in horseman's boots covered with dustswaggered in, followed by a couple more, who looked, like their leader, hot and dusty, and, judging by their accoutrements, appeared to havejust dismounted. 

Francis started and frowned as he met the English officer's insultinggaze--insulting, for the stranger gave a contemptuous look around at theassembled party, swaggered forward, unbuckling his belt and throwing itand his sword upon the table with a bang, before dragging forward achair over the polished floor, raising it a little, and then bringing itheavily down, to throw himself into its seat and then cry:

"Come, boys; the chairs are not all occupied. How long is that fellowgoing to be with the wine?"

Francis turned pale; Leoni bit his lip, drew closer to him, andwhispered softly:

"Pay no heed, M. Le Comte;" while Denis and Saint Simon, after gazingfiercely at the new-comers, turned to look at the King as if to signifytheir readiness, and mutely ask his consent to drive these intrudersfrom the room. 

The result of this was that the painful silence was broken by theofficer addressed as Sir Robert bursting into another loud insultinglaugh. He looked at first one and then at the other of his companions, before doubling his great gloved fist and beginning to make his sworddance upon the table by thumping hard and shouting loudly:

"Now, landlord! Wine--wine--wine!"

"Pay no heed, sir, " said Leoni softly. "They are trying to provoke aquarrel, and you cannot stoop. "

"What's that, Frenchman? Can't you speak English? None of yourmiserable monsieuring here! Do you know where you are? In the shadowof the Court of the great King Hal. Here, youngster, what are you doingwith that hilt? It isn't a fiddlestick. I didn't know dancing masterscarried swords. --Ah, here's the wine. Pour out landlord; and here, " hecontinued, as the host nervously filled the cups he had brought. "Bah!Fool! Into the cups, not all over the table. Your wine is always bad, but sack is too good to polish English oak. Now, boys, here's to--Stop!Let's make this French springald drink King Harry's health. There, boy. Take up that cup. "

Leoni stretched out his hand to catch Denis by the arm, but he was toolate, for, with his eyes flashing, the boy stepped quickly forward tothe table, caught up the cup, and raised it towards his lips. 

"Montjoie Saint Denis! God save the King of France!" he cried, and wasabout to drain the cup, while Leoni uttered an impatient hiss, when thevessel was brutally struck from his hand by the English officer, thewine being scattered about the room, and bringing the King to his feet. 

"Insolent!" cried Sir Robert, with his face now crimson, as he toosprang to his feet, and catching up another of the filled cups. "But heshall drink it, boys, or I'll slit his miserable ears. Do youunderstand plain English, you minuet-dancing puppy?"

"Yes, " panted Denis, between his teeth, and never taking his eyes fromthe Englishman; "every word. "

"Ah! That's good. Then take this cup, and down upon your knees anddrink King Harry's health, or 'fore Heaven you shall go back to yourmiserable country marked by an English blade. "

There was a momentary pause in the room, every eye being centred uponthe boy, fascinated as all were and self-forgetful, as they watched forthe outcome of the incident. 

They were not kept waiting long, for the fierce look upon the boy'scountenance gave place to a pleasant smile which the Englishman did notread as meant mockingly. He stretched out and took the cup, and thebully returned the smile as he gave his companions a quick nod of thehead. 

"You see, boys, " he cried, in his loud bullying voice, "this is the wayto teach French monkeys! Now, my mincing young skipjack, God save KingHarry!--Malediction!" he roared, as he snatched up his sword, for with aquick motion the boy had emptied the wine-cup full in his face. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

TRAPPED. 

At the English captain's action his two companions sprang from theirchairs and drew their weapons, for Denis had stepped back with his ownblade leaping from its scabbard--a movement followed at once by histhree companions, who stood on their defence. 

"Now, boys, " raged out Sir Robert. "Hah! The window is open. Ready?"

"Yes, " came fiercely. 

"No deep wounds; but prick and make them dance till they reach thewindow and leap out. I'll tackle this boy. "

The next moment there was the harsh, grating, rasping, hissing sound ofsteel edge against steel. 

"Back, boy!" raged out Francis. "Let me punish this English_canaille_. "

"No, sir, " whispered Leoni sharply. "They are three. Let your servantsfinish this. "

"Here's for you!" shouted one of Sir Robert's companions, and they madefor the King and his two followers; but they were hindered from crossingswords by Sir Robert, who, stepping back to avoid a sharp thrustdelivered by Denis, felt his foot slip upon the wine-moistened polishedoaken boards, and in saving himself he came in contact with the table, driving it heavily in his comrades' way, so that the two parties wereseparated, the centre of the room being taken up by Denis and hisadversary. 

"The unlucky boy!" muttered the King angrily. "Leoni, he is no matchfor that English bull. "

"No, sir, " said the doctor coolly, as he stood watchful with his bladeadvanced; "but he can fence a little. Give me place, and I'll see thathe does not come to harm. "

Seeing that their adversaries were disposed to hold their hands untilthe couple engaged had finished their encounter, Sir Robert's twocompanions stood waiting for their turn till the unequal match wasfinished; for unequal it was, Denis being pressed hard in the fierceonslaught made by the strong-armed bully, who kept on thrusting anddriving the boy sideways as, lithe and agile, he avoided or parriedevery thrust. At last his fate seemed sealed, for his arm was growingweak and his defence being beaten down, when with a quick movement andjust in the nick of time Leoni made a sudden dart forward and turnedaside a very awkward thrust. 

"Ah! Coward!" roared the English officer. "Two to one! Here, boys, come on!"

The command was unnecessary, for Leoni's action was imitated at once bySir Robert's followers, who sprang forward, to have their blades engagedat once by Saint Simon and the King. 

Then in a general _melee_ the swords gritted and twined and seemed likeflashing serpents in deadly fray, while those who grasped them came incontact with and were hindered by the furniture of the by no meansextensive room. 

The floor was made slippery by the wine which bedewed the boards, butbefore the encounter had lasted a minute there were other drops whichadded to the peril; for Denis's thin blade had passed along thefleshiest part of the English captain's ribs, and raging now withpassion and pain as he felt the sting, he fought furiously, forcingLeoni to do more than guard the boy, whose strength was utterly failing;and interposing now, he literally took the Englishman's blade to hisown, beat upon it heavily, and the next moment sent it flying throughthe open window, out of which he was to have been made to jump. 

Uttering a yell of fury, Sir Robert snatched the dagger from his waist, and regardless of the danger, sprang with a yell at Denis, when the doorwas suddenly flung open and an officer of halberdiers stepped in, backedup by about a dozen followers, whose approach had been unheard, whileabout a score more could be seen forming up through the window, theirgreat steal spears with their battle-axe blades glittering in the ruddyevening sun. 

As if moved by one impulse, everyone within the room lowered his blade, while the King, taking in his position at a glance, and placing his owninterpretation thereon, ejaculated angrily the one word:

"Trapped!"

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

WHAT DENIS THOUGHT. 

"Sir Robert! Gentlemen!" cried the officer in command of thehalberdiers. "What does this mean?"

"Can't you see?" growled Sir Robert angrily. "Fighting. Chastising apack of insolent musicians, dancing masters, or whatever they are, whoinsulted us. "

"It is not true!" cried Denis angrily; and as he spoke Carrbroke, whohad received warning from one of the inn servants of the fight that wasgoing on, shouldered his way in through the halberdiers. "These men, whoever they are--they cannot be gentlemen--"

"What!" roared Sir Robert. 

"--insulted my master and these members of his suite, " continued Denis, gazing defiantly at the English captain. "We were standing on ourdefence. "

"The boy lies, " cried Sir Robert. 

"No: Sir Robert lies, " cried Carrbroke hotly. "Captain Bowman, thesegentlemen were my father's guests last night--yes, Sir Robert, myfather's guests, and you must have insulted them, or they would not havedrawn. "

"This is insufferable, " cried Sir Robert. 

"Yes, " said the captain of the escort coldly; "quite; and I am afraid, Sir Robert, that when his Majesty hears of the treatment which hisguests, whom I have been ordered to escort into the palace, havereceived, I shall have another duty to perform. "

"What do you mean?" cried Sir Robert insolently. 

"Your arrest, sir, and that of your friends. I am afraid his Majesty isgetting tired of your brawling and overbearing ways. "

"What!" cried Sir Robert fiercely, as he clapped his hand again to thedagger he had sheathed. 

"I see you have lost your sword, " said the officer contemptuously, "andspared me the trouble of disarming you for drawing within the precinctsof the Court. Take my advice, sir--not that of a friend, but of one whohas his duty to do towards keeping order here. Take your friends awayand consult with them as to what steps you should take before hisMajesty hears of this outrage. Monsieur le Comte, " he continued, turning to Francis, "in his Majesty's name, let me apologise for whatmust have been a grievous mistake on the part of one of the King'sofficers. I am commanded to escort you and your followers into thepalace, where his Majesty will receive you at once. "

Francis bowed, and the halberdiers formed up ready for the visitors topass between their ranks, while Leoni, who looked calm and saturnine asever, bent forward and whispered a word or two to the King. 

"My faith, yes!" he cried, and he turned to the Captain of the Guard. "But, as you see, we are travel-stained and hot with this encounter; weought to have some minutes to prepare. "

"His Majesty knows that you have been travelling, sir, and will notnotice that you have been making some passes in your defence. Mymaster, sir, is impatient, and as he expects you, if I might advise Iwould say, let me lead you there at once. "

The King bowed and stepped forward directly, closely followed by hissuite, and passed out to the front of the hostelry, where a little crowdhad gathered, attracted by the exciting incident that had taken place. 

The next minute, with about a dozen of the halberdiers to clear the way, the rest behind, the order was loudly given, and the little processionmoved towards the great gate of the castle on the hill, the Captain ofthe Guard marching with drawn sword respectfully by the travellers'side. 

Rather breathless still, the King remained silent, while Denis could notrefrain from glancing back, to see his late adversary standing at theinn-door in the act of taking a wine-cup from the hands of the host. 

The next moment the figures of the halberdiers shut him from sight, while the boy heard his royal master's next words, uttered in a low toneto Leoni. 

"It's wonderfully like being prisoners, doctor, " he whispered; "and mindthis, if we do not get free again you'll have to pay the forfeit. Ah, there you are, my young esquire! I'd half forgotten you. Well andbravely fought. Yesterday, as it were, I looked upon you as a page; youare now my esquire indeed. By my sword, the fighting we have hadalready on this English soil has made quite a fire-eater of you. Why, Leoni, I feel as ready as can be now to enter into the lion's den. Notget out again! Tchah! With followers like these, who's going to standagainst us? _Vive la France_!"

"_Vive la France, Monsieur le Comte_, " said Leoni, in a low meaningtone. "If I might say so, I should think his Majesty King Francis wouldfeel proud of the bearer of his letter, if he could know how bravely oneof his nobles kept up the credit of his court of braves. "

"I hope he would, Leoni, " said the King, laughing to himself, and helooked sharply upward as the halberdiers' footsteps echoed from the greystone walls of the arched entrance to the courtyard. "A noble-lookingcastle. May I ask, monsieur the captain, what building that is to ourleft--the chapel of the palace?"

"Yes, sir, and the great hall, " replied the Captain of the Guard. 

Then uttering a sharp order, the advance-guard bore off to the left. 

"His Majesty awaits you, sir, in the ante-chamber. We turn in here foryour reception in the hall. "

"Hah!" said Francis, and he looked at Denis as he spoke. "Well, boy, "he said, in a low tone, "are you wondering what Henry of England willthink when he sees the Comte?"

"No, sir, " replied the boy sharply. 

"What then?"

"Will the Comte excuse me saying?" said the boy, turning furiously red. 

"No, he will not, " said the King sharply. "Out with it at once! Whatwere you thinking?"

The boy hesitated, but the King's eyes were fixed upon him fiercely, andwith a desperate effort he blurted out:

"I thought you were playing a very dangerous game. "

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

A ROYAL WELCOME. 

There was plenty of colour and brightness in the group awaiting thecoming of Francis and his travel-stained followers. Courtiers stoodaround with their gay, picturesque garments rendered more striking bythe sunset glow, vivified by passing through a stained-glass windowwhich shone down upon the central figure of the group, a big, bluff, rather heavy-faced, typically English yeoman in expression, upon whomFrancis fixed his eyes and kept them there as upon the principalpicture, all the rest being merely frame. 

Irrespective of his position, the visitor would have known him at oncefrom the descriptions he had heard from ambassadors to the English Courtof what the English King was like; and forgetful of everything else, allcourtly custom, his secret mission, and his assumed character, Francismade a slight obeisance and stepped forward eagerly to greet his brotherKing. 

On the other hand King Henry gazed curiously at his visitor who boresuch worthy credentials, and he put out his hand as he stood drawinghimself up proudly, expecting to see the Comte sink upon one knee andpress it to his lips; but, to his utter astonishment, Francis came closeup, apparently not in the slightest degree dazzled or abashed by hismagnificence, to stop short when within easy reach, and, instead ofsinking down, exclaimed, "Aha! The brave, soldierly King Hal!" clappedboth hands upon his brother monarch's shoulders, let them glide quicklyonward till they joined behind the King's neck, and the next moment theembrace tightened as he kissed the plump cheeks that were beginning toflame smartly in turn. 

"This, " he cried, "is a great joy that pays me for my long journeyhere. "

The English King drew back in astonishment, and glanced quickly to rightand left of his assembled courtiers, as if asking the meaning of thisoutrage, this strange conduct so completely in opposition to all Courtetiquette. 

He was completely stunned for the moment, and his inclination was toexclaim, "Is this man mad?" But as he looked round it was to see faceafter face expanded or contracted by the mirthful feeling within hisfollowers' breasts, and then rendered grotesque by their owners' effortsto turn solemn and serious once more. 

A change came over the King's countenance. It was as a reflection ofthe smiles upon his courtiers' lips. 

"He is a Frenchman, " he said to himself, "and does not understand ourways, though I should have thought--" he continued to himself, and thenbroke off, to follow the example set him by his visitor, and clumsilyand with ill grace returned the salute, before bidding him welcome inEnglish, which Francis understood fairly well, turning occasionally toLeoni, who stood close behind him, ready to interpret whenever hismaster was at fault. 

The interview went off very well, for Henry took at once to the bright, vivacious French monarch, finding in him one ready to talk eagerly abouthis pursuits, the pair being well in accord as to their tastes; and themeeting was nearly brought to an end by the King telling his visitorthat the letter from his brother Francis was sufficient to make one ofhis favourite nobles quite welcome to the hospitality of the EnglishCourt. 

"Believe me, I am glad to welcome my royal brother's favourite. A suiteof apartments will be prepared for you, sir, by my people, and a placeon my right hand at my table. Rest assured that your stay shall be madepleasant here. "

Francis bowed and smiled, and seemed as if about to supplement hisembrace; but the King went on speaking. 

"But what is this I hear about an insult offered to one who occupies theposition of an ambassador, and whose person should be sacred? I hear, Comte, that you were attacked by one of my officers and his companions, here, close to my palace gates. Is it true?"

Francis shrugged his shoulders nearly to his ears with a halfcontemptuous smile upon his lips. 

"Oh, a mere nothing, " he said; "a little sword-play. "

"A mere nothing!" cried Henry fiercely. "An insult to one of my guestsa mere nothing!"

"Oh, don't speak of it, " replied Francis, laughing. "I was notsurprised. "

"You amaze me, sir!" cried the King. 

"Indeed, Sire? Why, we always knew in France that there is nothing anEnglishman loves better than to fight. I came to your gatesunannounced, and two or three of your bluff soldiers--officers, yousay--exclaimed amongst themselves, `What does this Frenchman here, trying to enter our master's court?' As your defenders, they drew, totry and drive us away. But we would not be driven. Then your gallantescort arrived. They found out the mistake, and it was all at an end. I congratulate you, my--" Francis coughed, as if to get rid of animpediment in his speech, or as if he were suffering from someforgetfulness of the English words he ought to use--"my noble Englishsovereign, upon having such brave defenders at your gates. "

"I thank you, sir, " cried Henry. "But this is too much! These soldieryassume more than is their right. I have heard before of this man'sbrawls. He is a fighter out of employment now, for we are at peace, andI will not have him insult my guests. "

"But you will pardon him, Sire?" said Francis. "We were not hurt. Nexttime we meet, your brave officer will doubtless make amends. "

"He must! He shall!" cried Henry hotly. "And--"

"Sire, " interrupted Francis, smiling, "I am your visitor. Grant me thefirst favour that I ask. "

"Anything, " cried the King, smiling in his turn. 

"Then you will forgive this brave man?"

The King bowed. 

"I wish you to be perfectly welcome at my Court, Comte; and now youwould like to retire to your rooms to rid yourselves of yourtravel-stains. Later on I look to meet you at my board. "

Francis bowed in turn, and drew back, seeing that the audience was at anend, and half turning saw that Denis had approached. 

"Yes, boy?" he said. 

"The horses, Comte, " whispered Denis. 

"Ah, to be sure! They must not be left there. " And he turned, to catchthe King's eye fixed on him searchingly. 

"Yes, Comte, " he said; "you were about to speak?"

"It is nothing, Sire, " replied Francis. "My esquire reminded me thatour steeds were at the hostelry, and--"

"Ah, you love horses!" cried the King. "So do I, and the hunt as well. My stables are at your service, and my Master of the Horse will see thatthey are well bestowed. Once more, sir, the favourite of my brotherFrancis is welcome here. I look to see you again to-night. "

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

DENIS IS SLEEPY. 

His Majesty of England was in high good humour that night, since thepreparations for the grand reception he had ordered in honour of theambassador-like visitor from France had been carried out quite to hissatisfaction. 

There was show, there was music, and there was dancing going on, as heentered the _salon_ from his private rooms and looked round searchinglybefore turning to speak to his stately chamberlain. 

"Our visitor?" he said laconically. 

"Fatigued, perhaps, with the journey, Sire. He has not yet arrived. "

The King frowned, and his chamberlain raised his eyebrows a little, halfexpecting to be taken to task for not having the visitor there. 

"See that everything is done, Hurst, so that he may go back to mybrother of France full of admiration of my Court. We must make himenvious, " added the King, with a laugh. 

At that moment there was a flourish of trumpets, and, escorted by twonoblemen of the English Court, Francis, followed by his three gentlemanattendants, advanced to meet the King. 

Leoni watched his master narrowly as he followed his progress throughthe brilliant throng of courtiers towards the spot where Henry stoodawaiting his coming, and there was but one thought animating his brain--the thought of whether Francis with his impetuous nature would notcommit some act in this strangest of all episodes--King meeting King, and one ignorant of the other's real identity--which would enlightenHenry and maybe bring disaster on them all. 

"But Henry has never seen our King, " he murmured softly to himself. "Why should there be this presagement of harm? He cannot be recognisedhere, or if any of these gentlemen who have travelled do imagine aresemblance, they will laugh it on one side. "

He felt reassured again as he saw Henry advance a step to meet his guestand take his hand with a few words of welcome, ere he pointed to a seatnear at hand. 

"Our brother of France is indeed fortunate, " he said, "to be representedby yourself, Comte. " And then followed words which Leoni did not hear, for a gentleman approached the group formed by himself, Saint Simon, andDenis, and with a bow said courteously:

"May I present you gentlemen to his Majesty?"

A minute later Leoni heard Francis say:

"Your Majesty will permit me to present to your notice Master ReneLeoni, the most learned of doctors, and at the same time one of the mosttyrannical. But to those who understand well the subtle art ofmedicine, we must forgive all. "

"True, " said Henry, and he leaned forward with a gracious inclination. "We can read in your countenance, sir, the deep learning of the south. Would to Heaven that there were more of it here! I trust that the stayyou make at our Court will not be displeasing to you, for that it willbe productive to us I make no doubt. "

Leoni bowed low before the two Kings. 

"My master has exaggerated my poor abilities, your Majesty, " he said, and then he drew back to allow of the introduction of his twocompanions, to each of whom Henry addressed words of encouragement andwelcome. 

Later, as the music struck up, the English King turned to his visitorand asked more questions concerning Francis. 

"He is at Fontainebleau?" he asked. 

"Not at present, Sire, " said Francis drily, and with a glance at Leoni. 

"Ah!" and Henry seemed to relapse into thought. 

"I would that he were here, Sire, in order that he might see how wellyou treat his envoys. "

But Henry waved the compliment aside. 

"Tell me about France, " he said; "tell me about France. " And he lookedfixedly at the messenger from the kingdom of the fleur-de-lys, whileLeoni would have given anything to draw nearer, to gather up if it wereonly scraps of the conversation that ensued; but he was bound to imitatethe action of those around and draw back, full of anxiety about hispupil, but fain to content himself with looking around at the gaythrong, before sinking into a chair where he could think about hismission, his searching eyes always busy looking about, especially at thejewels that were flashing on every side, as he hungrily sought for somethread which might form a clue to lead him ultimately to the object ofhis quest. 

Meanwhile Denis and Saint Simon, looking as courtly as the most brightlydressed among whom they stood, were invited by one of the dignifiedfunctionaries to join in the dance, but declined on the score offatigue; and the former had sauntered away from the throng, to standnear a curtained window a moment, when he heard his name spoken, and ahand was laid on his arm. He turned sharply, to find himself face toface with Carrbroke. 

"Found you, " he said. "Well, it did not require my services to show youthe Court. What do you think of it? Better than Fontainebleau, is itnot?"

It was not necessary for Denis to reply, because his companion went onquickly to speak of other things. 

"We shall be able to see a great deal of each other, I hope, " he said. 

"I hope so, " responded Denis readily. 

"I am sure. There is a great banquet to-morrow. You will be there. "

"Would they ask me?"

"Why, of course; but--here, come this way, " and Carrbroke touched theother's arm. "You are not going to dance, so let us talk--out here inthe garden. "

Denis accompanied his friend out on to a wide terrace where there cameto the ear the sound of the music still, and where there were thethousand scents of the flowers on that soft June night. 

"The King sometimes walks here, " said the lad; "but he will not cometo-night. I like this place. Yonder is the river. You have not ariver like that?"

"Oh, we have the Seine. "

Carrbroke made a movement of dissent. 

"They laugh at me here, " he said, "because I fish. Lord Hurst wouldhave one always wearing one's best and acting the courtier; but the Kingloves sport, and so do I. Let's go this way, and enter the palace byanother door. There will be supper soon, and one must eat. "

A moment before, Denis was beginning to think that the place was not soattractive after all, but the word supper seemed to accord well with hissensations. 

He was weary with the excitement of the day, and he suddenly felt thatsome of his distaste was due to hunger, which he was ready enough toappease, being well looked after by his new friend; while the rest ofthe evening was filled up by faintly heard sounds of music andconversation which seemed to be buzzing around him, as he sat back inone of the many chairs of the grand _salon_, completely overcome by aninvincible sense of drowsiness which seemed dark and cloudy, while outof it came a familiar voice, saying:

"Why, Denis, boy, I have been seeking you everywhere. Saint Simon waslooking for you too, and said you must have gone off to bed. "

"Bed--bed?" the boy remembered saying, and then all was confused againtill Master Leoni's voice whispered in his ear:

"Come, wake up. "

"Where's Carrbroke?" he said drowsily. 

"Gone away in attendance on the King, who will soon be leaving the_salon_. Come, we must be in attendance too. "

The next thing that occurred was the sudden starting up of the boy inhis bed, with the bright morning sun shining in through the window. 

"Where am I?" he muttered. "How did I come here?" And then by degreeshe began to have some faint recollection of Leoni helping him to hisroom. 

"Why, I must have disgraced myself in some way, " he muttered. "Whatcould I have done? Gone to sleep in the middle of that _fete_? I don'tknow; everything seems a blank. "

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

CARRBROKE TELLS SECRETS. 

The days passed quickly, with the Kings the best of friends, for Francisproved himself a boon companion, a good horseman, and quite after theKing's own heart. 

He made himself a favourite too, and the most courtly at the Court, ready if he had been present to have brought a sneering smile to thelips of Sir Robert Garstang, who, when the minstrels were busy in theirgallery, might have seen some justification of the bullying captain'ssneer respecting dancing masters, for Francis was ever ready and eagerto lead some Court lady through the mazes of the dance. 

For revels were plentiful at Windsor then, and Denis in thecompanionship of Carrbroke found the time pass pleasantly enough, on theterraces, in the park, and along the banks of the silver Thames; but hewas quite forgetful for the most part of the special mission upon whichhe had crossed the sea. 

For Ned Carrbroke had always something fresh to propose in the way ofhorsemanship, and often enough invited his French companion tosword-play, which was readily accepted; and to Carrbroke's wonder anddelight Leoni would come to look on, and at Denis's request advise themupon questions dealing with offence and defence, and proper conduct ofthe rapier both in French and Italian schools. 

"Why, he's splendid, " cried Carrbroke one day, "only I don't like him. He puts me out of heart. I used to think that I was a good fencer, butwhen I cross swords with him I feel quite a baby. You are lucky to havesome one like that to give you lessons. Why, you must be splendidyourself. "

Denis laughed merrily. 

"Why, " he said, "I always feel worse than you. Master Leoni, when Ifence with him and he gives me a lesson, makes me feel as if there weremagic in his blade which sends a strange aching pain all up the musclesof my arm. "

"Yes, " cried Carrbroke, "that's something like what I feel. I say, he'syour friend, isn't he?"

"Well, hardly a friend. I feel more afraid of him than anything. "

"Yes, " said Carrbroke eagerly, "that's how I feel--well, not afraid, " hecontinued hastily, and flushing up; "but you won't mind my speaking out?You and I seem to have so taken to one another. "

"Well, yes, " said Denis, "we do seem to like one another a bit. "

"Then you won't mind my speaking out quite plainly?" continuedCarrbroke. 

"Not I. What is it?"

"Only this. Do you think that there is something queer in his blade?"

"Only that it is best Italian steel. "

"Yes, of course, " said Carrbroke impatiently. "But I mean what theycall magic--that there is something curious in it? You see, it turnsso, and seems so strong. "

"Yes, that is strange, " said Denis. "It is no matter how you parry; thepoint always seems as if it could enter your breast if it liked. Ialways feel that Master Leoni could kill anyone just as he pleased. "

"Of course you believe in magic?" said Carrbroke. 

"I don't know. I suppose I do, " replied Denis. 

"I do, " said Carrbroke; "and your friend seems so different from othermen. Look at his eye. "

"Oh, I never do if I can help it, " said Denis. "You've noticed it, then?"

"Noticed it?" cried Carrbroke. "Who could help it? When he fixes it onme, as he always does, it makes me shiver; although he is always verykind, there is something about him I can't understand, and if he were myenemy I should be ready to give everything up and go away. There, whata bad job! I was just going to say, let's go for a long ride, or elsemake some of the King's rowers take us up the river, and then floatdown, and it's going to rain, and I don't want to get wet. It spoilsone's doublet so. Here, I know; I'll take you all through the castle, if I can, into all the King's private rooms. They'll be with the ladiesat this time of day. I can show you everything that there is to see. "

"Can you?" said Denis, whose thoughts suddenly turned to his missionthere. 

"Oh yes; I am allowed to go where I like, as the King's youngestesquire. " And then half pettishly: "They consider me only a boy. Butcome along. "

Carrbroke was quite right, for the rain began streaming down; and a fewminutes afterwards the two lads were in the royal apartments, which werequite deserted, and Carrbroke was proudly showing the differentpictures, King Henry's armour, and choice collections of weapons of war. At last he stopped in front of a beautiful Italian cabinet whichdiffered from ordinary pieces of furniture, being made to standfour-square in the centre of the apartment, each side being richlyornamented with carving and delicate inlaid work which covered the doorsand drawers. 

"I wish I had the keys of that, " said Carrbroke. 

"Why? What's inside?"

"I hardly know; but my father told me once to take notice of it, for hebelieved that it was full of gems and curious jewels that had beenpresented to the King. I never saw it open yet, but there must be manycuriosities there, swords and petronels, as well as jewels. "

"Indeed!" said Denis, colouring slightly. 

"Oh yes; some of those curious gems that they say have magicproperties--charms, don't they call them? Magic crystals that confersingular powers upon those who own them, bring good luck, and influencethe fate of people. I say, do you believe in such things as that?"

"Ye-es, I think I do, " said Denis, and the colour on his cheeks grew alittle deeper, and then deeper still, and he winced a little as if hefelt that Carrbroke's searching eyes were reading his inmost thoughts;and then he started and felt worse, for it seemed to him that hiscompanion suspected his reasons for being there, so that he was ready toutter a sigh of relief when Carrbroke said:

"Well, you needn't look like that. You needn't be ashamed to believe insuch things. I do, for there's a lot one doesn't understand. I wastold once that different precious stones have very curious qualities;some will protect anyone from magic, some from enemies. There was aring I once heard of which if a person wore would guard him from poison. It was an Italian ring, I suppose, for I believe that they try topoison people there. "

"Yes, I have heard so, " said Denis drily, as he stood with his eyesfixed upon the cabinet, wondering whether the treasure Leoni soughtcould be there. "But it seems nonsense. I don't see how a diamond or aruby could do such things. "

"No, " said Carrbroke; "no more do I, unless you swallowed it to keep thepoison from doing harm. Perhaps it's all nonsense. But the Kingbelieves it, I suppose. "

"Why do you say so?" asked Denis. 

"Because he's got a lot of such things in here. I say, don't you feelas if you'd like to smuggle some of them?"

"What!" cried Denis, flushing scarlet and gazing wildly in hiscompanion's eyes. 

"Don't look like that, " cried Carrbroke, laughing. "I said smuggle; Ididn't say steal. I thought you might feel as if you'd like to have oneof these charms which hold such magic power. "

"I am not afraid of being poisoned, " said Denis huskily. "Here, comeaway from this; show me something else. "

"Oh, haven't you seen enough? But I say, is this better or worse thanFontainebleau?"

"Oh, I don't know, " said Denis hastily, for he felt mentally disturbed. "They are both beautiful places. Where does that corridor lead?"

"All along one side of the King's apartments. "

"Well, let's go down there. "

"But there's nothing to show you but furniture and walls covered witharras and--oh yes, there is: I know. I say, you haven't got any secretpassages at Fontainebleau?"

"We have all kinds of places hidden in the walls. Have you got anyhere?"

Carrbroke nodded. 

"I say, we are friends, aren't we?"

"Of course; the best of friends. "

"Then I'll show you something; only it's a secret. Not that it mattersabout you knowing it, as you are not going to live here. It's somethingI found out myself. I was on duty here--as page in attendance on theKing--one evening, just at dusk, and the candles weren't lit. There hadbeen a grand banquet the night before, with music and dancing, and I'dbeen up all night, and just as it began to grow dark I turned so sleepyI couldn't keep my eyes open. I tried ever so hard, but it was of nouse, and I sank down in a chair close up to the hangings in a darkcorner, and was asleep in a moment. I don't think it could have beenlong before I woke up again with a start. I suppose some noise musthave woke me, and I sat there staring and wondering where I was, for Ifelt quite stupid, when all at once the arras that covered the wall justopposite to me seemed to open, and something dark came out, to standstill for a few moments as if listening. Then there was a rustling ofhangings, and the dark figure came straight towards me, making me turncold; for I felt then that I had been asleep, and I thought it was someone come to punish me. But the figure did not come close up to where Isat, but suddenly turned off towards a light which appeared at the endof the corridor and came nearer, while directly after I made out thatsome of the servants were bringing in candles, and directly after, though I only saw his back, I knew it was the King. "

"Then he didn't see you?" said Denis. 

"No, fortunately for me. "

"Then he must have come out of some secret passage. "

"That was it, and of course you know what I did afterwards--not then, but the first day that I had the chance?"

"Searched for the secret door, of course. I should. "

"Yes, and I found it; and that's what I'm going to show you. We are notlikely to be disturbed now. "

Before many minutes had elapsed the two youths were standing in front ofa huge needlework picture representing a classic scene, covered withwarriors and triumphal cars. 

"There, you wouldn't think there was a door behind there, would you?"

"No, that I shouldn't, " replied Denis. 

"But there is. You see that warrior's shield with the boss on it thatstands out as if it were real?"

"Yes, " said Denis; "it is very cleverly done. "

"Yes, but it is real, " said Carrbroke, and he glanced to right and leftto see if they were observed. "We are quite alone. Now you touch thatboss. "

"Yes: it's hard and round, " said Denis. 

"Now give it a twist. "

Denis did as he was told, and there was a faint click like the liftingof a latch. 

"Now push, " continued Carrbroke. 

Denis again obeyed, and something gave way as if he had pushed a doorwhich opened from him. 

"Now then, " said Carrbroke, "what do you think of that?"

"That if I lifted the arras I could pass into another room. "

"Not quite right; not into another room, but into a dark passage made inthe wall. I went in one day when the King was out hunting and I feltgrumpy because I had been left behind, and I thought I should like tosee what there was there. "

"Yes, and you went?" said Denis eagerly. "Yes, all along a dark passagefor ever so far. Then I came to another door, which opened easily, andthere was a flight of stairs; at the bottom of that there was anotherdoor and another long passage, twice as long as the first, and thenanother door. "

"Did you open that?"

"Yes; and where do you think I was?"

"I don't know. In the cellars perhaps. "

"No; in a dark part of the terrace all amongst the trees. Then I wasn'tsatisfied, for it was all new to me, and I felt curious to see where thedark winding walk that was before me went to. "

"Yes, " said Denis eagerly; "and where did it lead?"

"Right away down and down to some stone steps close to a little pavilionon the banks of the river, where there was a boat fastened to a post. That was the King's private way, of course. "

"Yes, " said Denis; "but what did he want it for?"

"Oh, I don't know; and I didn't want to know, for anyone who meddledwith the King's secrets might come in for the loss of his head, and Ididn't want to lose mine. I came back as fast as I could. There, youcan have a look through into the dark passage if you like. Kneel downand lift up the hangings. There, what can you see?" continued the lad, as Denis obeyed, finding the abundant folds give way easily, so that hecould peer right beyond. 

"Nothing at all; it is quite dark. "

"Come away, " said Carrbroke quickly. "That's right, " he continued, andthen quickly taking Denis's place he quite disappeared. 

"Am I to follow?" said Denis wonderingly; but he had hardly finishedspeaking before Carrbroke reappeared, laughing. 

"Only shutting the door, " he said. "Has anyone seen us?"

"No, " said Denis, after a glance in both directions. 

"That's right, " said Carrbroke. "I say, though, it is interesting, isn't it? But now I've told you I can't help wondering why I did. Butthere, you won't go and tell King Hal that I told you his secrets, willyou?"

"Not very likely, is it?" said Denis, smiling, but troubled the while byan uncomfortable sensation which made him feel as if he regretted hisknowledge, though at the same time he knew that he had acquiredinformation that might be of extreme value if their masquerading werediscovered, perhaps mean the saving of his King. 

His musings were suddenly broken off by the voice of companion. 

"There, " he said, "let's go out of doors in the sunshine. I feel as ifI had got dark passage on the brain. "

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

SO DOES DENIS. 

It was the very next day that Denis, after his attendance upon Francis, who had gone to join Henry, was alone in the King's apartments, standingin the deep recess of a casement window, which he had flung open, andwas leaning out gazing at the landscape stretching far and wide beforehim, and giving him a silvery glimpse here and there of the brightglittering river. 

He was so lost in admiration of the scene that he did not hear the dooropen, and was only made conscious of some one being in the room behindhim by hearing a low muttering voice say:

"A blind search! A blind search! What shall I do next to bring it toan end?"

Denis made a sharp movement, catching the sleeve of his doublet againstthe copper fastening which held open the casement; and as he turned anervous hand suddenly seized him by the shoulder in a painful grasp, forit was as if fingers of steel were pressing into his flesh. 

"You, Master Leoni!" he cried, as the clutch was relaxed as quickly asit came. "Yes, my boy, " said the doctor; and the lad shivered slightlyas the fierce fire in one of Leoni's eyes died into a pleasant smile, though the cold fixed stare in the other remained the same as of old. 

"I thought I was alone. "

"Well, boy; do you like your life here in the castle?"

"Oh yes, " cried Denis; "but when are we to have, Carrbroke and I, another fencing lesson?"

"At any time when the King does not require my services, " said Leoni, smiling. "Why, you will soon be a better swordsman than I. "

"Oh, sir!" cried Denis deprecatingly. 

"Well, say as good, my dear boy, when you know all that I can teachyou. "

"And you will teach me all, sir?"

"Of course, of course, " said the doctor, laying his hand caressingly onthe boy's shoulder. "You are a pupil of whom I feel proud. But tellme, " he continued, as he passed his hand softly along the muscles of thelad's arm, "what about the stiffness and pain?"

"All gone, sir. That salve you applied seemed to make it pass entirelyaway. "

"That is good, " said the doctor, nodding his head. "But tell me, boy, was I speaking aloud when I came into the room?"

"Not aloud, sir, but just so that I could hear what you said. "

"Ah, a bad habit! And what did I say?"

"It was something about a blind search. "

"Ah, yes; and you guessed at once what I meant?"

"Why, yes, sir. I immediately thought that you meant the--"

With a quick movement, accompanied by a smile, Leoni's long, thin, brownfingers were laid upon Denis's lips. 

"Hist, boy! We are in King Henry's palace, where walls may have ears. Speak it not. We understand one another, and know what in our master'sservice we have come to seek. Denis, you are a boy in years, but I findyou in many things a man at heart, and there should be no halfconfidences between us two. I like you, my boy, and always have, sternand cold and severe as I may have seemed. My face may have been hard, but there are moments when my heart is soft. Denis, my son, we areworking for the King and for France, and so far I am at fault. Ithought my task would be so easy that, once here, that which we seekwould be within my grasp; and so far it seems beyond me, while thegolden hours glide swiftly away, and before many days have passed ourvisit with all its risks must have an end. I shiver sometimes, boy, asI stand close by and listen to our master's careless, light-heartedspeech. Again and again he has been within an ace of betraying who heis, and at any moment some of the sharper-witted of the courtiers bywhom we are surrounded may grasp the truth, and then, Denis, as Francishas said, we are in the lion's den and the risk is great. "

"Yes, sir; I see all that, " said Denis, in a low earnest whisper. "Thenyou have no idea where the jewel of France is kept?"

"Not the slightest, boy, and I want you to use your eyes and ears tohelp me all you can. There is that young English esquire. You aregreat friends; perhaps he might know. I don't like asking you to playthe spy and betray your friend, but the English are our natural enemies. We are here upon a sacred mission, and we must quiet our conscienceswith the recollection that what we seek was torn by conquest from theValois diadem. "

"Yes, I know, sir, " whispered Denis eagerly, influenced as he was by themasterful spirit and words of his tutor. 

"Then try, boy; try your best to help me, while we have time. Youpromise me this?"

"Of course, sir. But what, " cried Denis, with his eyes flashing, "if Ialready know?"

"Boy!" cried Leoni excitedly; and he caught his young companion by theshoulders, but checked himself, instantly drew back, walked slowlyacross the room to the door, opened it and looked out, and then cameback and signed to Denis to close the window, while he softly moved hereand there; and the boy noticed how, as if to examine the beauty of thesilken hangings, he touched them again and again, as if to make surethat no listener was concealed behind. 

Leoni ended by joining his young companions in the deep embrasure of thewindow, taking him by the arm, and pressing him towards the diamondpanes of the casement as if to draw his attention to something outbeyond the terrace and the steep slope below. 

"Now, " he said, in a quick whisper, "speak beneath your breath. Youknow where?"

"In the tall, square-turreted cabinet three parts of the way down thelong corridor by the King's private apartments. "

"Ah, I have not been there, and dared not raise suspicion by askingpermission to go. Are you sure?"

"Carrbroke has as good as told me it was there. He spoke of a charmwith fateful powers of its own, and that the King held gems as sacredrelics. "

"Ah!" ejaculated Leoni softly. "Boy, you make me begin to live. "

"Shall I tell you something more, sir?"

"There can be nothing more that I wish to hear, " whispered Leoni. "Boy, you have filled an empty void. But speak; tell me what more you have tosay. "

"The King has a secret passage whose door is in the arras two chambersdown the long corridor farther on. "

"Young Carrbroke told you so?"

"Yes. "

"Bah! But it would be a secret way known only to himself, of no availto us. It could not be found. Once the relic is in our hands, a silkenrope and some window must be our way. "

"But I know the secret of the passage, sir, how to open the door, andwhere the passage leads. "

"Where, boy, where?" cried Leoni excitedly. 

"Down to the grounds, and then by a long winding alley through theprivate gardens to the riverside. "

"Hist!" whispered Leoni. "No more, boy, for your words have seemed toburn. Ah, it is strange! The workings too of fate. What I havestriven for in vain has come to you without seeking, without thought. It is fate, boy, fate. The spirit of our great nation is working on ourbehalf, and has made you the chosen instrument of our success. We must, we shall succeed, and through you. Now silence; not another word butthese. I say silence, Denis. It is for our master's sake and for _laFrance_. "

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

THE CHAMBERLAIN HAS SUSPICIONS. 

Several days passed at the Court in a succession of gaieties includinghunting, an excursion on the river, and at night banquet and dance. Henry was charmed with the pleasant sprightliness of his guest, whoselively French manner attracted him more and more. He distinguishedhimself in the field and in the chivalrous sports in the Castle Yard. 

There were moments when the King looked grim and slightly disposed to bejealous of the applause given to the Comte, and more than once LordHurst saw his master frown heavily upon seeing how great a favouriteFrancis had made himself with the courtiers, who were delighted with thechange the gay Frenchman made in the monotony of their daily life. ButLeoni felt that the luxurious seats he occupied at Windsor were stuffedwith thorns, and that they were placed close to the edge of a mine thatmight at any moment explode. 

Still the time wore on and the danger seemed as far off as ever, for inobedience to Leoni's prompting Francis, though often sailing very nearthe wind, dexterously gave a turn to the rudder just at the right time, and the doctor breathed freely once again, while he waited for themoment when he could put into action one or other of the plans he hadthought out, to get possession of the fateful jewel whose resting-placehe felt he knew, lying as it did, though still distant, almost withinhis grasp. For short of gaining entrance to the private corridor whereit lay, and boldly breaking open the cabinet some night, to carry offthe prize, he could not yet see his way. 

"That must be the last resource, " he said to Denis. "The Comte and Imust exercise subtlety. The knowledge came from you, boy--given to youby fate; and we must wait longer, even if it be for days. Who knowsbut, as she has favoured us so far, fate may place in our hands thefruit that is ripe to pluck?"

"I wish they'd pluck it or leave it alone, " said Denis to himself. "Ihate the whole business. It is very pleasant being here, and Carrbrokemakes himself quite like a brother, though I can't help laughing at himsometimes when he speaks such bad French; but that doesn't matter. Helaughs at my bad English just the same, and it's all capital sport whenwe are together, if I didn't feel so treacherous. There are times whenI should like to tell him all, and why we are here; but I can't, forthat would be behaving treacherously to my King. "

The lad ended his musings rather gloomily, as he felt sure that beforelong they would be found out and the daring business be all come to anend. 

Similar thoughts kept Leoni awake the greater part of each night in hisluxurious chamber, spoiling his rest, and making him attend his masterthe next morning terribly troubled in mind, but only to brighten up onfinding how well in favour the Comte seemed with the King, who wasalways seeking his visitor out for some new pursuit in courtly pleasureor excursion. 

But the cloud was gathering all the same, and the discovery very near athand. 

One morning Lord Hurst was in attendance upon Henry, making hiscustomary daily reports and taking his orders for various preparationsto carry out something fresh in the way of entertainment, when the Kingwaved his hand impatiently. 

"There, there, " he cried, "no more of this!" Then, good-humouredly, "Well, Hurst, what do you think of our ambassador?"

"Think of him, Sire?" replied the courtier. 

"Yes, yes, " cried the King testily. "Do I not speak plainly? Why doyou look at me like that? Do you not think he is a most worthyrepresentative of his master?"

"Undoubtedly, Sire, but--"

"Hurst, " cried the King furiously, "have I not made you my trustedadviser?"

"Yes, Sire, and I am your faithful servant, always ready to advise. "

"Then why do you not speak out? I know you of old. You are keepingsomething back. What does this mean? Have you some suspicion aboutthis man? Hah! I have it! You believe him to be a spy sent by Francisto learn all he can about my Court--about my realm! Man, man, you donot believe that this French King is plotting something to rob mefarther of the possessions gained by my ancestors in the past?"

"No, Sire, no; but I am troubled in my mind, " said Hurst, speaking in alow anxious tone. 

"Out with it, then! What is your suspicion? What is it you know?"

"I know nothing, Sire, " replied Hurst; "but I am troubled, in my graveanxiety for my master's weal, as to the real motives of this Comte'svisit. "

"Hah!"

"And I doubt, Sire, as to his being the Comte de la Seine. "

"What!" cried the King. "Some impostor! Hurst! This is an insult tomy guest, as noble and accomplished a gentleman as ever entered ourCourt--one whom I already look upon as my friend. Speak, man! What isit you think--that he is some cheat?"

"Cheat, Sire? No; but I believe him to be far higher in station than hesays. "

"Hah! Higher? How could he be higher?"

"Some prince, Sire, of royal blood. "

"Bah!" cried the King contemptuously. "Fool! Dreamer! And at a timelike this, when the horses are waiting and my guest doubtless ready, waiting till I join him! Always like this, Hurst, thinking out somewild diplomatic folly to cast like a stumbling-block in my way when I amupon pleasure bent. It is but little rest I get from cares of state, and you grudge me even that. Bah! I will hear no more. --Stop!" criedthe King, after turning away. "See that there is a better banquetto-night, something more done to honour my French brother's emissary;more music and dancing, too. There, that is enough. " And, hot andfuming, the King strode from the chamber, leaving his chamberlainstanding alone, thoughtful and heavy. 

Shortly afterwards there came through the open window the trampling ofhorses, eager voices, dominating all the loud, bluff, hearty voice ofthe King, followed by the sharper, rather metallic tones of the Comte, and then the merry laughter and ejaculations of the ladies who hadjoined the cavalcade. Then silence once again. 

"Perhaps I am wrong, " said the chamberlain thoughtfully; "and too muchzeal may prove my ruin, for mine is a dangerous post and I fear that Ihave gone too far. I don't know, though. The suspicion seems to grow. We shall see, though; we shall see. "

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

AND OPENS THE KING'S EYES. 

The chamberlain had worthily carried out his master's orders, and thescene in connection with the supper that night was brighter than ever;but the King did not seem satisfied. His heavy face looked gloomy, andFrancis banteringly asked him if he was too much wearied by the huntthat day, receiving a grave nod in reply. 

Later on Francis, who was excited and annoyed by the dullness of hishost, made an excuse to leave him and join the dance, but only to findhis progress stayed by Leoni, who led him aside to make somecommunication--one which made his master frown and whisper back angrily. But Leoni spoke again, and Denis, who was near, saw the King make adeprecating gesture with his hands, and then hurry off to enter the_salon_ where the dancing was going on. 

Denis stood watching Leoni, who stood looking thoughtfully after hismaster. 

"I thought so, " said the boy to himself, for as he watched Leoni he sawthe doctor turn slowly and with his peculiar fixed look sweep thewell-filled room till his eye rested upon the young esquire. 

The next moment he had raised his finger to his lips, gazing at himfixedly for some moments, before turning and moving towards the door, when Denis heaved a deep sigh and looked round in vain in search ofSaint Simon; but he was nowhere near, and the boy slowly followed Leoni, whom he found waiting for him just outside the door. 

Meanwhile Hurst, upon seeing the Comte's departure, drew near to whereHenry sat moody and alone, the various gentlemen in attendance, knowingtheir master's ways, having drawn back a little, to enter into a forcedconversation, waiting for the King's next move. 

They had not long to wait, for he suddenly looked round till his eyesrested upon the chamberlain, when he rose, to lay his hand upon hiscounsellor's shoulder and walk out with him towards the now desertedcorridor, into which the strains of music from the ballroom floatedagain and again. 

"There, Hurst, " he cried, as soon as they were alone, and they pacedtogether slowly towards the end, "what am I to say to you?"

"Sire?"

"If I were not in a good humour I should be disposed to punish you bythe loss of my favour for spoiling what ought to have been a joyousday. "

"Sire, I am deeply grieved. You must credit me with anxiety in my dutytowards your Majesty. "

"Yes, yes, I do, " cried the King impatiently. "But your suspicions havebeen absurd, and have made me behave almost rudely to my brother'sambassador, as noble a gentleman as I ever met. Zounds, man! Is aking's life always to be made bitter by his people's dreams of plots?Your suspicions are all folly. He a prince of France! Absurd!"

The chamberlain walked on in silence, and stopped short where thecorridor opened out into a well-lit chamber whose walls were hung withportraits. 

"Well, " said the King, "what now?"

"Would your Majesty step here into this alcove?" said the chamberlain, after a quick glance around to see that they were alone. 

"What now?" cried the King angrily. 

The chamberlain made no reply, but still stepped forward to the far sideof the chamber, where he took a candle from one of the sconces on thewall to hold it up above his head in front of a large full-lengthcanvas, the work of some great master, whose brush had so vividlydelineated the features of his subject that the portrait seemed to gazefixedly down at the King, while a faint smile just flickered upon itslips. 

"Does your Majesty know those features?" said the chamberlain. "Who isthat?"

"What!" cried the King, in startled tones. "Philippe de Valois. "

"Yes, Sire; and my suspicion grows stronger every hour. "

"Hah!" cried the King. "But no: impossible! And yet the same eyes;that same careless, half mocking smile. Hurst, there is something inthis. The features are similar. "

"Yes, Sire. It is a strong family resemblance. "

"But who could it be, and why should he come here? To play the spy; forit could mean nothing else. What sinister plots and plans can there bebehind all this? But you were thinking. You know something more?"

"I know no more than your Majesty. I only suspect. "

"Suspect! Suspicion! I hate the very sounds of the words, and all theblack clouds that hang around them. A family resemblance? Then whocould this man be?"

The chamberlain was silent. 

"Man, " whispered the King hoarsely, "you are my servant. Don't thwartme now. If you value your place here--more, your life--speak out!"

The chamberlain returned the candle to the sconce, and then said slowly:

"Your servant's life is at your service, Sire. I am not sure, but Itell you honestly that which I believe. This gentleman is wearing adisguise, and comes here under an assumed name, and from my soul Ibelieve he is--"

"Who?" whispered the King, grasping him fiercely by the arm. 

"Francis, King of France. "

"Hah!" ejaculated the King hoarsely, and with his face taking a fierceexpression mingled with anger, surprise, and triumph. "And what hasbrought him here? If you are right. Hurst--mind, I say, if you areright--But you had never seen this man before, and it may be only aresemblance. "

"It may, your Majesty, but--"

"If it is, " whispered the King, with his face looking purple in the dimlight, "the fox has come unbidden into the lion's den, and if the lionshould raise his paw, where would be the fox?"

He looked fiercely and meaningly in his follower's eyes. 

"France, " continued the King, in a hoarse whisper. "France, how much ofthose fair domains won by my predecessors with the sword have beenwrested from the English crown bit by bit--the noble domains over whichthese Valois now rule as usurpers. Hurst, what if the sceptre ofEngland should be held again swaying our ancient lands of France. Supposing, I say, there were no Valois, or he perforce had been calledupon to render back all that had been stolen from our crown. I am theKing, and as my father used his gallant sword to gain one kingdom, whyshould not I by a diplomatic move win back another?"

"Your Majesty is King, " said the chamberlain slowly and meaningly. 

"Yes, " said the King, in a hoarse whisper; "and when I am moved to actmy will is strong. "

There was silence for a few moments, and then Henry continued angrily:

"A ruse--a trick, put upon me for some strange scheming of his own, agin, a trap to capture me, but for the setter to be caught himself. Francis, King of France!" he continued hoarsely; and then a peculiarsmile, mocking, bitter, and almost savage, came upon his, lips as hegazed piercingly at his companion. 

"No, Hurst, " he said meaningly, "I know no King of France. He would notdare to beard me in my own home like this. This man, this mockambassador, this Comte de la Seine, is the only one with whom we have todo--an impostor who shall meet with the trickster's fate. "

"But your Majesty--" said the chamberlain eagerly. 

"My Majesty, Hurst, is going to work his own will, and as he will. "

"But, Sire, you will be just?"

"Yes, Hurst, as I always am. I grant that you may still be wrong, andwe will clear this up. "

"Your Majesty is going to--"

"Straight to the ballroom, " replied the King, "to see this Comte de laSeine and have the truth. "

"Now, Sire?"

"Yes, now at once. "

The King turned abruptly, and, closely followed by the chamberlain, madefor the ballroom, where the dancing was in full progress; but the Comtewas not leading one of the brightest ladies of the Court through themazes of gavotte or minuet, and as the King turned angrily to hischamberlain it was to find him in close converse with one of thegentlemen in attendance. 

"The Comte made the excuse of a bad headache, Sire, some few minutesback, and retired to his apartments with his suite, " whispered Hurst. 

"Then I am afraid we shall make it worse, " said the King bitterly. "This way, Hurst; I must have the truth of this before I sleep. " And hestrode from the room, closely followed by his companion, to whom in hisexcitement as he followed the angry lion the movements of the dancersseemed mocking, and the music sounded strange. 

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

DARK WORK. 

More than one of the Court ladies thought the gallant Comte strange inhis manner, as they waited, fully expecting that he would come up andoffer his hand to lead them through the next dance; but it soon becameevident that nothing was farther from his intentions, and after lookingon for a short time he slowly left the great apartment, and began tomake his way towards his own rooms. "I don't like it; I don't like it, "he muttered. "It is vile and degrading. I feel as if only to think ofit were lowering myself to the level of some cutpurse. I would I hadnever come. No, " he added sharply; "the time has passed too gaily forme to say that; and the good, bluff, hot-tempered, cheery Henri! I likethe brave Englishman, and my faith, I have made him like me, traitor asI am. --No, it is not I. It is the spirit of that cunning, subtle Leoni, with his horrible fixed eye. I cannot tell why, but he masters me--Kingas I am. He turns me round his finger and forces me to obey evenagainst my better feelings; for I think I have some. Can it be that heis more than man, that he possesses some strange power over one's brain, as he does over the body when one is ill? Well, I'll be master now. Iwill not do this thing. By my sword, is this cunning Italian to forcehis master to become a thief? No! He shall learn to-night that I'llhave none of it. Conceal who I am! Play the part of a masqueradingspy! No! to-morrow I'll tell my brother Harry the whole truth. "

He started violently as he came to this conclusion, for a dark figuresuddenly glided from behind one of the statues in the long passage hewas following. "You, Leoni?" he said, in a hoarse whisper. "M. LeComte! Yes, it is I. You have been long. "

"Long?" said Francis haughtily. "How--" He stopped short, for Leoniplaced his lips close to his ear. "France is anxious, Sire, and thetime has come. "

"The time!" said the King sharply. "Not for that?"

"Yes, M. Le Comte, for that. I have been waiting for the fateful momentto arrive for the great opportunity, and it has come. "

"But, " cried Francis, "I have been thinking--my position here--my goodfriend the King. Leoni, all this must end; I cannot, I will not do thisthing. "

"Sire!" whispered Leoni. 

"No, no, man. It is the Comte de la Seine you speak to, and who tellsyou he will let you lead him no more through these devious ways. Whoare you that you should dare to force me onward into such a crime?"

"Your servant, sir, but at the same time he to whom it is given to leadyou aright towards making your country the greatest in the world. "

"Through crime?" said the King hotly. 

"The acts of kings, sir, are outside crime. You are the anointed, andcan do no wrong. "

"Of my own will, no; but this:--"

"Sir, the spirit of your country calls upon you to act. The fatefuljewel we came to seek is ready to pass into your possession, and thetime has come--"

"Leoni, I will not hear you. I swear I will not sully mine honour withsuch an act. This deed shall never be done by me. "

"Deed--deed, sir--act! You speak as if it were a crime, " whisperedLeoni. 

"It is a crime, " cried the King angrily. "Dare not to speak to me ofthis deed again. Now, enough. The King expects me back, and to-morrowI will place myself outside temptation, and leave this place. Whateverhappens, my visit here is at an end. "

"Your visit ends to-night, sir, " said Leoni, in a low, harsh whisper;and as he spoke he leaned forward, passed his hands quickly before theKing's face, and then caught him by the wrist. 

"Leoni!" said Francis quickly. "What means this?"

"I have told you, sir. It is too late to attempt to shrink back nowthat the fateful moment has arrived. Quick, sir, and in an hour's timewe shall be on our way to the coast. Silence, sir, " he whisperedsharply, as Francis essayed to speak, looking half dazed the while inhis companion's eye, as Leoni leaned towards him with his hot breathpassing over the monarch's face. "This way, sir--quick!"

"Where? Where?" faltered the King. "What does this mean, Leoni?" hewhispered. "Have you been tricking me with one of your accursed drugs?"

"Silence, sir! I am calling you back to your duty, " whispered thedoctor, as he guided Francis quickly along the passage, still holdinghim tightly by the wrist, "for once more I pray you to prove yourselfour country's greatest son. "

Francis made no reply, no sign, but, yielding helplessly, allowedhimself to be led to the door of his ante-chamber, where the door openedwithout being touched, and, once inside, closed behind them, Saint Simonhaving been waiting, while Denis, who looked pale and excited by thelight of the two candles that illumined the room, rose up from where hehad been kneeling, securing the straps of a valise. 

No one spoke a word, for Leoni raised his hand as if commanding silence, as he still held the wrist of Francis, who gazed vacantly from one tothe other as if he were in a dream. 

"Is the Comte ill?" said Denis anxiously. 

"A little over-excited, " said Leoni quickly. "A cup of water, boy. "And as he spoke, without leaving his grasp of the King's wrist, Leonithrust the hand at liberty into his breast and drew forth a littlegolden _flacon_, which glistened in the light. 

"Set down the cup, " said Leoni quickly, as Denis returned from thebedchamber with the water. "Now, boy, unscrew the top of this, and holdit in your hand. "

Leoni held out the little glistening flask, retaining it tightly, whileDenis twisted off the tiny, cup-like top. 

"Not that way, boy; turn it up so that I can fill it to the brim. Now, "he whispered, "empty it into the water, and screw on the top once more. "

This was quickly done, and the _flacon_ replaced. 

"Now, " continued Leoni, "hand the cup to the Comte. The ballroom wasoverheated, and the wine he has drunk to-night has affected him. --Drink, sir; you will be better then. "

The King started slightly, looked wildly in the eyes that seemed tomaster him, and with a slight shiver took the handed cup, drained it, and uttered a low, deep sigh. 

"Ah, " said Leoni, smiling in a peculiar way. "Now, gentlemen, the timehas come for action. You, Saint Simon, be silent, and alert. Theremust be no bloodshed unless it is to save the Comte. You will come withus, and I shall depend upon your sword for our protection if there isperil in the way. You, Denis, boy, " he continued, turning to the youngesquire, who stood looking on now with his lips apart and a strangefeeling of misery and despair oppressing him, "you have your duty toperform. "

"Not to--" began Denis; but he was checked by the angry gesture thedoctor made. 

"Silence, sir! Your master's work. Follow us outside, and remain thereon guard. The Comte's valise is ready. Never mind our own. Here, quick! Where is the cloak?"

Denis darted to a _garde-robe_ and drew out the monarch's cloak. 

"That's right. Throw it down there. You will now allow no one to passin here, but stand on guard till we return. If we are not back here bythe time the castle clock has chimed twice you will take the cloak andvalise, go down the long corridor, if possible unseen, and make for thestables, where you will have the horses saddled at once. "

"But--"

"But!" snapped out Leoni. "They must be saddled. Quick! Slip off mypouch and gird it on. There is gold enough within, and if that will notmove the people there you have your sword. "

Denis uttered a sigh of relief as he hastily unclasped the doctor'sbelt, for this was work he felt that he could do. 

The next minute he was following his companions across the ante-chamber, ready to close the door behind them and place himself on guard in agloomy angle of the corridor, from whence as he watched them he sawtheir figures seem to glide along the lighted portion, the Comteyielding entirely to his leader's every motion, till they passed quicklyout of the sentry's ken. 

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

BEARDING A LION. 

The King walked swiftly on in the direction of that portion of thecastle where he had lodged his guest, the polished oak boards of thefloor resounding beneath his heavy tread, while the chamberlain heardhim keep muttering to himself as he went, till he reached a portionwhere a couple of officers stood on duty by a heavy door, ready tochallenge them; but seeing in the half darkness who their visitors were, they drew back saluting, and opened the doors to allow them to pass. 

"Your Majesty, " said the chamberlain, in a low tone, as they beganpassing down an inner passage, and Henry read in his voice a protestagainst the action he was taking. 

"Have done with your scruples, " he said. "I am not going to assassinateFrancis, or even do him ill, only to make sure. " And he proceeded onhis way, motioning to another officer, who came forward and saluted, toresume his post. 

Turning at right angles, and going some distance further on, the Kingstopped again. 

"It should be here, " he said quietly, and he moved towards a wide archeddoor, but drew back suddenly, for a figure emerged from the shadow intothe full light, naked sword in hand. 

"You cannot pass, " said the sentry. 

"Who are you?" said Henry. 

"A follower of the noble Comte de la Seine, " was the reply. 

"And he mounts guards at his chamber door?" said the King haughtily. 

"Yes; but by what right do you come here and question me?"

Henry advanced into the light of a lamp overhead, and threw back hisrobe. 

"I have the right, " he said. 

Denis drew back, but only a step. 

"The King!" he murmured. "The King!"

Henry nodded quickly. 

"You know me? Good. I have another word I wish to say to your masterto-night. "

"Sire, " said Denis, dropping on one knee, "it is impossible. "

"Impossible!" thundered the King. 

"Impossible, Sire. "

"Impossible! To me! In to your master at once, and tell him I havewords to say to him to-night. By Heaven, it is an honour I do him, Ithink!"

"But, Sire--" cried Denis, who still barred the way. 

"You heard me, boy?"

"Yes, Sire. "

"Then--obey!"

"I regret to repeat to your Majesty that I cannot. "

"Cannot!"

"No, Sire. "

The King burst into a harsh laugh, and turning to the chamberlain, pointed angrily at the boy, before facing him again frowningly. 

"Stand back, boy, and let me pass. "

"I regret, your Majesty. Order me to do something else far moredifficult--I would cheerfully obey your commands. "

"But I have nothing else which I wish you to do--only this. Let mepass. "

"No, Sire. "

"Boy, it is the first time in my recollection that I have been refusedobedience. Why do you stay me?"

"My master, Sire, has ordered me to keep strict guard here. "

"Hurst, what am I to do to this obstinate fool?"

The chamberlain stepped forward. 

"Boy, " he said, "it is from sheer ignorance that you place yourself insuch a position of danger. Sheathe your sword at once, sir, and let hisMajesty pass. Do you not know that there are guards here at every turn?My royal master's guests will be well protected without your aid. "

Denis stood motionless, and made no attempt to stir. 

"Do you hear, sirrah!" roared the King. "I am in no humour to waitlonger. Stand back. "

This was too much for the determination of the young esquire. It was aking who spoke, and drawing back slightly, he yielded to circumstances, feeling that his puny efforts were in vain, and guarding the door nolonger, he thrust his sword back into its scabbard and stood aside. 

"Ah!" cried the King, growing mollified upon seeing himself obeyed, andlooking admiringly at the lad. "Not bad, Hurst, for a mere boy, " hesaid. "May I always be as well served by followers of mine. There, " hecontinued, stepping forward towards the door, and looking back at Denis, "you can follow me, and I will make your peace with your lord, for I ammaster here. "

He tapped sharply at the panel of the door with the hilt of his sword, and Denis heard him breathing heavily as if after some great exertion;but there was no reply, and he tapped again, with the same negativeresult. Then with an angry snort he said mockingly:

"Our young esquire seems to have reason on his side, and the Comte mustbe asleep. Am I to leave him to his slumbers, Hurst? But maybe he willsleep the better after awakening and hearing all I have to say. Openthe door, Hurst. Bah! I need no help for this. " And, brushing by thechamberlain, he noisily raised the latch, thrust open the door, andentered the room. 

It was the ante-chamber, with the couple of candles burning on themantel. The richly embroidered cloak lay upon the couch where it hadbeen hurriedly thrown, and the valise lay ready packed and strapped. 

The King's eyes flashed as the valise caught his eye, and crossing theroom quickly he made for the door of the sleeping chamber, which wasajar. 

There was no pause to ask for entrance here, for now fully roused, theKing thrust open the door, with the light from behind him falling fallupon the unpressed bed. 

"Hah! What I expected, " cried the King angrily. "This way, Hurst. There is mystery and trickery here. "

As he was speaking the clock from one of the turrets was chiming loudly, the sounds of the bells seeming to quiver in the still air and minglewith the faint strains from the room where the dancing was still goingon. 

The chamberlain rushed forward, looked sharply round, and made for thecasement; but it was closed and fastened inside. 

"The boy on guard, Sire, and no one here!" cried the chamberlain. "I donot understand. "

"Nor I, " cried the King; "but we will, and that right soon. " Thenmaking for the door, which had fallen back as the chamberlain entered, he dragged it open, crying angrily, "Boy, your master is not sleepinghere. Where is he? What have you to say? Ha!" he roared, like theangry lion he had described himself to be. "Quick, Hurst! Our guards!The boy has gone!"

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

LEONI'S WEAPON. 

But as Hurst made a step forward to summon the guard the King caught himby the wrist. 

"By my faith, " he ejaculated, "there is black treachery here! Am I inmy own palace or in a tavern? These fellows come and go as if the placewere their own. A mystery too. But by the crown I swear I'll solveit!" And for a few moments he stood fuming. "Here, Hurst, " he saidhoarsely, "your brains have been sharper than mine, and I'm beginning tothink you are right about that portrait. Ambassador--poet--brilliantconversationalist--one who has won himself into favour with us all. Hah!" he went on. "He can be no Comte de la Seine! Can you ever trusta Frenchman? But come on!" And he led the way back into the longgallery. "I've got ears like a cat to-night, " he said; "butunfortunately not the eyes of one. Surely those were footsteps downyonder?"

"Yes, Sire, " said Hurst. "Beneath that window--a white doublet!"

"Yes, " cried the King. "Come on!"

"But the guard, Sire? Shall I gammon them?"

"No, no, " cried the King impatiently. "This is exciting. We will beour own guard, and find out the truth ourselves. "

The King and the chamberlain had not gone many yards along the gallerywhen they they came to a halt, for a figure barred the way. 

"Who goes there?" came from out of the gloom. 

"Pst!" said the King. "Young Carrbroke. --England!" he cried. 

The figure came nearer, into the light of a window--a slim figure in awhite doublet; and the radiance of the moon flashed on a bared andshining sword. 

"Your Majesty!" he exclaimed, and he dropped on one knee. 

"Rise, " said Henry. "You are on duty here?"

"Yes, Sire. "

"Has anyone passed?"

"No, Sire. "

"You are certain?"

"Quite certain, Sire. "

"Good. Come, Hurst!" And the two proceeded on their way, turning thecorner of the long gallery, passing from gloom to silvery light, andagain into the dusk, as they walked beneath the windows, while at theangle the lustrous splendour was shed through red glass, fallingbrilliantly on the King's plumed hat, his sword and royal star, as thepair disappeared. 

Carrbroke turned and looked after the retreating figures. 

"I wish, " he murmured, "that his Majesty had ordered me to follow him. "And he stood gazing in the direction the King and chamberlain had taken, till growing weary, he stepped aside into the shadow, where he couldhalf seat himself, half lean against the end of a great settee. "How Ido hate this guard work of a night! Yes, and there's the music stillgoing on. I just heard one strain. All bright and gay yonder, and hereall dark and dull. But it's an honour, I suppose, to be on the watchover the ways to his Majesty's private apartments, and have him come andfind me here. It means promotion some day, such private service asthis. I wonder where French Denis is? Dancing with the prettiest girlhe can find, I'll be bound. Oh dear, how dreary it is! And I feel asif I could lie down and go to sleep. "

Then with a start he was fully on the alert, ready to step out into suchlight as was shed through the window near. 

"His Majesty coming back, " he muttered, for quick steps were heardapproaching, and a few moments later he stepped quickly out to bar theway as he did a short time before, and with a feeling upon him that hewould show his master how well he was on the alert. 

He challenged, fully believing that it was Henry and the chamberlain, and started violently on finding out his mistake, for it was Francis, who cried angrily:

"Who are you?"

"Carrbroke, M. Le Comte. This is the way to his Majesty's privateapartments. You cannot pass here. "

In an instant Leoni had glided alongside, to lay his hand softly on theyouth's arm. 

"My dear young friend, " he said, "you do not recognise who it isspeaking. It is the King's friend, the Comte de la Seine. The ballroomwas hot, and these corridors calm, cool, and refreshing. The Comte isonly going round this way to reach his apartment. We can reach it downthis passage, can we not?"

"No, sir, " said Carrbroke quietly. "I am sorry to have to turn youback, but you must seek some other way. I am on guard here, and it ishis Majesty's commands that no one shall pass this private corridor bynight--and no wonder, " thought the lad, as he recalled his discovery ofthe private doorway not far from where they stood. 

Francis uttered an impatient growl. 

"Tell him, " he said angrily in French, to Leoni--"tell him I object tobeing treated like a prisoner"--words which Leoni translated, in thebelief that they were not understood. 

"The Comte de la Seine says, Monsieur Carrbroke, that surely his Majestywould make an exception in favour of his friend. "

"I regret it much, " was the reply, "but unless the King gives me suchorders in contradiction of those which I have received, I cannot let youpass. Once more, gentlemen, it is impossible, and you must return. Didyou hear me, M. Saint Simon? Ah, sir, you--" He said no more, for SaintSimon had passed onward, as if to go on in spite of all that had beensaid, but only to turn quickly and seize his arms from behind, while atthe same moment his speech was cut short by Leoni's hand--the subtleFranco-Italian having literally glided at him to clap a stronglysmelling hand, moist with some pungent fluid, across his mouth. 

The action seemed to the lad as instantaneous as its effect. He made abold brave struggle, uttering a groaning half-stifled sound, and hevainly strove to free himself from the pinioning hands of Saint Simon;while, as if through a misty dream, he saw with starting eyes the dimfigure of his master's guest straight before him, and pointing astiletto at his throat. 

The next minute Saint Simon, in obedience to the whispered orders ofLeoni, had raised the helpless lad in his arms. 

"Is there to be no end to this black night's work?" muttered Francisangrily. "I don't know how it is. I don't think I took too much of mybrother Henry's wine, for I wanted to dance; but my head is all confusedand strange. "

"It was the heat of the room, perhaps, sir, " said Leoni. 

"Perhaps so. The place was hot and stifling, " said Francis. "There aremoments when my brain seems to whirl, and things go round. Did I go tosleep?"

"Yes, sir; you were certainly insensible to all that passed for a time. "

"Of course I was, " said the King angrily, "if I was asleep; but whydon't you say so? Here, I don't know what's the matter with me. I musthave dreamed that you took me by the wrist and led me along one of thesedark galleries, to stop and lean against some great piece of furniturewhile something was going on. Then all was dark and strange again, andI seemed to be going for ever along dark passages, till I felt the freshair coming in through an open window looking out upon the terrace. Well, come, Saint Simon; that was not dreaming. "

"No, sir, " said the young courtier drily. 

"You were suffering from excitement, sir, " said Leoni quietly. "A touchof vertigo. You have been doing too much of late. But you feel betternow?"

"Oh yes, better now--and worse, for I am not certain but what this roughdealing with that boy is not part of another dream. "

"That is no dream, sir, " said Leoni meaningly; "but be silent and let meguide. We are on our way to make our escape. "

"Escape!" whispered back the King excitedly. "Then--then--oh, it'scoming back quite clearly. You have tried and failed?"

"Hist! Silence, Comte!" whispered Leoni, in a commanding tone, as heturned upon the speaker, but without taking his hand from Carrbroke'slips. "Our task is nearly at an end, sir, and I will answer to youlater on. --Now, Saint Simon, lay the boy quickly on that couch. "

"Have you killed him?" whispered Francis. 

"No, sir; only plunged him into a deep sleep. --That's right, SaintSimon. " And then in a mocking tone, "I am afraid that the faithfulsentinel will be in trouble when they find him here asleep. I didn'tthink to find him here. Now, quick, before we are interrupted again. "And he moved a few steps down the gallery, passing his hand along thehangings which veiled the panelled wall. "Somewhere here, " he muttered;"somewhere here. I seem to know the place so well. "

"Leoni, " growled the King, "this night will end in our disgrace, and ifit does--"

"Hist, sir! there is a way out here, " whispered Leoni. "You hinder andconfuse me, and at a time like this, when everything points to success, you--ah, here it is!" For his hand had at last come in contact with theboss, which he turned quickly, pressed hard, making the concealed doorswing back, and then stooped in the gloom to raise the arras. "Now, sir; through here--quick!"

"What!" said Francis sharply. "Go through there into what may be atrap?"

Leoni made no reply, but turned to Saint Simon. 

"Through with you, " he whispered, with a contemptuous ring in his voice. "I would lead, but I must come last to close the way, for they must notknow the route we have taken in our flight. "

The young officer passed through without a word, and, half ashamed ofhis hesitation, Francis followed, to have his hand seized in thedarkness by Saint Simon, who led him for a few yards along the darkpassage, where they stopped listening, to hear Leoni close the door witha faint, half-smothered click. 

Leoni joined them the next moment, "Let me pass now and go first, " hewhispered. "The passage is very narrow, and dark as dark. Thanks, Saint Simon, " he continued, as he squeezed by him; and then, as if tohimself, but loud enough for Francis to hear, "and then if there is anytrap or pitfall in the way I shall be the sufferer, and they will hearme and escape. Ah, " he continued to himself, "the way seems easy, andwhat did the lad say?--that it led after several turns to some stairswhich descended to the ground floor, and finally to a door which openedupon a bosky portion of the terrace, and from there led on throughvarious alleys to the river, a flight of steps, and a boat. Ah, a goodway to escape; but we must have our horses, and trust to them. Well, once within the grounds--I have not been here all these days fornothing--and it will go hard if I do not find my way to the stabling, where Denis should be waiting with the ready saddled steeds, if he hasdone his duty as I bade. "

As he thought this over to himself, breaking it up, as it were, intosentences between which were whispered words of encouragement to thosewho followed, bidding them come on, telling them that all was clear, andto beware of "this angle, " and the like, he passed on and on withoutstretched hands in front, his fingers gliding on either side oversmooth stone walls, till at last he was suddenly checked by a blank. 

"Ah!" he muttered, as he felt about cautiously. "This should be the topof the steps. " And so it proved; for, proceeding carefully from theangle along to his left, his advanced foot, as he glided it over thefloor, rested on an edge. 

"The topmost stair, " he muttered. 

Making certain that it was, Leoni uttered fresh warnings, and then beganto descend, followed slowly by his companions. At the bottom theyproceeded for a while upon the level, when he was brought up short byhis fingers encountering on one side the great iron pintle of a hinge, while the other touched the edge of a stone rebate, into which a heavydoor was sunk. 

"Hah!" he uttered, with a sigh of relief. "Here is the way out of thiskingly fox-burrow. " And his hand glided down the edge of the door tillit came in contact with a huge lock, about which for a few moments hisfingers played, while a chill ran through him, filling him with despair, for the truth had come upon him like a flash: there was no key in thelock; the door was fast; and just in this hour of triumph they were asmuch prisoners as if they were in a cell. 

"Well, Leoni, " whispered Francis, "why are you stopping? This placemakes me feel as if I could not breathe. "

"I am not stopping, sir, " said the doctor bitterly; "I have beenstopped. "

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

CHECK!--QUERY, MATE?

Feeling that the crisis had come, no sooner did Denis hear the firststrokes of the second chiming of the clock, which came so opportunelyupon the King's discovery, than the lad dashed off along the passageleading towards the staircase that he would have to descend to gain theinner court and the stabling. 

But he had not proceeded many yards before he stopped short, startled bythe thought that if he continued by this corridor he would come rightupon some gentleman of the household, whose nightly duty it was to be onguard at the angle of the gallery which led towards the King'sapartments. 

"Oh, " he muttered beneath his breath, "I had forgotten. Carrbroke toldme he would be there to-night. "

There was nothing for it but to retrace his steps, pass right roundtwo-thirds of one of the lesser courts, and get back to the corridoragain beyond the range of apartments sacred to the King. 

Then reaching the end of the gallery, he began to hurry once more tomake up for lost time, when feeling that, much as he desired to act, such hurried procedure would attract the attention of the first officerwho was on guard, the lad checked his headlong steps, thrust his handsinto his trunk hose, and began to walk carelessly along, catching up andhumming the air which came softly from where the musicians were stillplaying. 

It was well he did, for as he turned the next corner he came upon acouple of the King's guards upon the landing at the head of a staircase. 

His face was familiar to the men as one of the King's guests, and itbeing right away from the royal apartments, they gave way for him topass, and making a tremendous effort over himself, he descended veryslowly and carelessly, the hardest part of all being to stop once ortwice as if listening to the music, and then go on humming the air. 

He breathed more freely as he passed out into the courtyard and crossedit, fully expecting to encounter a guard at the archway which gave uponthe next court. 

As he expected, there were a couple of armed men here ready to challengehim; but before they could speak he stopped short to ask whether hewould find men in attendance at the stables, adding carelessly in veryfair English:

"I want to see how our horses are getting on. "

It was so likely a mission that the principal of the two guardsvolunteered the information at once that some of the grooms would besure to be there at that time for a final look round before closing forthe night. 

"You know your way, sir?" added the man respectfully. 

"Oh yes, thank you, " said Denis carelessly; "I know my way. " And hewalked on, panting heavily now, in spite of his slow pace. "This is thehardest work of all, " he muttered, "for I want to run--I want to run. But oh, how I do hate it all! They must be stealing the jewel now, forI can call it nothing else but a theft. How glad I am that they havesent me away, and I am not obliged to degrade myself with such a task. But yet I am helping, and seem as bad as they--but no, not _as_ bad. Leoni says it is right, and--yes, it was stolen from us, and it is butto restore it to France--to France. "

"Now for it, " he muttered, as he neared the entrance to the greatstables, where to his delight he could see by the light within that thedoor was open and a shadow passing the lit-up entry showed him that atall events part of his task would be easy. "Now no more thinking. I ambut doing my duty, and it is time to act. "

Increasing his pace now, he stepped boldly into a broad shelter fromwhich a long, dimly seen vista of horse-stalls opened out to right andleft, and he was confronted at once by two of a group of men, three ofwhom bore lanterns, and who were coming towards him as if about to leavethe place. 

"Here, " he cried authoritatively, as he recognised one of the grooms asbeing he who had their steeds in charge, "I want our horses saddled atonce. "

"To-night, sir?" said the man, glancing at the lad's courtly costume insearch of his boots and spurs, and seeking in vain, his eyes being onlymet by glistening silk and rosetted shoon. 

"Yes, " replied Denis haughtily; "to-night"; and then half laughingly, "It is fresh and cool and pleasant, is it not?"

"Yes, sir, " said the man, "but--"

"The rooms are hot and stifling to-night, and the Comte my master wishesto ride forth. You will be well rewarded for the extra trouble and--ah, here, " he continued, thrusting his hand into Leoni's pouch, "I forgot;you will of course sit up till we return. Here is something to pay forwine. "

He held out a couple of gold pieces, which, as they were taken, actedlike magic, and a busy little scene of emulation ensued, every man beingeager to assist in bridling and saddling the beautiful chargers that hadbeen standing haltered in their stalls. 

It was hard work for Denis, whose pulses were throbbing with impatience;but he carried out his part well, patting and stroking first one andthen another of the noble beasts, and talking to them the while. 

"It seems rather hard, " he said, speaking in the same haughty tone tothe man he had before addressed; "but a good canter round the park willdo them good, and their work is very easy nowadays. "

The groom agreed to everything he said, for the glint of the gold placedin his hand was still before his eyes; and in a very short space oftime, long as it seemed to the impatient lad, the last strap and bucklewere fastened, and with a man giving final touches to glistening coatand mane, the horses were about to be led forth. 

"We are to take them round to the great entrance, sir?" said the chiefgroom. 

"Oh no, " replied Denis carelessly. "Just lead them into the entry; theComte and his gentlemen are going to join me here. It is just for aquiet night ride, and--ah, " he added, with a faint gasp of relief, "herethey come!" For heavy footsteps approaching hastily could be heardoutside--footsteps of only one, but which the lad in his wild excitementeasily magnified into those of all his friends, as he walked far moreswiftly than he intended to meet the three fugitives, ready to mount andin full career leave the hospitable place behind. 

The words were on his lips to greet them and say, "All is ready; you canmount in here. " But they were frozen on his lips, for the light fromwithin fell full upon a big burly form, that of an enemy who, like aflash, the lad felt, could only have come upon a mission of evil; and hestood as if turned to stone, as a familiar voice exclaimed:

"Hallo, my French friend! I saw you cross the Court and come in here, and so I watched. What's your business, pray, at this time of thenight? Have you come to steal his Majesty's steeds?"

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

LEONI'S PUPIL. 

"How dare you!" cried Denis. 

"Oh, I'll soon show you how I dare, my lad, " cried Sir Robert Garstang. "Here, you fellow, who gave you orders to get those horses ready?"

"This gentleman, sir, " said the groom. 

"What, this Comte de la Seine's page, or whatever he is? And what righthas he to instruct you to get horses out at this time of night?"

"I don't know, Sir Robert. We were told to get them ready, " said theman humbly. 

"Ah, but this must be inquired into. There's something wrong here, Ifeel sure. "

"Take no notice of this man, " cried Denis, forgetting in his excitementthat he must speak in English, however bad, if he wished the grooms tounderstand, and addressing them excitedly in French. 

"Bah!" cried Sir Robert, in his most bullying tones. "Take no notice ofthe fellow's jabber. I order you not to let these horses go without thepermission of the chamberlain or the King's Master of the Horse. "

"But they are the gentlemen's own horses, Sir Robert, " said the manquietly, "and not the King's. "

"I don't care, " cried the officer. "The rules are, as I know well, thatno horses shall leave here without special orders after dark. "

Denis grasped every word that was said, and stood literally tremblingwith excitement, anticipating as he did that at any moment his friendsmight arrive, when there would be a discovery of the attempted flight, and all would be over. 

In his desperation, just as his heart seemed sinking to the lowest ebb, Leoni's words recurred to him. He had used the gold, while now, as thedoctor had told him, he had his sword; and at this thought he drew inhis breath through his teeth with a sharp low hiss. 

"You hear!" cried Sir Robert sharply. "These horses are not to leavethe stable till I return with some one in authority who shall decidewhat is to be done. You understand me? On your lives, obey!"

He swung round to stride out of the building, and then started withsurprise, for the young esquire's rapier flashed out sharply in the dulllight of the lanterns, as he drew and cried sternly:

"On your life, sir, stand back, and cease to interfere! I have thehighest of commands for what I do. "

"What!" cried Sir Robert. "Why, I have been waiting for this, to payyou back the smart you gave me--insolent French puppy that you are!Give up your sword, sir. Do you know that it is a crime to draw in theprecincts of the castle? This you have done, and it is my duty as oneof his Majesty's officers to arrest you on the spot. Give up yoursword, sir, at once. You are my prisoner. "

"Take my sword, " cried Denis sharply, "and make me your prisoner, insolent boor, if you dare or can. "

"On your head be it then, " cried Sir Robert, loosening his cloak, twisting it quickly round his left arm, and drawing his sword, while thechief groom, startled by the danger in which the young esquire stood, whispered quickly to a couple of his underlings to hurry for the guard. 

"Stop!" cried Sir Robert fiercely. "Let no man stir if he value hisskin. I know what you would do, and that I'll do myself when I havecorrected this springald here. --Now, boy, " he roared, "your sword!"

"Now, Master Leoni, " whispered the boy between his teeth, as he rapidlyplaced himself on guard and made a feint at the burly captain's chest. "Take it, insolent bully!" he said sharply; and the officer in hisastonishment at the suddenness of the attack, fell back a pace; butrecovering himself on the instant, he crossed swords with his youngadversary. Then, to the excitement and delight of the grooms, whoraised their lanterns to the full extent of their arms that thecombatants might see, the triangular-bladed weapons began to give forththat peculiar harsh gritting sound of two steel edges rasping together. 

The encounter was but short, for, relying upon the superior strength ofhis arm, and determined to punish his slight young adversary in revengefor the past, the captain pressed hard upon him, lunging rapidly withall the vigour he could command, his intention being to drive hisantagonist backward against one or other of the walls and pin him there. But he had reckoned without his host, for though Denis was nolong-practised swordsman, Leoni's lessons had not been without theireffect, and as thrust after thrust was lightly turned aside, the youngesquire firmly stood his ground, merely stepping sideways and lettinghis adversary's baffled blade glide by his slight form, while refrainingfrom thrusting again and again when the burly captain had laid himselfso open that he was quite at the lad's mercy. 

"Oh, " growled the captain at the end of a couple of minutes' encounter, and he drew back to rest. "That is your play, is it? You refuse to bedisarmed when I have mercifully shown myself disposed to let you offwithout a scratch. "

"Your tongue is sharper than your sword, sir, " said the boy scornfully;"and it is worse. It is poisoned, for every word you have spoken is alie. "

"What!" cried the captain, enraged by the low murmur uttered by thegrooms as if endorsing the young esquire's words. "More insolent thanever! Give up your sword, or, by Heaven, I'll send you back to thecastle upon a litter. "

"Send me, then, " said the lad contemptuously, "or be prepared to goyourself. "

"Bah! No more words. Come on, " cried the captain; and he prepared toattack once more. 

"My turn now, " whispered the boy to himself, "and it is time;" for inhis excitement he fancied that he could hear steps approaching. Butthere was not a sound save the gritting of the rapiers and the captain'shoarse panting breath as he uttered a loud expiration at every thrust. 

For in his turn, in spite of his determination to make this secondencounter an attack, and force his young adversary to remain entirely onhis guard, the retort had begun, and before a minute had elapsed heuttered a sharp ejaculation as he felt the sharp pain caused by thelad's keen point ripping open his muscular right arm. Stung now withrage, hatred, and the determination to have revenge, he literally rushedat the lad, to force him down, with the natural result that he threwhimself open to the point of his more skilful enemy, who chose hismoment, and made one quick thrust which darted like lightning throughthe captain's bull-like neck, making him utter a low, deep growl as hissword flew from his hand, and he staggered backwards into the arms of acouple of the grooms, who lowered him to the ground. 

"Hah!" ejaculated Denis, whose heart was beating fast, and steppingforward he stooped over his fallen adversary, raised a portion of hiscloak and drew his blade through it twice over. "Stop!" he criedquickly. "What are you going to do?" His loud question was addressedto the chief groom. "No, " cried the boy sternly; "lift him in yonder, "and he pointed with his blade towards the saddle-room. "Lay him there;tear strips off his cloak, and bind up his arm and neck. The greatesthelp you can give him now is to stop the bleeding. "

There was a tone of command in the boy's uttered words which had thenatural effect, and the men busied themselves at once with their task, taking with them their lanterns and doing at once as they had been told, while they were so intent upon their task that they did not notice thatDenis had followed them, to draw to the door and slip the two bolts withwhich it was furnished into their sockets. 

Then sheathing his sword, he turned quickly to the stable, where thefour chargers stood untethered, and caught his own by the bridle, tobegin leading it to the door. 

He trusted to the nature of the horses for the result, old stablecompanions as they were, and it was as he expected, for the intelligentanimals followed their leader quietly enough, to stand together in theentry waiting, like their master, for what might come. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. 

A DASH FOR LIBERTY. 

"Oh!" groaned Denis to himself, as he stood in the darkness watching theshape of the saddle-room door, marked-out as it was in lines of lightfrom the lanterns within, listening to the low muttering of voices, andshuddering once as his wounded adversary uttered a low deep groan, whichwas followed directly after by an angry ejaculation as if he wereenraged by the clumsy surgery of the men. 

"Is all this going to be in vain?" muttered the boy. "It is as if thewhole business is accursed and is bound to fail. "

He stood listening, and the talking went on, to be interrupted byanother fierce ejaculation from the captain, who gave some order; butwhat it was Denis could not grasp, and he literally groaned again. 

"They do not come! They do not come!" he said. "It is all useless. They must have failed. "

He had hardly spoken the words when he fancied he heard steps; but allwas still, and then he started violently and clapped his hand to hissword, for some one tried to open the saddle-room door, then shook it, and the words of whoever it was came plainly to the lad's cars:

"I can't, Sir Robert. He has shut us in. "

"What!" came hoarsely; and at the same moment Denis's heart leaped, forthere was no mistake this time. Footsteps were rapidly approaching, whether friends' or foes' it was impossible to tell, and taking a stepoutside the door with his bridle over his arm, his horse followed him, setting in motion the other three, which, well-trained as they were, ranged up alongside upon the cobble stones before the double doors. 

There was no doubt now, for three figures, plainly seen by the lightwhich shone out of the saddle-room window, came breathlessly up, and thefirst to speak cried in familiar tones:

"My horse! Is it ready? Quick!"

"Yes, Sire, " whispered Denis, and Francis uttered a quick low "Hah!" ashe gathered up the reins and prepared to mount, his two companionsfollowing his example, just as the lit-up window was dashed out by someheavy blow, the glass coming tinkling down upon the stones outside, anda hoarse voice that Denis knew only too well roared out:

"Guard, here! Guard! Help! In the King's name! Guard!"

As the last words came hoarsely forth on to the night air, _clang, clang, clang_, burst out the tocsin of the alarm bell, silencing themusic in the ballroom and sending an electric thrill through everylistener within the precincts of the castle; but ere the great bell hadsent forth a score of vibrating notes which came quivering through thedarkness and echoing from every wall, the clattering of hoofs began inobedience to the whispered commands of his Majesty of France:

"Draw, draw, and all together to the gates. Then lead, Leoni, and ridehard--straight away, man, for the south. "

The horses had not made a dozen strides before their sharp hoofclatterings upon the paved court gave place to the dull _thud, thud_, returned from gravel, while before a hundred yards had been passed over, a couple of lanterns began to dance here and there right before them, their dull yellow rays being reflected from the broad blades of halberdsborne by men who were evidently forming up in obedience to a shoutedorder, before making for the castle. 

The horsemen needed no command. They knew what they had to do--tocharge right through the night watch assembling from the guard-room; andthis they did. 

There were shouts, commands to stop in the King's name, the impact ofhorse and man, and the clatter and jangle of steel against steel, as thefugitives rode their opponents down, kept together, and dashed on foranother hundred yards or so, and then were brought up short by thatwhich had not entered into their calculations, for they simultaneouslydrew rein as Saint Simon, fully excited now, roared in a voice ofthunder; "The gates are shut!"

The King uttered a low gasp, and it was Leoni who said sharply:

"Only the great gates. The doorway--is it right or left?"

"Here, " cried Denis; "this way, Sire!" And he made a snatch at the reinof the monarch's horse and drew back his own for him to pass, closelyfollowed by Leoni, who was just in time to rise in his stirrups and makea thrust at a tall halberdier who had suddenly stepped forward to seizethe rein of Francis's horse. 

The man uttered no cry, only dropped his halberd and staggered back asLeoni passed on into the darkness, his horse running side by side withthat of the King. 

Meanwhile--it was almost momentary--Saint Simon, who was the next topass through the narrow pier-bound way, cried out excitedly to his youngfriend:

"Come on, boy! It will be a ride for life. "

Denis knew it, as he sat there motionless as a statue upon his horse, with his sword pointed towards the advancing enemy, a full score of themdimly seen in the gloom, who, recovering from the terrible shock theyhad received, came running with their clumsy partisans levelled fortheir charge, to take revenge upon and capture the daring unknown partywhich had made this desperate attack. 

There were men among them who were suffering from blows and fromtrampling hoofs, and other injuries they had received; but as they ranthey recovered their well-trained formation, and with their leaderdashed two and two through the narrow postern gate and along thedarkened road for full a couple of hundred yards, before the sterncommand rang out for them to halt. 

As the trampling of their feet ceased to beat upon the road they stoodin the silence listening to the tramp of hoofs, which grew fainter andfainter, till the last sound died away and the silence was broken by adeep groan uttered by one of the men, who now dropped out and sank uponhis knees. 

"Who's that?" cried the leader sharply. 

"Staines Dick, " was the reply. 

"Humph!" grunted the sergeant who had led the pursuit. "That's two ofus gone down. I saw the sentry had it as we passed out. Is thereanyone among you as would like to be sergeant instead of me?"

"No, " said another voice. "Why?"

"Because I am Sergeant of the Guard, my lads, and I shall have to goback and meet the King. "

There was a peculiar sound from the little body of men, caused by theirsimultaneously sharply drawing in their breath, and then silence onceagain, as they listened to make sure that the beating of hoofs hadpassed beyond their ken. Then once more the sergeant spoke out. 

"Halberds here, " he said sharply, "and make a litter for this poor chap. That's right; lift him gently. Have you got it badly, lad?"

"No, sergeant; only my left arm broke. It was the hoof of a horse as hegalloped over me and struck me aside. "

"Hah!" said the sergeant, as he marched beside the improvised litter andwent on talking to his injured man. "It's bad, my lad, bad; but itdon't mean funeral march, and between ourselves, Staines Dick. I wish Iwas you. "

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. 

BLUFF HAL RAGES. 

"I don't understand this, Hurst. I don't understand it a bit. Onemoment I feel that he is no Comte, at another that there may besomething in what you say. But just now I can think of nothing but dela Seine not being in his room. Bah! He cannot have taken to flight, thinking that I have discovered who he is; but we must find out that. "

At this moment the King was passing along the centre of the gallerydevoted to the priceless treasures of his collection, to which Carrbrokehad so proudly directed the young French visitor's attention, when hisfoot came suddenly in contact with something which he sent flying alongthe polished oaken boards, the object making a musical metallic sound. 

"What's that?" cried the King sharply; and the chamberlain startedforward into the gloom close beneath one of the windows, to pick upafter a moment's search what proved on being held up to the light to bea beautiful little golden cup covered with such _repousse_ work as wouldmost likely have been placed there by some Italian artist of theBenvenuto Cellini type. 

A faint cry of wonder escaped the chamberlain's lips. 

"A golden cup!" exclaimed the King, as he leaned over to gaze at thelittle object. "How comes that there? Why, Hurst, that little _tazza_should be in the big cabinet yonder, where the French jewel lies. Quick! Here. "

The King turned sharply and hurried back to the centre of the gallerywhere the great cabinet stood, to find it on the two sides he examinedperfectly intact; but the other two sides of the big ornamental piece offurniture fell to the chamberlain's examination, and he was so startledby the discovery he made that he remained silent and stood there withhis lips compressed. 

"Nothing here, Hurst, " cried the King, in less excited tones. "It musthave been my fancy; it cannot be the cup I mean. You see nothing?"

"Will your Majesty look here?" said the chamberlain gravely. 

"Hah!" cried the King, and he joined his follower on the other side, toutter an ejaculation full of the rage he felt, for dim as the gallerywas, light enough came through the window opposite to which the cabinetstood to show that one of the doors had been wrenched open; some of thedrawers within were half unclosed, while several little objects that hadevidently been dropped in haste were upon the floor. 

"Robbery! Pillage!" cried the King angrily. "They must have beendisturbed in their act of plunder, whoever it was, and--and--hah!" heraged out, as he snatched up a case that was lying open. "Look here, Hurst; this tells the tale. Do you know it?"

"No, Sire. "

"You see it is empty. "

"Yes, Sire. "

"I could gage my life that within the last hour it held that fateful gemwon by the Kings of England, the jewel from the French crown. Now, man, who is the robber? Speak!"

"Ah!" half whispered the chamberlain. "Your Majesty is right. Thisdisappearance is accounted for at once. It must have been--"

"The Comte de la Seine!" raged out the King. "Stolen not only from myown palace, but out of my own private apartments, where I am supposed tobe guarded night and day. Hurst, " he continued grimly. "I am afraidsome one is going to die on account of this. But the robbers cannothave gone far. They must be somewhere about. "

"Yes, Sire. There are guards everywhere, and the gates are closed. They must be in the castle still. "

"Then this be my task, " cried the King, "to hunt the cunning schemersdown. This way first. There should be two guards at the head of thesouth staircase--if they are not asleep. "

In his excitement the King drew his sword and led the way to where thetwo officers were on duty, ready to challenge and answer frankly thatonly one person had passed there, and that the young esquire in theComte de la Seine's suite. 

"Bah! We are on the wrong track, " said the King angrily. "They wouldnot come this way. That boy was probably sent to take the guards'attention while the deed was done. Come back, Hurst; this way. You menarrest anybody who tries to pass you, no matter who it may be. Now, Hurst, quick, for the game is afoot and we must run it down. "

He hurriedly led the way back along the gallery, past the broken cabinetwithout giving it a moment's concern, and when nearing the privatecorridor the King stopped short, to clutch his follower by the breastwith his left hand. 

"Hurst, " he whispered hoarsely, the deep tones of his voice betrayingthe rage burning in his breast--"Hurst, have we been betrayed?"

"Surely not, your Majesty. Your people are too loyal for that. "

"But the French are very cunning, man, and gold, even if it is foreign, will sometimes work its way. "

"Your Majesty speaks in riddles, " said the chamberlain nervously, forhis master still clutched him by the breast, and the sword was tremblingin his hand as if he were about to use it upon a prisoner he had takenhimself. 

"Riddles!" cried the King. "When we are searching for that vile culpritwhom I believed to be still in the place, and who has not passed theguards at either end of these galleries? That boy Carrbroke: he told usthat no one had passed by him. "

"Yes, your Majesty; but still I do not understand your drift. "

"Man, have you no brains to think? Is there not another way from here?"

"Hah!" cried the chamberlain in a hoarse whisper. "The secret passage!"

"Yes, " said the King, in a low, deep voice. "Some one--if they have notwatched and discovered for themselves--must have betrayed its existence, known only to me and you. But maybe it has acted like a trap--the outerdoor is locked, and a stranger would not be likely to find the key. "

"Oh, " whispered the chamberlain, "it is possible, Sire. I will call theguard. "

"No, " said the King, with an angry hiss in his voice. "You can use yoursword, Hurst?"

"In your Majesty's service at any time, " replied the chamberlain. 

"And I am not a child with mine, " said the King. "Hurst, man, yoursuspicions are right. This French visitor is no paltry Comte. There isthe look of the Valois in his countenance. What if the great object ofhis visit here was to steal that gem taken from his land by conquest?Hurst, I should like to take this man redhanded myself. We are two, andpossibly he is alone, for he would not trust such a task as this toother hands. We heard just now that his page, esquire, or whatever heis, had been sent away. "

"Yes, Sire. But he will be desperate. Your Majesty's safety must notbe risked. I implore you, let me call the guard. "

"Well, as you will, " said the King. --"No, it would only be to revealthat secret place to the common herd. No one shall know it butourselves. But stop; there is some one close at hand whom I dare trust. Old Sir John Carrbroke's son. He will be trusty as his father was tome, and to my father in his time. Fetch him here. "

The chamberlain hurried off, while the King followed slowly, sword inhand, till he was opposite to the concealed door, where he stood fast towait; but an ejaculation uttered by Lord Hurst took him to the latter'sside. 

"Traitor!" cried the King angrily. "No, sleeper. " And in his rage hedrew back his arm as if to thrust at the youth who was lying upon theheavy couch. 

"No sleeper, your Majesty, " cried the chamberlain, bending overCarrbroke, to raise his eyelids one by one. "Pah!" he ejaculated. "Theodour is quite strong. The poor lad has been drugged by some pungentmedicament. " And then as he drew back his hand he took a kerchief fromhis pouch to wipe his hands. "The noisome poison is still wet upon hisface. "

"Thank Heaven!" said the King. "It was a mercy I did not strike andslay a faithful soul. Come, then, Hurst; but draw and defend me ifthere is need. Now then, back to the arras, and let us see. "

"The passage is all black darkness, Sire, " whispered the chamberlain;and the King pointed with his sword to the nearest sconce. 

"Bring a light, " he said laconically. 

The next minute they were opposite the secret door, which the Kingunfastened, and was about to raise the arras when the chamberlainpressed forward. 

"I will go first, your Majesty, " he said. 

"After your King, sir. Yours the task to light me on the way. "

A word of opposition was upon his follower's lips, but the King stoopedhastily, raised the arras well on high, and signed to the chamberlain tohold it up and cast the light into the narrow way he was about totraverse. 

Then with one heavy thrust he threw open the door, and without amoment's hesitation passed in with his sword advanced, to be followedquickly by the chamberlain, who raised the light above his head, tothrow the King's shadow right before him, so that his mock semblance, looking black, solid, and grotesquely dwarfed, moved on in front till itstruck against the angle of the wall where the passage turned sharply tothe left. 

Here with sword advanced the chamberlain approached as closely as hecould, fully expecting attack from a hiding foe; but the King passedboldly on, with his shadow before him, till the next angle was reached, their footsteps sounding hollow, dull, and strange in the confinedspace. 

The King walked onward like one well accustomed to traverse the place, and in another few minutes the great candle his follower bore wascasting the dwarf shadow upon the heavy door that blocked the end. 

"A false clue, Hurst, " said the King gruffly. "The secret of this placeis still our own. --No, by my faith!" he almost roared. "The light, man--lower--and look here!"

For there, plain to see, was the ring of a heavy key in the lock of themassive door, and as the King seized the latch and raised it with aclick, the door swung inward easily upon its well-oiled hinges, followedby a puff of the soft night air, which would have extinguished the lighthad not the King hastily closed the door again. 

"Gone, and by this way!" he growled, as he turned the key, sending thebolt with a sharp snap into the socket. Then with a sharp tug he drewout the shining wards and signed to his follower to return. 

Lord Hurst uttered a low sigh of relief, for he felt that the King hadescaped a terrible danger, the loss of the jewel being as nothing to hislife. 

He backed slowly, lighting the way, till they were about half-a-dozenyards from the door, when he stopped short and raised the light on alevel with a little horizontal niche close to the roof of the passage, into which the King thrust the key. 

"There has been treachery here, Hurst, " he said sombrely, "for astranger would not be likely to have found that key. Simplehiding-places are often the most safe. But there, " he growled, with asuppressed oath; "back into the corridor, but extinguish that lightbefore you raise the arras, and make sure that we are alone. "

The order was obeyed, the chamberlain cautiously listening, before goingdown upon one knee to raise the tapestry a few inches from the floor andmake sure that Carrbroke was the only occupant of the great gallery, then creeping quickly out, holding the hangings upward for the King topass, and securing the door. 

"Now, " cried the King furiously, as he brought one foot down with aheavy stamp, "the villains may be still within the grounds. Guard!Guard!" he roared, with a voice almost as deep as that of a raging bull;and as footsteps were almost directly heard, the enraged monarch turnedupon his chamberlain and furiously bade him have the soldiery summonedand the place well searched, while many minutes had not elapsed beforethe alarm bell was sending its vibrating notes with a deep hum throughthe night air, and room and corridor echoed with the sounds of excitedvoices and trampling feet. 

It was in the midst of the orders that were being given by King andcourtier that the clashing sound of arms and shouts of angry men camefrom the gate and guard-room, to be followed by the news of theencounter and the visitors' escape. 

And then it was as if a storm was raging through the castle, set inagitation by the bluff King, who played the part of thunder god himself, ending by stamping and raging about the outer court animadverting uponthe sluggishness of his guards, till the strong body of horsemen whoformed his bodyguard of mounted archers stood drawn up, ready, withtheir arms and armour flashing in the light of scores of flambeaux, waiting for the final order thundered forth at last by the King himself, to spare not their spurs, but ride due south and bring back the culpritsalive or dead. 

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. 

SOMEBODY'S WOUND. 

As if to aid the fugitives' escape, the moon, which had been shiningbrightly the greater part of the evening, had become overclouded almostfrom the minute they set off, and headed by the King, who bent low overthe pommel of his saddle, and at the start had seemed to drive his spursinto his horse's flanks, the little party tore over the darkened road ata furious pace, no one uttering a word. 

The King led; that was sufficient for two of the party, who set theirteeth and gave the horses their heads, merely taking care to rein upslightly as every now and then they came upon some terribly untendedpiece of the road. 

"The King leads, " thought the two young men, "and all we have to do isto keep close at his heels, ready if wanted, and for France. "

Saint Simon was one who thought little and said less. They had had anexciting charge, mastered those who opposed them, behaved like gentlemenof France, and that was enough. 

But as Denis galloped on with the wind coming cool and pleasant tocheeks fevered by the excitement that he had passed through, pictureafter picture flitted through his brain, dominated by that in the stableentry when he had felt his rapier glide through his adversary's neck. 

Had he killed this man? something seemed to ask him again and again. 

Then came the strong feeling of dissatisfaction as imaginary picturestook the others' place, illustrating the breaking open of the cabinetand the stealing of the jewel--imaginary so far as he was concerned, forno communication as to this having been accomplished had been made tohim. But he took it all for granted, and though he had taken no activepart in the theft--for theft his conscience persisted in calling it--thebase action pressed upon him more and more, in spite of his combating itwith declarations that it was an act of warfare to regain the King'sown, and that it was for France. 

At last as they galloped on with their horses following their naturalinstinct and keeping closely together as in a knot, the trouble, theworry became almost unbearable. 

"Oh, if something fresh would only happen--something exciting!" Denismuttered. "I could then bear it better. "

At last a thought flashed through his brain, and he started, rose alittle in his stirrups, and began looking about him. 

"Are we going right?" he said to himself, and he looked straight aheadnow--beyond Francis, who was slightly in advance, he being on the King'sleft, while Leoni's horse galloped level with his own, the beautifulanimal's head being almost within touch of the King's saddle upon theright. 

But all was dark and cloudy, and he could make out nothing. 

"The King leads, " he muttered, "and what the King does is right. "

Thinking this to himself, Denis rode on, perfectly unconscious of thefact that he who rode on his right was vastly troubled too, andregardless of everything else kept one eye fixed upon his liege, for hehad noticed that Francis was not riding according to his wont. 

He was generally upright in his saddle, and he had never seen him bendlow before like this. 

At first he comforted himself with the thought that it was all due toexcitement and the dread of being captured after this nefarious act; forgloze it over as he would, the subtle Franco-Italian knew in his heartthat though it might be for reasons of State, and to ensure thestability and future of his King, the scheme was vile. Then, too, therewas all that had taken place that night, the peculiar semi-trance-likestate in which the King had seemed to be plunged. There was thedraught, too, that had been taken, and its effects before he had graspedthe King's wrist and had led him, a passive instrument in his hands, towhere the cabinet stood in the obscurity of the gallery, and had himstanding there, participator of that which had followed, but in a halfunconscious condition the while. 

Once or twice after coming to the conclusion, and owning to himself thatthe state of Francis was due entirely to the draught he hadadministered, Leoni started nervously in his saddle, for the King hadsuddenly given a lurch as if partly unseated; but he regained hisbalance on the instant, and muttered angrily at his horse for stumbling. 

They rode on now at a hand gallop, their horses' hoofs beating heavilyupon the road, but not drowning the King's voice, as every now and thenhe made his horse lay back its ears to listen to the rider's words, which at times came angrily and fast. But they were incoherent andstrange, and it was only now and then that Leoni, on his right, andDenis, on his left, caught their import, always something about the huntand losing their quarry. 

It was just after one of these mutterings that the clouds were sweptfrom the face of the moon, passing onward like a vast black velvetcurtain edged with silver, and leaving visible a third, later on a half, of the vast arch overhead, studded here and there with stars whoselustre was paled by the effulgent moon. 

And now it was that, after studying the sky overhead for some minutes tomake sure, Denis could control himself no longer, and involuntarilyexclaimed; "Are we going right?"

"What!" cried Leoni sharply, for the King paid no heed, but galloped on, muttering to himself the while. 

"Are we going right?" repeated the lad. 

"What do you mean, boy?"

"The road is straight, sir, and we are riding to the north. Should wenot be making for the south?"

"Are you mad, boy? What do you mean?"

"Look, sir--the stars. That must be the Bear. "

Leoni was silent for a few moments, breathing heavily the while, as theyrode steadily on. Then the doctor's voice came in a low angry hiss:

"Yes, boy, " he said, and his voice sounded like a harsh whisper, "we areupon the wrong road; but the Count led, and I thought of nothing butmaking our escape. "

"Are we to rein in, sir? Will you not tell him at once?" whisperedDenis, leaning towards him as near as he could get. 

"No; we can do nothing now but gallop on. There is certainly pursuitgoing on hot foot behind us--somewhere, " he added, after a slight pause;"and perhaps it is in the Count's wisdom that he has chosen this way, for if we were beyond earshot when pursuit commenced, the guard wouldnaturally divine that we should be making for some southern port. Perhaps all is working for the best. "

"Ah!" ejaculated Denis excitedly, for Francis reeled again in hissaddle, this time towards his young esquire, who spurred his steed levelwith the King's just in time to save him from falling headlong to theground. 

"Ah!" he muttered angrily. "This horse is going lame, and we shall belast. Poor broken beast, I have ridden him too hard, and--I like itnot; I like it not. "

"Master Leoni!" cried Denis excitedly, as the King recovered himselfonce more. "The Comte, sir--the Comte!"

"I know. I saw. Keep as you are now, as close as you can ride. I'llkeep level on the other side. We must reach water somehow, and I willgive him to drink. It is the excitement. He is ill. "

"No, no, sir!" cried Denis wildly. "He is wounded. "

"What!" shouted Leoni. 

"My hand and sleeve are wet with blood. Look, sir, look!" For the moonwas shining brightly down upon them now. "A horrible cut upon hisbrow!"

"Halt!" cried Leoni; and at the command the horses stopped so suddenlythat but for the hands of his followers the King would have been thrownupon his horse's neck. 

"Are we to get him down?" panted Denis. 

"No, " said Leoni, cool and stern as if, in spite of the emergency, danger was afar. "Support him that side. " And letting his horse's reinfall upon the neck he drew his little _flacon_ from the breast of hisdoublet, unscrewed the top, and passing his arm round the King'sshoulders, the head fell back, and the doctor pressed the neck of thelittle flask between his lips, while Francis yawned slightly, and a fewdrops trickled over his dry hot tongue. A few drops--no more--and thenthe top was screwed on the flask, it was returned to its owner's breast, and he busily examined the King's forehead, after drawing back theplumed cap which had been dragged down over his eyes. 

"A cut from sword or axe, " muttered Leoni. "It must have been given byone of those halberdiers. He has borne it bravely, gentlemen, and likea king. Hah! My handkerchief!"

He snatched it out, just as it was, folded like a pad. "Now then, ascarf, " he said. "Yours, Denis. I will unfasten it myself. You, SaintSimon, ride back a hundred yards and listen. Make out if you canwhether we are pursued. "

Saint Simon turned off and rode back without a word, while Leoni hastilyunfastened and drew off the young esquire's silken scarf, and said withhis white teeth glistening in a sardonic smile in the bright moonlight:

"Why, Denis, boy, you will be honoured to-night. You must save thisscarf as an heirloom, for when you get it back it will be deeply stainedwith the royal blood of France. "

"Hist!" whispered the lad, flushing. "The Comte will hear. "

"Perhaps, " said Leoni coolly; "but he will not understand. Ah, that isbetter: raise his head a little. --Stand still, horse!" he cried angrily;and then, as Denis raised the King's head a trifle, the whitehandkerchief was bound tightly over the wound, and the scarf adjusted sothat it retained it in its place and formed into a turban-like cover, while the King's jewelled cap was secured by its strap to theembroidered baldric he wore. 

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. 

AN AWKWARD HALT. 

Meanwhile the strong medicament administered by Leoni had had itseffect, giving the sufferer temporary energy and to some extentrestoring the reeling senses, so that by the time the _al fresco_surgery was at an end, Francis began to speak with a fair amount ofcoherence. 

"Who's this?" he said. "You, Leoni? Thanks, man. How cool and freshthe night air feels! Have I been hurt? Yes, I remember. That caitiffdog of an Englishman struck me with his partisan, and I had no time toreach him and pay him back. Thanks, doctor. Yes, I am better now. Buton, on, on!" he panted, with a sudden return of the slight delirium fromwhich he had suffered. "An end to all this. Fontainebleau! Can wereach there to-night?"

"No, sir, " replied Leoni soothingly, as with his hand upon the King'srein he led his horse at a walk. "But we are well on the way for thepalace. That's right. That's right. I am weary of this playing Comte, and all it means. But we shall be late, Leoni; we shall be late. Theywill have laid the hounds upon the boar's track. He will have brokencover, and I shall not be there with my spear. "

"We will go faster soon, sir, " said Leoni encouragingly; but he did notattempt to increase their speed, continuing at a walk and suddenlydrawing rein to speak to Denis. 

"Saint Simon, " he said--"I had forgotten him. "

"Coming on about a hundred yards behind, " whispered Denis. "He thinkswe are not followed. "

"Hah!" exclaimed Leoni. "You ride on first. I will follow with theComte. He will take up all my attention now. "

"Is he much hurt?" whispered Denis anxiously. 

"No; an ugly cut to the bone, but nothing to fear. Forward, boy, andkeep a sharp look-out for the first road that bears off to the left. That will be the way--anywhere will be right that takes us beyondpursuit. "

Denis obeyed and rode on, looking vainly for the road he sought, butfinding instead several leading in the opposite direction, while atevery turning he checked his horse to wait till the rest came up, fortheir progress was necessarily slow. 

The night glided drearily on, with the paces of the horses at a slowwalk growing monotonous in the extreme; and for some time past theexcitement of the flight had been giving place to the first approachesof a drowsiness that was rapidly becoming invincible, when with a faintcry of joy the lad noticed, as he looked off to his right, that thefaint soft light was beginning to appear in the east, becoming soon along, low pearly band which grew broader and broader, while the starsthat had brightened for a time when the moon went down began to pale. 

The patches of woodland back from the road, which had been black andsombre, began to turn grey, leaves grew distinct, and before longhigh-up in the zenith the sky was flecked with a few tiny clouds of asoft rosy orange which gradually brightened till they glowed like fire, and then died out, leaving nothing but the clear sky, darkened in thewest, but growing lighter till the eastern horizon was reached, where, plain to see, were the rapid advances of the coming day. 

The birds, too, were beginning to make their pipings heard, and all atonce, as if wakened by the footsteps of the horses, a lark sprang up, tobegin circling round higher and higher, carolling its joyous song, andwith it raising the spirits of the young esquire, as he felt that theywere free once more, and at all events taking the first steps homewardand backward to the sea, which still lay between him and the rest andpeace for which he longed. 

It was horrible, he felt, that the King should have been injured in thisill-starred expedition; but now it was to be at an end, and as the ladthought this in the dewy freshness and cool air of the hour beforesunrise, he began to enjoy the beauty of the pleasant woodland countrythrough which their horses paced. But he looked back from time to time, to see Francis more upright in his saddle, with Leoni riding knee toknee, and Saint Simon grave and silent fifty yards behind. 

Still they passed nothing but some foot-track or rugged lane--nothing inthe way of a high-road--and the lad was about to draw rein at last toseek counsel as to their further proceedings, when at a turn of the lanehe caught sight of a spreading clump of trees and what seemed to be avillage green, about which clustered a few humble cottages, and an innwhose sign projected from a tree trunk that overhung the road. 

Denis checked his horse now and waited till the others closed up. 

"Shall I see if the people are awake, " said the lad, "and ask them ofour way?"

"No, " replied Leoni coldly. "Ask nothing; but go and summon the people. Ah, there is some one stirring there! Look--coming out from the door. Ride on and tell him we want rest and refreshment--a chamber, too, for agentleman who has had a fall from his horse. Denis, boy, we are in aperilous strait. I dare not let the King go further until he has hadsome hours of rest and sleep. "

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. 

THE KING'S HORSES AND MEN. 

The landlord of the little inn welcomed his visitors eagerly, for he hadnever before had guests of such degree, and when not observed he gazedopen-eyed at their rich habiliments, for there had been no time to dontheir travelling garments. Everything had been made to give way to theopportune moment for securing the jewel and making their escape. 

All the host studied was about how many gold pieces he would be able tocharge this noble gentleman who had had so unfortunate an accidentthrough his horse stumbling upon the ill-kept road, while he and hiswife did everything they could in their attentions, in the hope thattheir visitors might prolong their stay. 

Leoni bit his nails to the quick as he paced up and down, watching theroad from the King's humble chamber, expecting every minute to see amounted guard coming to arrest them, and in spite of his longing to beupon the road he dared not suggest such a thing to the King in hisintervals of consciousness, when he questioned about his state and wherethey were, for his hurt was too serious for any risk to be run. 

So Leoni tended his wounded sovereign night and day, while, quite asimpatiently as he, Denis and Saint Simon tried to while away the time bygiving extra attention to the horses, and feeding them up ready for asevere test of their powers when they once more continued their flight. 

They too watched the road each way without attempting to leave the inn, lest troubles should arise and they not be there. 

It was late in the afternoon of the fourth day, and the impatience andanxiety of the King's followers had grown unbearable; but they had thisconsolation, that the wound was doing well, and that though weak Franciswas conscious and ready to talk as much as Leoni would permit aboutFontainebleau and the journey home. 

But he always avoided making any mention of the jewel, or of hisdissatisfaction at having attempted so wild an escapade. 

It was, then, late in the afternoon of this fourth day, when afterFrancis had had a light meal he sank into a profound and restful sleep, thanks to Leoni's dressing of the wound; and as soon as his attendanthad satisfied himself that the sleep was deep, he went down to theshabby little room occupied by Denis and Saint Simon, who sat dolefullycomparing their quarters with those they had so lately left. 

"He is better, then?" cried Denis, springing up as Leoni entered; andthen he looked wonderingly at Leoni, who stood perfectly still, rapt ofmanner and silent, gazing fixedly at him with that expressionless stonyeye, while with the other he seemed to be looking Saint Simon throughand through. 

"Yes, " said the doctor at last, as if dragging himself back from wherehis thoughts had wandered away; "better--much. "

"He is ready to start, then?" said Denis eagerly. 

"No, nor near it. We are quite lost sight of here in this lonely place. I think we can do so with safety, so we will stay another night. Idare not risk another breakdown on the road. "

"Oh, " ejaculated Denis, "you surely do not advise that we should keephis--the Comte in this squalid place another night?"

"Not from choice, boy, but from necessity. Another such a night as hehas just had, and he may be fit to start. To leave to-day wouldaggravate his wound. "

"Oh, " cried Denis impatiently, "while at any moment Henry's people mayhave obtained a clue and surround this place!"

"We are playing for high stakes, boy, " said Leoni gravely, "and we musttake all risks. "

The King did not awaken until late in the evening, seeming so muchrested and clear that Denis's heart leaped with excitement, for he beganto speak calmly, declaring that he was ready to start. 

"No, sir, " said Leoni. "Believe me, not yet. Let us see what to-morrowbrings. " And he reached out his hand to take his master by the wrist;but with an impatient "Pish!" Francis snatched his hand away and sprangto his feet. 

"Absurd!" he cried. "I am quite fit to start, for the pain has left mywound. It would do me more harm to stop fretting here. Order the--"

He said no more, but made a snatch at the wall and would have reeled andfallen had not Saint Simon acted as the sturdy buttress he was, andlowered him easily into a chair. 

"That giddiness again, " cried the King, with a sigh. "The doctor isright. Early to-morrow morning, then, gentlemen, " he said, with apeculiar smile. "Leoni is king now, and reigns in our stead. I likenot his palace, but we shall be safe here. "

The evening passed on. Leoni was with the King in his chamber, andDenis and Saint Simon were seated gloomily together in their humbleroom, and the latter was from time to time sipping and making wry facesover a stoup of the bitterest, sourest, harshest cider that was everdrawn from tub, when there was the loud clattering of horses upon theroad coming at a sharp trot; and as the young men sprang to their feet aloud command was heard, which was followed by the stamping and shufflingof hoofs as a troop of horsemen drew rein shortly in front of the littleinn. 

"Caught!" said Saint Simon abruptly, and his hand sought the hilt of hissword, while Denis followed his example, just as the door was thrownopen and Leoni rushed in. 

"The King's guards, " he cried, "and resistance will be in vain. Gentlemen, I am ready to give my life, as you are yours; but even if wedie for our master's sake, what then? We should only leave him aprisoner in Henry's hands, to bear the brunt of his trouble all alone. "

"You mean that we must surrender?" cried Denis angrily. 

"Yes, " said Leoni, looking at him fixedly, and with a smile upon hislips, "and I give you good counsel. It must be so. Hah!" he whisperedharshly, as he caught the boy by the breast. "Hark!"

He loosed his hold, stepped lightly as a cat to the window, and peeredthrough a tiny opening in the partly fastened window-shutter, to makeout dimly a little crowd of horses and men in the cloudy night. 

But his ears made up for the want of penetration of his eyes, for justthen a sharp order rang out and the horses, which had been taking theirturns to lower their muzzles to the water in the long trough in front ofthe inn, raised them, dripping, and a couple of minutes later the troopwas in motion again, with the hoofs of the chargers rattling andgradually dying out upon the road. 

Denis was in the act of drawing a long deep breath of relief, hardlybelieving that they had escaped, when their host appeared at the door. 

"The King's men, gentlemen, " he said, "from Windsor; but it was only togive their horses water, " he added sadly. "They would not come in todrink, and I expect, " he continued dolefully, "when I go to look I shallfind the trough empty, and an hour's work before me to fill it from thewell. But they are the King's men, gentlemen; any other travellerswould have paid, as you do, gentlemen, generously and well. "

"Let me pay, then, for this, " cried Denis, light-hearted as he was atthe thoughts of their escape, and he slipped a broad piece of silverinto the man's hand, sending him on his way rejoicing. 

That night Denis dropped into a deep but at the same time a thoroughlyuneasy sleep, in which at times it seemed to him that he was beingpursued, at others that he was the pursuer, while people were constantlygetting into his way, shouting out lustily, "You cannot pass!" He wasin terrible anxiety too about his master, who was just ahead, urging onhis horse, not apparently along an ordinary respectable country road, but through what seemed to be absolutely interminable galleries of apalace. He wanted to tell him to turn either to the right or to theleft, and by that means escape from what appeared to be a labyrinth; butunluckily he could not get his horse abreast of that of his master, andthe wind was blowing so hard that his voice would not carry. He wasjust about to shout "France! France!" when he woke up, with theperspiration standing on his brow and the conviction full upon him as hereached for his cloak and sword that real danger did threaten his lord, when Leoni seized his arm. 

"Come, boy, " he said, and he led him into the room where Francis andSaint Simon were talking. 

And then sounds below caught the boy's ear, the trampling of horses andthe _burr, burr_, of deep-toned voices, one of which said angrily:

"We had traces of the fugitives up to this place. Did they come here?"

"No, " was the landlord's prompt reply. 

"Well, we must remain here for the night. "

"But, sir, I have no room in my poor inn for such a company as yours. "

"What you have will serve, " was the response, and the speaker enteredthe inn, striding past the host. 

Francis heard these last words. 

"We must come to a great resolution, gentlemen, " he said calmly. "Wemust separate. Singly you may get through. You will leave me here as Iam ill. I will follow as best I can. Go. "

"Never, Sire, " said Leoni, and his one word had two echoes in the littleroom. 

"But--" began Francis, and he stopped, for there was a noise on thestairs, and the landlord was heard exclaiming:

"I assure you, sir, that the room is not fit--"

"Well, there is a light in it anyway. "

"It is empty, sir. "

"I see a light under the door. "

"But my guests cannot be disturbed. "

"You said that the room was empty just now. Peste! Your word seemsdoubtful. I will see for myself. "

The landlord was silent. 

"Stand out of the way, old man, and let me pass, if you value yourhead. "

The door was pushed roughly open, and the Captain of the Guard strodein. 

"Found!" he cried. "I shall save my credit at Court. --Gentlemen, " hewent on, with the utmost courtesy and bowing low, "his Majesty the King, disappointed with your abrupt leave-taking, has commanded me to escortyou back to his palace. "

"It is impossible, " cried Leoni sternly. "The Count was seriouslywounded as we left the gates. You see for yourself. He is faint andweak. "

"I am very sorry, sir, " replied the captain sternly, "but I have hisMajesty's orders. "

"But not to brutally slay the King's guest. I am a _chirurgien_, andyou may take my word. "

The captain took a candle in his hand and held it over the rough palletwhere Francis lay, and satisfied himself that Leoni's words were true. 

"Is the injury bad?" he said quietly. 

"Bad, but not dangerous if he is left undisturbed. "

"And if I consent to defer our departure till the morning, what then?"

"I cannot say for certain, sir, " replied Leoni, "but I think it may bepossible, with care. "

"Very well, " said the captain; "but I give you warning, gentlemen, thatany attempt at an escape--"

"Bah!" ejaculated Leoni contemptuously. "Are we likely to leave ourmaster?"

"Perhaps not, " said the captain, with a bluff laugh, "but you might tryto take him. "

"In a litter?" said Leoni mockingly. 

"There, we must not bandy words, sir, " said the captain. "It is my dutyto tell you that an attempt at escape may be at the cost of some of yourlives. We will stay here the night. But now, gentlemen, I have oneunpleasant duty to perform. "

"Our swords!" cried Denis hotly. 

"No, sir, " said the captain, with a smile. "His Majesty would notdesire that I should call upon you to suffer that indignity. Myinstructions were that in your hasty departure the other night one ofyou took by mistake something--papers, documents, I don't know exactlywhat--but something to which his Majesty attaches great importance. "

"I hardly understand you, " said Leoni coolly. 

"Perhaps one of your friends does, sir, " continued the captain. "Ofcourse it was taken by mistake. "

"This means, I presume, that you consider yourself bound to search us?"

The captain bowed. 

"Pray do so, then, but incommode my patient as little as you can. Youhave an easy task, sir, for our valises were left behind. "

As Leoni said, it was an easy task, for all offered themselves freely tothe officer's inspection, and soon after the latter signified that hewas satisfied, and was about to leave the room. But as he reached thedoor he stopped short and turned to Leoni. 

"One moment, sir, " he said. "Can you and will you answer for the Comtehere, who seems to be insensible to what is going on?"

"He is, " said Leoni, "from the effects of his wound. "

"Then will you speak for him? And you, gentlemen, will you all give meyour word that you are not bearing off any paper or despatch belongingto his Majesty?"

"Certainly, " replied Leoni, "and my friends will too. We have neitherpaper nor despatch belonging to your King. "

The captain bowed, and left the room, to set a couple of his men assentries at the chamber door; and as the occupants of the humble roomstood listening to the King's heavy breathing, for he had fallen into adeep sleep, they heard the tramp of footsteps outside, sounds which madeLeoni glide on tiptoe to the window and cautiously look out. 

"Prisoners indeed, " he said softly, with a bitter smile, as he returned;and as in the dim light of the two candles burning on the table Denismet the doctor's eyes with a stern reproachful look, he shudderedslightly, for they looked to him more strange and fixed than ever, having so strange an effect upon him that he could not put his reproachinto words. 

"Well, " said Leoni lightly, "calmness is the best remedy for a trouble. Gentlemen, I will watch by our master's side; you are young, and hadbetter go back to your chambers and try to sleep. Of course it would bemadness to attempt to escape. "

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. 

A DEATH WARRANT. 

"Well, " said the King, on the following evening, "you have themprisoners?"

"Yes, Sire. "

"Safely?"

"They are back in their old apartments, sir, " replied the chamberlain. 

"What, not imprisoned?"

"No, Sire; they are carefully watched, but they are still your Majesty'sguests. "

"Absurd!" cried the King fiercely. "This man can be no ambassador. Heis a marauder, a masquerader, who came to my court to act the commonthief. "

"But the letter, Sire, of which he was the bearer?"

"Is as false as everything else concerning him. My guests!" cried theKing fiercely. "My prisoners! This man shall die. "

"But that will not restore the jewel, Sire. "

"What!" cried the King angrily. "Have you not got it?"

"No, Sire. They were carefully searched, but it was not found. "

"Then he shall be forced to confess where it is. "

"I have not told your Majesty all yet, " said the chamberlain. 

"Then why have you not?" cried the King fiercely. "Speak out, man;speak out!"

"Your Majesty checked me, " replied the chamberlain deprecatingly, "TheComte was--"

"The Comte!" cried the King contemptuously. 

"Then this member of the Valois family, as you believe he is. "

"But no--absurd! Let him be the Comte de la Seine; one who has comehere under false pretences, a pretender. Whoever he is, he is my enemy, fate has placed him in my hands, and he shall die--ay, if it costs me awar with France. But mark me well--he dies as the thief who under themask of a French nobleman entered my palace to plunder. The world shallsee in this matter only the just punishment of a crime. " And as hespoke the King drew towards him paper and seized a pen. "Short andsharp punishment, " he said, "and in thus acting I clear the way to thethrone which by rights is mine. "

The chamberlain stretched out his hand in an imploring gesture, thewhile a mocking smile played about the King's lips. 

"Sire, " he said, "hesitate now. Think well of what you are about to do. Heaven could let no good come of it, and the day will dawn when youwill rue the committal of a crime. "

"Hurst!" exclaimed the King angrily; but the chamberlain dropped on oneknee. 

"Your Majesty, let me plead for this stranger who came to your Court--"

"As a thief. "

"No, Sire; as a patriot who had determined to obtain the jewel which inthe old time belonged to his ancestors' crown. "

"That is naught, " said Henry. "This man shall die. " And he raised thepen once more. 

"You who are so great a king, Sire, should be magnanimous here. Thisnight, Sire, is your own, to do good or ill; but it will be the darkestof your reign if that warrant is signed. "

"But why do you intercede?" asked Henry, and he threw himself back inhis chair. "Francis is nothing to you. "

"The life of a noble prince, Sire, is much to all the world, and--"

"You know him?" interrupted the King sharply. 

"Last year in Paris, Sire, he befriended my brother, who could speaknothing of him but good; and I have not told you, Sire, that he is veryill. "

"Bah!" cried the King. 

"Deadly sick from his wound, Sire. "

"His wound!" said the King, starting. 

"Yes, Sire. In the daring escape, when two of the guards and Sir RobertGarstang were wounded, the Comte was struck down by one of your bravehalberdiers. "

"And serve the villain right, " cried the King impetuously. "Bravefellow! has he been rewarded?"

"No, Sire. That is left for your Majesty to do. "

"And it shall be done, on my royal word, " cried the King. "Wounded andsick, say you?"

"Yes, Sire; I have seen him, and he is very weak. "

"Well, " said the King, "you have done your part in your appeal. But Ihave made up my mind to this. " And as he spoke the King drew himself upin his chair once more and seized his pen. 

Hurst watched as if fascinated, seeing the King commence to write, andthen toss the pen aside as he finished, while afterwards he was about tosummon the officer of the guards without, but checked himself, extendinghis hand to Hurst, who bent over it. 

"I will not doubt you, " he said, handing him the warrant. "Deliver itto the governor. " And then with a wave of the hand he dismissed thechamberlain, who withdrew. 

Outside the chamber, Hurst proceeded a short distance down a corridor, and then gazed at the document by the light of a swinging lamp. 

"The death warrant of the King of France, " he mused, as he noted thewords condemning the Comte de la Seine to die, and then the formula: "Bythe King. Given at our Court at Windsor--Henry R. "

He went on slowly along the corridor till he had passed beyond theKing's private apartments, and, as if drawn by some attraction, made hisway in the direction of the chamber where Francis was lying sufferingfrom his wound. 

"Bad, bad, bad, " he muttered to himself. "I must be right, and Franciswas ill-advised, if advised at all, and not led by his own impetuousnature to play such a trick as this. Well, he gambled with his life, and he has lost. What is it to me? I have my duty to perform. But Iwould give something now for the instinct of the prophet, to be able tosee what this will mean in the future to France and to my own countrywhen it is known. "

He walked on dreamily, and then started, for he found that he hadunconsciously drawn near to Francis's chamber, and he hesitated, halfdisposed to go in and see how he fared; but he frowned and went on. 

"No, " he said, "I have my own head to think of, and my movements may bemisconstrued by the most jealous man that ever sat upon a throne. "

He was passing slowly on in the gloomiest part by the door, when hestarted, for some one had silently glided out of the opening and pluckedhim by the sleeve. 

"My lord, " whispered a voice. 

"Ah!" exclaimed Hurst. "You are the doctor, the Comte's follower withthe strange eye. What of your master? How is he now?"

"Bad, " said Leoni softly. 

"So much the better, " said Hurst bitterly. "Insensible?"

"At times, my lord. "

"Better still. "

"You speak strangely, my lord. "

"These are strange times, my man. I spoke so out of sympathy with yourmaster. It may save him further pain. "

"Further pain?" said Leoni, earning the chamberlain's term of the man"with the strange eye" by the peculiarly fixed look which was dimlyseen. 

"Yes, further pain. People who are insensible do not suffer, do they, doctor?"

"No, my lord; but what do you mean?"

"What is the meed of a thief who robs a king? Is it not death?" criedHurst fiercely; and as he spoke he stretched out one hand and tapped itsharply with the folded warrant that he held. 

"Hah!" ejaculated Leoni harshly, and then almost as fiercely as thechamberlain he whispered, "Would he dare to raise his hand against theambassador of France?"

"No, sir, " said the chamberlain coldly, "but against the thief of thenight, who abused his hospitality that he might steal. Hark ye, man; ifyou have your master's interest at heart, tell him to try to make hispeace with the King by telling him where the jewel lies, for it must besomewhere concealed. Let him give it up and crave the King's mercy, before it is too late. Do this, and it may save your life as well. "

He turned away, leaving Leoni standing motionless a short distance fromthe door, where he remained without stirring until the chamberlain'sfootsteps had died away. 

CHAPTER FORTY. 

A BOY'S RUSE. 

The doctor lost no time in thought, but returned to the outer apartmentwhich he had quitted only a few minutes before, to find that Saint Simonhad joined Denis and was watching by the bed where Francis layinsensible. 

"We must act at once, " he said, as they joined him and he gazed at anarrow window through which the moonlight came. "Our King is in dangerof his life. "

Denis's hand went to his sword. 

"We will fight to the last, " he said, "and die. "

"Boy!" exclaimed Leoni contemptuously. "Fight and die! Better act withcraft and live. What! Would you fight an army? Bah! It is not bythat means that we can save his Majesty from this perilous pass. "

"Then how?" asked Denis. "Order me to do anything and I will obey. "

"I know, " said Leoni thoughtfully; "I know. " And he took a pace or twoup and down the apartment with his eyes fixed on the floor, while thetwo young men watched him narrowly, seeming to be endeavouring to readhis innermost thoughts, the ideas which surged within. 

"There is but one thing to be done, " said Leoni at last gravely. "Francis is ill and closely guarded, and his life is doubly in danger, for Henry's intentions are lad. " And as he spoke he looked hard atDenis, who said not a word. 

"And what is that one thing?" asked Saint Simon. 

Leoni thought a minute or two before replying. 

"It is this, " he said at length quietly. "We his followers are free togo where we list, and Francis must be saved. I, alas, can be nothing inmy plan; but you, " he went on, looking direct at Saint Simon, "or Denis, might save the King. "

"How?" exclaimed Denis again, as he firmly met the speaker's peculiargaze. 

Leoni turned from him, walked slowly to the outer door, opened it as ifabout to pass out, and then closed it again, to return quickly to histwo companions, and whispering softly in so low a voice that it was hardto hear:

"By taking his place while he escapes, and personating him as he lieshere bandaged, his face half hidden in the shadows of the heavy hangingsof the bed in this darkened room. "

"I am ready, " said Saint Simon huskily. 

"And I!" cried Denis. "But--the Comte?"

"I have thought of that, " said Leoni. "He is too ill to understand whatis done, and I can mould him to my wishes in every way. We are free, ashis servants, to come and go from the chamber, and there may be ways bywhich we can escape--three of us--that is, the Comte and two followers, while one brave devotee assumes his master's aspect as a wounded man. It may be days before the discovery takes place, and by that time allmay be safe. Denis, boy, will you do this thing and be for the timebeing the simulacrum of him we serve? Good: your face speaks. I knewit. It is not a question of likeness, but of wearing a heavy bandagethat will nearly hide your face. "

There was silence for a moment, and then Leoni spoke again. 

"What about the way?" he said. "It is night now, but if we could gainthe grounds--but how?"

"The secret passage, sir, " whispered Denis. "It availed once, why notagain?"

"The passage!" cried Leoni. "No; once used, they will guard it safelynow. But stop; they do not know that we escaped that way, and it mightprove as sure an exit as it did before. I have seen no guard in thatcorridor since our return. "

"Nor I, " said Denis eagerly. 

"But how to pass the gates?" said Leoni thoughtfully. 

"There is no need, " cried Denis. "Follow the narrow alley leadingdownward to the river, and take the boat of which young Carrbroke spoke. The river! Surely you could escape that way. "

"Boy, " whispered Leoni ecstatically, "you are the deliverer of France!Hah!" he added, in tones full of regret. "And you will not be with us!The river--yes. They would never dream that we escaped that way. Quick, then. There is not a moment to be lost. You will not flinch?"

"I? No!" whispered Denis proudly. 

"Quick, then! The darkness is the best disguise. " And leading the wayinto the sleeping chamber, he busied himself with torn-up linen andscarf, preparing the semblance of bandages, while Denis unbuckled hissword-belt and hurriedly threw off his doublet. 

A few minutes sufficed for the skilful hands of Leoni to strap andbandage the gallant lad's features, leaving him standing on one side ofthe bed while he went to the other to draw back the coverlet. 

In obedience to the thought that flashed through his brain the lad bentquickly forward, caught at the King's hand and raised it eagerly to hislips, half rousing him, to mutter in his sleep, while Leoni took out andunscrewed his little flask and applied it to the King's lips. 

"Drink this, sir, " he said, and in strict obedience to his medicalattendant, the sick man drank till the vessel was withdrawn. 

"Ah!" exclaimed Francis wearily. "I am not well, Leoni. We pay dearlyfor our adventure. But we will hunt to-morrow at Fontainebleau. Is itnot so? Call the Master of the Chase. "

"You may do so, sir. But you feel stronger now?"

"Yes, yes. "

"Then come, sir. " And Leoni snatched the cloak which Denis had thrownon a chair and wrapped it round the King. "We will start at once, sir. "

"Yes, " said Francis, "we will start at once--at once. " And he leanedheavily on Leoni's arm, while the latter drew the heavily plumed hatwhich the boy handed him lower over the King's features. 

Denis accompanied them to the door. 

"Farewell, " he said. 

Leoni turned and gazed at him, and for a second the saturnine expressionfaded and a look of tenderness came over his features. 

"Until we meet again, " he whispered. 

Then the door closed and the lad stood wondering whether the plan wouldsucceed, whether the King would on the morrow be far on his way to thesea. 

The next minute he was in the inner chamber by a mirror, smiling athimself, before plunging into the King's place, turning on his side, anddrawing the coverlet right up to his ears. 

CHAPTER FORTY ONE. 

A VISITOR FOR A PATIENT. 

The time up to the closing of the chamber door had been one of wildexcitement. There was the disguise, and then the scene of preparingFrancis for another flight, his helplessness, and the calm, unresistingway in which he had yielded himself to Leoni's hands. 

Then came the departure, the farewell of Leoni, whom at times he seemedto shrink from with dislike, almost with dread, but only to feel himselfwon back again, attracted by the doctor's manner and his manifest likingfor his young companion. 

Then there was the closing of the door, which seemed to cut the lad offfrom his friends and leave him, as he threw himself wearily into the bedto lie there alone in the darkness, face to face with a horror whichchilled him through and through. 

For in his chivalrous excitement which thrilled him with a feeling thathe was about to do a most gallant thing in the service of his King, heseemed to have no time to think; but now in the silence and gloom ofthat solitary inner room, there was time for thought, time for hisfeelings to be harrowed by the knowledge of what was to come, and as helay there he began to picture to himself how it would all be. 

How soon he knew not, but before long some one would come, miss theKing's attendants, inquiry would be made, and possibly the supposedComte, lying wounded in the bed, would be sharply questioned as to thewhereabouts of his doctor and gentlemen. 

"What shall I do?" thought Denis. "I must keep up the semblance ofbeing the King. I am supposed to be very ill, and I can pretend to beinsensible. That will all gain time if I refuse to speak; and those whocome will never for a moment think that the King's attendants have lefthim helpless here--far less fancy that they have escaped. 

"But have they escaped?" thought the lad; and in his excitement theperspiration broke out upon his brow, as he lay wondering whether theyhad found the private passage unfastened and won their way through tothe gardens, so as to pass unnoticed along the alleys and down to theriver steps and boat. 

"No, " he thought. "Impossible. The people here would surely havesecurely fastened up that way, and the King has been captured; and withsuch an enemy as Henry what will be his fate?"

For some time he gave these thoughts firm harbour, but at last hiscommon sense prevailed. The idea was absurd, he told himself. If thelittle party had been seized while making their escape the whole castlewould have been in an uproar, full of wild excitement, with the hurryingto and fro of steps, especially the heavy tramp and clash of the guards, instead of which all was horribly still, while the candles burning in acouple of sconces were hidden from his sight by the heavy hangings ofthe bed, so that he lay there alone in the deep gloom. 

There were moments when the shadows cast by the lights seemed to takeform and move, making him feel that he could lie there no longer, thathe must spring out of bed to face bravely these weird and shadowy forms, and convince himself that he really was alone, and merely a prey to achildish superstitious dread brought about by the horror of hisposition. 

It was hard to bear, and required a heavy call upon his manliness toforce back these fancies and prepare himself to play his part when thecrucial time came of some one visiting the room and finding that theComte's attendants were no longer there. 

"It is for the King of France!" he muttered, when at last the dread andhorror of his position had culminated in a feverish fit that seemed asif it would end by his springing out of bed, tearing off the mockery ofhis disguise, and hurrying through the outer chamber into the corridorto seek the company of the nearest guards. 

"It means hastening the discovery, " he muttered, "but I can bear this nolonger. It is too much. "

He lay panting heavily for some few moments before a reaction came, following quickly upon the one question he asked himself, contained inthat one little word:

"Why?"

He began breathing more easily the next moment, for the weak boy hadmastered, and manliness was coming to his aid. 

"Oh, " he muttered to himself, "am I to be as cowardly as a girl? It istoo childish. Afraid of shadows, shrinking from lying alone in thedark! Why, I shall fancy next that I shall be afraid to lie here withthe sun shining brightly, through the panes. What difference is therebetween the light and darkness? I can make it black darkness even atnoonday if I close my eyes. I know why it is. I am tired and faint. There is no danger--for me. The danger is to the King. This is only atrick, a masquerade. Sooner or later I shall be found out. But whatthen? I am only a lad, and this King Harry would be a bloodthirstymonster if he had me slain for what is after all only a boyish prank. Ihave nothing to do but lie here quite still, as if a sick man, and verybad. They will find out at last. Well, let them. I am utterly tiredout with all I have gone through. My head is as weary as my bones, andnow all this weak cowardice has gone I am going to do what I should dohere in bed, and go to sleep. 

"Oh, impossible! Impossible!" muttered the lad wearily. "Who couldsleep at such a time as this?"

He rose upon his elbow and said those words in a hoarse whisper, as ifhe were questioning the shadows that surrounded the great curtained bed. 

There was no reply from the weird and shadowy forms, uncouth, strange, and distorted; but he answered his piteous, despairing question himself. 

"I can, " he said, "and--"

There was a pause of a few moments, and then he muttered between his setteeth:

"--and I will. "

With a quick movement he drove his clenched fist two or three times intothe great down pillow, making it purl up into a hillock, upon which helaid his cheek, and into which it softly sank, while, closing his eyes, he strove to force himself into a heavy sleep, till his strong effortjoined with his bodily weariness, and he sank into a deep dreamlesstrance. 

How long this lasted he never knew, but all at once he lay wide awakeand wondering, striving to realise where he was, and what the meaning ofthat heavy distant tramp, tramp, as of soldiery coming nearer andnearer, till it ceased outside the farther door in obedience to a hoarsecommand. 

There was another order, followed by a close fusillade-like sound of thebutts of halberds planted upon the floor. Then a few moments' silence, and as the lad strained his eyes in the direction of the doors, thatfarthest was suddenly flung open and the outer chamber was filled withlight which emphasised the gloom of the inner, where, fully alive to hisposition, Denis lay still, closing his eyes and pressing his facefarther into the pillow, as a stern voice shouted as if in warning, forall to hear: "His Majesty the King!"

CHAPTER FORTY TWO. 

IN THE GLOOMY GALLERY. 

Leoni was the moving spirit of the adventure of what he felt to beanother daring attempt to escape; for Francis, under the influence ofthe medicament that he had administered, was like a puppet in his hands;while Saint Simon, big, manly, and strong, ready to draw and attack anywho should bar their way, spoke no word, but followed his leader's everygesture watchfully, suggesting nothing, doing nothing save that exactlywhich he was told. 

As they stood outside the door and began to move along the corridor, theplace looked so lonely and the task so ridiculously easy, that thescheming, subtle doctor's heart smote him with a feeling of remorse. 

It seemed to be so cruel, so cowardly, to escape and leave that bravelad, who was ready to sacrifice his life in his master's service, alonethere with his despair, waiting for the discovery that would probablyend with his death. 

"Pish!" said Leoni to himself. "What is the boy to me? Nothing morethan a pawn upon the chessboard of life, one of the pieces I am usingfor the sake of France--France, my country, for which I have venturedthis. For what is this gay butterfly? King? Yes, the King upon thechessboard, whom it is my fate to move; and where I place him, there hestays. It is I, I in my calm, grave, unobtrusive way, who am the realKing of France--now nearly at the pinnacle of my ambition, or shall bewhen I have achieved these last moves. And yet I am not happy. It jarsupon me cruelly that I should have to leave this boy. Pooh! Absurd! Iwill not think about him, " he muttered; and then with a silent mockinglaugh, "And yet what is he? Only, as I say, a pawn, which thenecessities of the position force me to sacrifice. "

These thoughts flashed like lightning through his brain, as, graspingthe King's arm with one hand, he waved the other in the air as if in theact of casting all these thoughts behind him. But he winced the more, for the thought of Denis alone there in the King's chamber clung to himand seemed to press him down. 

But there was stern work awaiting him, for he would not, he could notbelieve that their escape could be as easy as it seemed. The corridorleading to the great gallery near the King's apartment appearedperfectly deserted; neither guard nor gentleman in attendance seemed athand to hinder their approach to the arras which hid the secret door. But he did not believe and he would not trust so impossible a state ofthings. 

Stopping suddenly close up to the panelled wall, he signed to SaintSimon to close up. 

"Take the King's arm, " he said; "he needs support. I am going forward. If you can make me out and the signal I give, follow quickly on. Butwait till I raise my hand. "

He walked swiftly on, almost gliding like a shadow over the wall, forhis footsteps made no sound, while as he passed one candle which gaveout a feeble light a curious gleam flashed from one of his eyes. 

The next moment he was past, and right in the King's gallery, stillwithout seeing anything to hinder his signalling to Saint Simon, andreaching safely the spot opposite to the secret door. 

"If I were alone, " he thought, "I have but to cross here, pass behindthe arras, make my way to the riverside, and then somehow I could, Iwould, reach France, with my country the richer for this night's work. But there is the King, " he muttered softly; "there is the King. " And hepressed himself back against the tapestry, looking in his sombre garb, in the faint light of the great place, like one of the needleworkfigures in the hangings. 

But his heart was beating fast, for all at once and quite unexpectedthere was the sound of footsteps, so slow and measured that he knew theymust be those of a sentry; and the next minute a tall figure, dimlyseen, came in his measured way along the gallery, as if to pass him, while Leoni's hand slowly glided towards the hilt of his sword andclutched it fast. 

He held his breath and nerved himself for the cat-like leap he wasprepared to make as the sentinel came abreast, for he felt that it wasimpossible that the man could pass him without his being seen. 

But to the watcher's intense astonishment the sentry stopped short inthe centre of the gallery, when he was about a dozen yards away, turnedupon his heel, and began to retrace his steps. Leoni on the instantjudged that the man had come to the end of his beat, and if this were sothe task seemed easy, for by seizing the minute when his back was turnedand he was at the full extent of his monotonous tramp in the otherdirection, it seemed to the doctor that it would be easy to step acrossthe gallery, raise the arras, and pass into the secret way. 

"One at a time, " muttered Leoni; "one at a time. Easy for us; but can Imake my chief piece obey me and move alone?"

The disposition was upon the watcher of the sentry to glide back at onceto where he had left Saint Simon and the King; but he felt that he mustmake sure in this crisis of the adventure before he took his next step, and he waited, closely pressed up against the tapestry, looking morethan ever like an embroidered figure, as the sentry halted far down thegallery, softened by distance into a mere shadow, turned, and resumedhis pacing. 

The task seemed harder than ever to stand pressed there against thepanelling, watching the coming of the stalwart guard, and it took allthe doctor's nerve and self-command to stand there so absolutely stillof body, while his nerves and thoughts were moving with an intensitythat literally thrilled. 

"Coming towards his death, " said Leoni mentally, as the man came on andon, gradually ceasing to be so shadow-like and dim as he advanced. "Hislife or mine. His life or mine. His life or mine, " something withinhim seemed to keep on saying, till the end of the sentry's beat appearedto be quite over-passed and he was coming nearer, so near that Leonifelt he saw him at last and the crisis was there, when the man stopped, hesitated for a moment, then began pacing back just as before--but notquite, for almost as soon as his back was turned Leoni's command overhis nerves and muscles ceased, and he began to glide silently along bythe tapestried panels to reach Saint Simon and the King at last. 

No word was spoken now but the single one "Follow, " as Leoni softly tookthe King's hand and led him over the ground he so lately had traversed, pausing after a time as the trio came within sight of the sentry, andstanding close up against the wall, to wait till the man reached hisnearest point to the secret door to turn in his automaton-like fashionand begin marching back. 

Leoni waited till the sentry half covered the distance he had totraverse, and then led the King swiftly and silently till they werenearly opposite the panel door, to pause once more--three shadowyfigures now--to wait there during the most crucial time, for the greattest was now at hand. 

Could he trust the King to remain silent till the man turned back--if hedid turn back without distinguishing that he was not alone in the gloomygallery?

But Leoni was a man of resource, and to meet this difficulty he badeSaint Simon lie down at full-length close to the wall, while he pressedthe King behind the pedestal of a statue standing in a niche a few yardsaway. 

It was a great risk, but the King seemed plunged in a deep sleep, and ata time like that something had to be risked. It was the daring of theplan that carried it through, and the fact that the sentry's perceptionswere dulled by habit. Hence it was that he came on, gazingintrospectively and seeing nothing but his own thoughts, which were ofthe near approaching time when he would be relieved, and return to theguard chamber, supper, and sleep. 

Leoni hardly breathed as once more he watched the man come on nearer andnearer, apparently to his death, for this time Leoni softly drew thekeen stiletto that he wore, and crouched ready to ensure silence andsave the King if he were driven to the last extremity. But that was notto be. 

The man came to the full extent of his paced-out beat, turned, andmarched back, while before he was half the distance to the other end thedoctor had glided across the gallery, raised the arras, and pressed theboss, fully expecting to find that the door was fast; but it yieldedsilently, and the doctor's heart leaped as he drew in a long deep breathof cool moist air. 

Dropping the arras, he stood for a moment gazing after the shadowysentry, feeling startled to see how far he was still from the end of hisbeat; and, acting contrary to the mode he had planned in hisdetermination to seize this opportunity if it could be done, he glidedswiftly across to where the King was standing, and caught him by thearm. 

"Come, " he whispered, with his lips to Francis's ear, when the Kingyielded as if he were a portion of the speaker's self, walking with himsilently till they were half across the gallery, when all at once abright light threw up into bold relief the figure of the sentry at thefar limit of his tramp, and the two fugitives stood out plainly beforeSaint Simon like two black silhouettes upon the distant glow. 

"Lost!" sighed Leoni, as, utterly unnerved, he stood tightly pressingthe King's wrist, unable even to stir, but listening to the sounds ofvoices which came weirdly and whispering along the gallery--challenge, reply, and order of the changing guard. 

Before recalling the fact that the bearers of the light were hardlylikely to discern them at so great a distance, he recovered himself andpressed on towards the door and raised the tapestry, when without wordof direction Francis passed through, followed by Leoni, and the arraswas dropped. 

"Saint Simon, " muttered the doctor, as without closing the door he ledthe King onward for about a dozen yards, before returning to the opendoor with the intention of kneeling down to raise the hangings slightlyand watch. 

"Must I leave him behind--another?" he muttered; and then he started, toclap his hand to his dagger again and prepare to strike, for there was afaint rustling sound from the open door and then the faintest of faintclicks, followed by the expiration of a heavy breath as from one whocould contain it no longer. 

Leoni stood with his arm raised on high and his stiletto pointingdownwards. The next moment it had dropped to his side, for from out ofthe darkness in front there came the whispered words:

"Are you there?"

"Saint Simon!" cried the doctor, not beneath his breath, for he was toomuch excited by his surprise to control his emotion, as he stretched outhis left hand to grip his follower by the arm. "I did not expect this, "he muttered. 

"Too dangerous to stay, " said Saint Simon. 

"Yes, and you were right; it was bravely done. "

"But what about the garden door? It will be fast. "

"The saints forbid!" muttered Leoni. "Follow and attend the Comte. Iwill go on first and see. "

He glided on with extended hands, expecting momentarily to touch theKing, but did not overtake him till the little landing was reached, where Francis was standing at the head of the flight of steps. 

Leoni pressed past him and began to descend, holding his master oncemore by the hand, which he dropped as soon as they were at the foot, andthen passed on rapidly with his pulses throbbing and in a state ofungovernable excitement such as he had not felt since the commencementof the adventure. 

But this was of short duration. Schooled now by previous experience, Leoni ran his hand along close to the angle at the top of the wall uponhis left, expecting moment by moment that it would come in contact withthe ledge. He was quite right. It did, and glided into the niche, whena chill seized upon his heart and made it cease its heavy beat. 

The niche was empty!

By the King's orders the outer door must have been locked, and they wereprisoners as fast as ever, unless some other scheme could be devised. 

For a few brief moments Leoni gave way to despair. Then with an angryejaculation he pressed on with extended hands, covered the few yardsmore that had to be passed before the door was reached, touched it, andswept his hands towards the lock, and once more no longer in fullcommand of his faculties, he uttered a faint cry of joy. 

The key was in the lock. 

CHAPTER FORTY THREE. 

KING DENIS REFUSES. 

Denis's heart beat wildly for a few moments, as he asked himself shouldhe be asleep or waking; but the heavy beating calmed down at once as heheard the King's slow footsteps in the outer room, and then the questionin the now well-known voice:

"No attendants?"

"No, Sire. I presume he is asleep. "

"Then I must awake him, " said the King sternly; "but my business is withhim alone. Go, and retire the guards. I will summon you when I havedone. "

"But, your Majesty--"

"Silence! Can I not defend myself were it necessary against a woundedman? Go, and at once!"

The chamberlain, whose voice Denis had recognised at once, retired insilence. 

There was the trampling of the guards, the closing of the outer door, and then as Denis lay listening all was still, while he began countingthe slow heavy beating of his heart. 

"What will follow now?" he asked himself. 

He knew at once, for there was a slight cough, a heavy step, and theKing strode through the dividing door into the chamber, stopped as iflooking round for a moment, and then stepped round to the side of thegreat canopied bed, drew forward a chair, and seated himself between therecumbent prisoner and the window. Then he coughed again, but sharplyand angrily this time. 

"You hear me, Comte de la Seine?" he said haughtily. 

It seemed to come naturally to the young esquire how to play his part--to gain all the time he could; and he slowly raised one hand and let itfall heavily back upon the coverlet. 

Henry was satisfied, and his tones bespoke it, as he said:

"It is well, sir. I have stooped to pay you this visit--here thisnight, to remind you that by the way in which you have repaid myhospitality you have forfeited your life. "

Denis raised his hand again, so that it came out of the shadow thrown bythe curtains into the light cast by the candles right across the bed;and as the King sat there as if watching the effect of his words, thehand was waved carelessly in the air before it was allowed to descend. 

"Hah!" cried the King. "You are a Frenchman, sir, and you behave withall the flippancy of your race. I understand your gesture. It meansrecklessness. You, so to speak, tell me that you do not value yourlife. You defy me. But you will alter your tone when you are calledupon to march in the middle of my guards to the headsman's block, andsuffer there for your crime. "

There was a quick impatient gesture of the hand again. 

"We shall see, " continued the King, with his voice growing deeper, suggestive of the hot anger that was burning in his breast. "And nowlisten to me, M. Le Comte de la Seine, as you call yourself. But youhave not deceived me. I know everything, even to the reason why youhave stooped to play the part of a common cutpurse. "

Denis raised his hand again with an angry gesture, and Henry continuedmore loudly:

"I repeat it, sir, " he cried; "a common cutpurse; and please understandthat you are quite at my mercy. No one can save you but I. Now listen. Men call me merciless and tyrannical. Let them. I am also just, andcan be merciful when I please. Are you ready to accept my mercy?"

Denis raised his hand again quickly. 

"Hah! Good! Then it is in your power to act in a way that will commandthis mercy, possibly my forgiveness, and the continuance of the feelingof friendship that you, so brilliant and talented a man, have won. "

Denis raised his hand again, as if in deprecation, feeling in spite ofhis perilous position something like amusement at the success attendingthe playing of his _role_. 

"Oh yes, " continued the King; "you have proved yourself a man brilliant, courtly, and in every way fitted for the high position you held beforeyou stooped to the wretched chicanery and folly which brought you tothis pass. Now, sir, I tell you I am ready to be merciful and spareyour life, but upon conditions; and these stipulations which I shallmake, I tell you, you as my prisoner are bound to accept. You came hereunder false pretences to steal a jewel that was England's by the rightof conquest, making to yourself the excuse that originally it belongedto France. Is not this so?"

Denis raised his hand again. 

"You do not speak, " said the King. "Well, knowing as I do that you werebadly wounded by my faithful guards, and are now suffering severely foryour crime, I am willing to accept a motion of your hand, a gesture, asyour acceptation, as a reply. You see, sir, that all through this madescapade Providence was working a means of compassing its righteousends. You have fallen completely into my power, and either you submitto my terms or die. "

Denis raised his hand quickly. 

"You mean an appeal for mercy, " cried the King. "Wait till you haveheard my terms. They are these. I have here, " he continued, unfoldinga paper, "a complete renunciation on the part of France of the city ofBordeaux with the towns and territories embraced by Guienne, lands thatwere won by the good sword of my predecessors, to have and hold forthree hundred years, but which you now occupy on sufferance and by themagnanimity of the English throne, which has mercifully withheld itselffrom seizing them by an act of war. "

Denis's hand, now fully in the light, was extended for a moment, butsharply withdrawn, for the fingers to begin tapping impatiently upon thecoverlet. 

"Ah, you hesitate!" cried Henry. "Let me tell you that it is no timefor hesitation, and that I shall brook no argument, accept nothing but afull and sufficient resignation made now upon this paper, which needsbut your act and deed made fully by the addition of your royal name. "

Denis raised his hand slowly, and let it fall heavily upon the bed. 

"Hah!" cried the King, in a tone which evinced triumph and intensesatisfaction, as he rose to his feet and walked slowly to a side-tablestanding beneath one of the sconces, upon which were writing materialsready to the visitor's hand. "I am glad, " continued Henry, "that youare acting so wise a part. I might call in my chamberlain and others ofmy people to witness your surrender, but I will spare the feelings of abrother monarch who is completely in my hands. Your signature, Sire, will suffice. " And as he spoke he took up and dipped a pen and seized abook, to bear them in company with the paper he held to the side of thebed, where he spread the paper upon the work. 

"Now, Sire, " he continued, "at this moment we are enemies. Take thispen and add your royal name where I will place my finger, and I give youmy kingly word that I will wipe out from the tablets of my memory thewhole of your dastardly action, and become henceforth not only yourbrother of England, but your willing ally against all enemies who mayrise up in an endeavour to imperil our thrones. There, Sire; I presumeyou are not too weak to write. Come: take the pen. "

Denis, who was now nearly at his wits' end how to continue the comedy, and beginning to flinch in his dismay at having gone so far, raised hishand slowly and closed his fingers upon the pen, while with a sigh ofsatisfaction Henry placed his index finger, upon which a large gem wasglittering, upon the blank spot beneath that which he had written uponthe paper. 

"Stop!" he cried suddenly. "I had forgotten. It is not written downthere, but for it I will take your kingly word. You promise me torestore the jewel reft from my cabinet and hidden somewhere you bestknow where. Surely you can speak enough for this--the fewest words willdo. You promise by your kingly word and all that is holy to restorethat gem?"

He ceased speaking, and to one of those present the silence in that roomseemed more than awful, till Henry spoke again. 

"You hear me, sir? One word will do, and that word, Yes. "

The answer made Henry start back in amaze, for, desperate now, andnerving himself to meet the crisis which might mean the sacrifice of hislife, Denis with a quick flick of his fingers sent the fully featheredpen flying from the gloom of the hangings where he lay far out into theroom. 

"What!" roared Henry. "You refuse?"

"I refuse, " said Denis, in a hoarse whisper. 

"But why?" cried Henry, half suffocated by his anger. 

"Because, " cried the boy defiantly, "I am not the King. " And with aquick movement he threw back the coverlet, sprang from the bed, and toreoff his bandages, to stand there in the full light in white shirt andtrunk hose, scattering the wrappings which had disfigured his face, justas, startled in his turn and fully expecting an attack, Henry took acouple of steps backward and drew his sword. 

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. 

THE ESCAPE. 

For a few moments excitement got the better of the grave subtle doctor, and he was within touch of flinging open the door and hurrying Francisout into the grounds. But drawing in a deep breath he was cautious thenext moment as some lurking beast of prey. 

The key was turned by slow degrees without a sound, and the door drawncarefully inward till there was a slight crack, through which the nightwind came in pleasantly to his heated brow, and he paused for quite fiveminutes, listening; then gradually opening more and more, he satisfiedhimself that there were no concealed guards among the bushes, waiting tospring upon him and make him prisoner when he stepped outside. 

His next act was to remove the key to the garden side of the lock. Thisdone, "Now, " he whispered, and Francis, who seemed more than ever underhis control, stepped quietly out, followed by Saint Simon; after whichthe door was cautiously locked, and Leoni slipped the key into hispocket. 

There was another pause, which made Saint Simon utter a low deep growl. 

"What is it, boy?" said Leoni. 

"The boat! The boat!" whispered the young man. "We are losing time. "

"Perhaps gaining it, my dear Saint Simon, " was the reply. "Youth isrash; age is cautious. Our progress must be slow and sure. "

He took and pressed the young man's hands as he spoke, before leavinghim to take a few strides for observation along the path, and thenreturning, musing to himself that all seemed too easy, and that at anymoment there might be some sudden check to their progress. 

Back once more, he bade his two companions follow, leading them slowlyand cautiously on, sword in one hand, stiletto in the other, asadvance-guard, Saint Simon, similarly prepared, forming the rear; andthen on and on they went downward through the bushes, which ever andagain brushed against their sleeves, and twice over startled andarrested by a sudden dash as of an enemy; but it was nothing worse thana startled bird, blackbird or thrush, roused from its roosting sleep bythe disturbers of its rest. 

And so downward along the winding, well-marked paths, with nothing tohinder their progress, no guards to arrest, and Leoni strong in thebelief that some great check must come, settling in his mind that theencounter would be down by the landing-place when they tried to set freethe boat. 

In this belief when they were nearly there he stopped short, laid hishand upon the King's shoulder to press him aside, and whispered to SaintSimon to join him in the front. 

"There may be watchers there, " he said. "Be well on the alert. "

The next minute as they moved forward the head of the stone steps wasreached, lying in the darkness of the clouded night nearly hidden by agreat overhanging willow, whose pensile twigs brushed the roof of thewaterside summer-house supported upon slimy water-worn piles, to one ofwhich the boat-chain was attached, the rusty iron creaking faintlyagainst the ring-bolt as the skiff swung softly to and fro, influencedby the swift stream. 

"Hah!" sighed Leoni to himself. "Fate is with us yet. Who says ourmission is unrighteous?" And a feeling of exultation rose within hisbreast, only to be crushed-down directly after by what seemed to be aheavy weight of misery, beyond which he seemed to see the reproachfuleyes of the King's esquire, sacrificed that he might succeed. 

"Into it and unloose the chain, boy, " whispered Leoni, eager by actionto change the current of his thoughts. 

Saint Simon quickly sheathed sword and dagger as he stood on the loweststep and reached out to draw in the boat, into which he stepped, makingthe chain rattle as he drew it through the ring, and his leaden utter animpatient:

"Hist!"

The next minute the freed boat was grinding against the step, and Leonisteadied it by planting a foot upon its side. 

"Now, boy, " he whispered, "seat yourself, and be ready with the oars--good! Now rest one on the step here and keep the boat steady. --Quick, sir! Step in, and sit down at once. "

The King obeyed without a word, and no sooner was he seated than Leonifollowed, and took his own place between Francis and Saint Simon, whomhe relieved of one of the oars. 

"Push off!" whispered Saint Simon, who held the oar that rested on thesteps. 

"One moment's thought, " whispered back Leoni, speaking over his leftshoulder, as he glared around for danger, his ears twitching the whilelike those of some wild animal which felt that there was peril in theair. 

"Now, " he said, in a whisper just loud enough for the young man to hear, "if we go upward it is farther into the country, but harder work, for weare against the stream. If we go downward it is towards the capital, and the work will be light, for the stream will bear us on. 

"Yes, " he said, after a pause, "if we are pursued and the boat is missedthey will think that we have taken the easier way. No, boy, ours is notime for ease; hard work and safety must be our motto now. Push off androw with me slowly and steadily onward against the stream. "

Saint Simon bore heavily upon his oar and with a thrust sent the boat'shead outward; and directly after, dipping as lightly as they could, theypulled together with a wonderful regularity for such unpractised handsout towards the middle, till a scattered light or two appeared frombeyond the trees, showing where the castle lay. 

And then onward in silence for a few hundred yards along between thedimly seen silent banks of the black river, for the clouds seemed tohave lowered and there was not a star. 

All at once a movement on the part of the King took Leoni's attention, and he drew in his oar, to bend forward and then rise in the boat, forFrancis had sunk slowly sideways, fast asleep; while, with the action ofa careful mother bending over her child, the strange subtle doctorcarefully readjusted his cloak to guard him from the night air, beforeresuming his seat with a sigh, and taking up his oar. 

"A trifle, Saint Simon, " he said playfully. "There are times when wehave to protect our master with our swords, but we must not forget suchlittle things as this. "

"Ah!" ejaculated Saint Simon, with a groan. 

"Why, what's the matter, boy? You don't resent having to row the nightthrough like some poor slave?"

"No, no. I was thinking about poor Denis. Doctor, don't think me weak. I loved that boy. "

"Say love, " cried Leoni warmly. "Bah, man! Henry may be a tyrant, buthe could not be so base as to hurt a boy like that. Row for our liveswhile I prophesy what I believe in spite of bitter despairing thoughts. We shall live to see our brave young companion safe again. "

"Bravo, doctor! Your medicine has given me heart. Row? Yes. I can doit now till my arms refuse to stir. " And on the boat glided, keptcloser to the shore where the eddies played and the full force of thestream was missed. 

And then on and on hour after hour, with a few intervals of rest wherethe waters whispered and they made fast to some overhanging bough andspent the minutes thinking that horsemen might be near, scouring thecountry where they could approach the banks on either side to cut offthe fugitives, though not a sound was heard. 

And so on till day broke and they made fast amongst the trees in themost secluded place they came to, not daring to expose themselves wherethey might be seen. 

They had no trouble with the King, for, weak with his wound and halfstupefied by the drug Leoni had administered, he slept on hour afterhour through the pleasant morning and through the heat of noon, hisresting-place quite cool beneath the shadowing trees and with his browfanned by the soft summer breeze. He did not even stir when, kneelingin the boat, Leoni moistened and drew off the bandages to dress hiswound, washing them in the stream and drying them in a patch where thehot sun heated the bows of the boat, but still slept on as if restfuland comforted by the chirurgeon's skilful hands. 

"Better or worse?" whispered Saint Simon, while the task was inprogress. 

"Better, boy, and healing fast. He will sleep for hours yet, and wakenquite himself towards evening; but then, " added the doctor, with a sigh, "we have another difficulty to face, if we are not taken. "

"Ah! What's that?" cried Saint Simon quickly, and Leoni smiledsardonically, making his companion wince at the peculiar look in hiseyes. 

"I was thinking, boy, " he said, "of how you are going to spread thewhite napkins and the silver cups for our master's banquet, for he willbe hungry, ravenous, after his long fast. You see, he may be displeasedto find the banquet cold. "

Saint Simon stared at him with open eyes and mouth. 

"Why, you are laughing at me, " he said. 

"Well, why not?" replied Leoni. "Surely, after all my slavery of brain, when success shines down upon me I have a right to smile. "

"Success!" cried Saint Simon bitterly. "Why, you have failed. "

"Hah!" said Leoni, with a peculiar smile; and then after a short pause, "Well, boy, what are we to do for food? This water is beautifullylimpid and clear to quench our thirst, but it will not appease hunger. "

"I'll go ashore at the first hostelry we see, and buy what we want, "replied Saint Simon. 

"And expose us to fresh capture? No, boy; we have had enough ofhostelries. Every one within reach of the river will be searched. Weshall have to fast till we are far enough to venture ashore. "

"And the King?" said Saint Simon. 

Leoni looked at him curiously, and slowly placed his hand within hisbreast to draw out the little golden flask, which he tapped with hisfinger-nails. 

"Three parts gone, " he said; "but enough left for the Comte's use. Afew drops will quell his hunger; double the quantity will make him sleepin peace. When you can bear your fast no longer, you shall have a fewdrops in water if you are a good boy. "

"Bah!" growled Saint Simon. "I can bear hunger like a man. "

The day glided by in perfect peace, the two rowers resting from the pastnight's labours, and the King sleeping as quietly as a child; while fromtime to time as Saint Simon glanced at him sadly, thinking of how he andLeoni had been the cause of all the trouble to his friend, he could nothelp a growing feeling of admiration within his breast as he saw howable the doctor's ministrations were, as shown by the way in which hehad treated his master's serious wound. 

It was during one of these musing fits, when he was wondering, to usethe homely phrase, how Denis was getting on, that Leoni, after a longsilence, spoke out decisively. 

"We will wait till it is dark, " he said. "It will not be long now--andthen row on through the night. It looks so clear that I expect we shallhave the moon to help us on our way. To-morrow morning we shall beobliged to risk landing somewhere on the left bank, and then make ourway due south, walking till the King is weary--of course after one of ushas bought food of some kind, for he will never walk without. Hah!" hecontinued, as he bent over the sleeping King and carefully examined hisface. "He is dreaming a good deal now. "

"How do you know?" asked Saint Simon. 

"By the motion of his eyes. "

"Why, they are shut, sir. "

"Yes, but look how they are turning about beneath his lids. He is goingthrough some imaginary scene--hunting perhaps. "

Singularly enough, as the doctor spoke in a whisper, Francis proved thecorrectness of Leoni's surmise, for he exclaimed:

"Yon bosky piece--quick! Lay on the hounds!"

Leoni drew back with a smile, and met Saint Simon's wondering eyes. 

"Yes, " he said; "he is getting to the end of his deep sleep. It willnot be long before he wakes, and I should say just at dark. Ah, good!It is lightening in the east. Yonder comes the moon. We will start atonce; but I must cover him again. The mist is rising in the meadows, and it promises a damp night. "

As he spoke he bent over the King to draw his cloak about shoulder andthroat; but at the first touch of his hands the King started up andcaught them fast. 

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. 

THE BALAS RUBY. 

"Who's this?" cried Francis sharply, and in a much firmer voice. "Hah!You, Leoni?"

"I, M. Le Comte. "

"Bah! The Comte! But what is it? Have I been asleep and dreaming?Where are we? What are we doing here?"

"Making for Fontainebleau, sir. "

"Yes, Fontainebleau!" cried the King eagerly. "But like this--in aboat?"

"Yes, sir--" began Leoni. 

"Say Sire, man! I have done with this masquerading folly. Speak outplainly. That mummery is at an end. Why are we in this boat?"

"Escaping from King Henry's vengeance, Sire. "

"Hah!" cried the King. "I do not understand. Yes, I remember now. Itall comes back. There was some question of that--oh yes, I remember--the fit of madness. But was I not wounded?"

"Yes, Sire; but your injury is healing fast. "

"To be sure. I feel better, after long weeks of horrid dreams. Well, that is all over. It was while escaping. But tell me--I am growingconfused again--what mean you? That we are escaping now?"

"Yes, Sire; soon to be in safety and on your way to your own greatland. "

"Ah!" cried the King, in a tone full of satisfaction. "That is good. Iwould that I had never left it upon this quest. But how dark it isgetting!"

"Yes, Sire; but it will soon be lighter, " said Leoni quietly. 

"Make it lighter in my dark brain, man, if you have it in your power, "cried the King impetuously; "for one moment I see clearly; the next, Iam confused again. Yes--that is what I wanted to think of. Is SaintSimon there? But where is my young esquire? On your life, man, don'ttell me he is dead!--Hah! Is that the truth?"

"No, Sire, " said Leoni sadly. "I pray that he may be alive and well. "

"May be alive! What do you mean, man?"

"That it was his and our duty, Sire, to save you from King Henry'sanger. You were his prisoner, and at all costs had to be saved. "

"Yes, yes; I had to escape. I have a dream-like memory of something ofthe kind, though it is all confused. "

"Yes, Sire; from your wound. "

"Hah!" cried the King. "But what is that to do with young Denis? Washe cut down too?"

"No, Sire; quite uninjured when we saw him last. "

"When you saw him last? Then where is he now?"

"A prisoner at the castle, Sire. The brave lad volunteered to take yourplace while we endeavoured to save our King. "

"To take my place! Do you mean to say, then, that he personated me?"

"Yes, Sire; to lie as if wounded on your bed. "

"He did that?" cried the King; and Leoni slowly bent his head. 

"Then he has the making of a king within his breast. Brave boy!" criedFrancis; and he was silent for a few moments, while bending over theside of the boat he scooped up the clear cold water in his hand anddrank again and again. 

"Hah!" he cried. "That gives me power to think. Did I understand youaright that I am escaping and have left that boy to bear the brunt of myfolly, to suffer for my madness imprisonment and maybe death?"

The doctor bent his head. 

"Leoni, " cried the King passionately, "is this acting like a king?"

"Sire, it is not for you to ask, nor yet for you to judge of this. Yourbrave young esquire felt it to be his task, and he volunteered to playhis part, as either of us would have done. It was to save your life, your servant's duty at a time like that. "

"And you tell me that it is my duty as a king to sacrifice that boy justentering the dawn of his young manhood so that I might live?"

"Yes, Sire; for your subjects' sake. "

"I am the King, and judge of this. A thousand times no! It shall notbe. "

"Sire, it must. What is one young life compared with yours?"

"Everything, " cried the King, "if I am to live in peace. "

"But, your Majesty, it is too late to think of that. "

"Never too late while there is life, " cried the King. "Loose the boatand take those oars. "

"What would your Majesty do?" cried Leoni. 

"Go back to Henry and meet him face to face. Let him work his will onme if he dares. But he shall not injure a hair of that brave boy'shead. Bah! He would not have dared. "

"You are mistaken, Sire. "

"In what?"

"In King Henry's intentions. He meant your death. "

"What! In cold blood to slay a brother king?"

"Not a brother king, Sire, but the Comte de la Seine, who had enteredhis Court in disguise. "

"Impossible, Leoni! I repeat, he would not dare. "

"Sire, your death warrant was made out. "

"What!"

"I saw it, Sire, in Lord Hurst's hands; and he told me indirectly whatwas to take place. "

"Leoni!" cried the King. 

"Those are the simple words of truth, Sire. That death warrant, signedby the King's own hand, was the mainspring of my action. Was I notjustified in doing anything to save your life?"

The King was silent. 

"Leoni!" he exclaimed at length. "I am faint with hunger. Is there noplace near where we can get food?"

"There is a farm we passed a little lower down, Sire, " replied Leoni;"but we dared not stay for fear the pursuers might be searching eitherbank. "

"Let them search and find if they will, " cried the King. "I must haverefreshment before I do more. "

"Your Majesty wishes us to row there and take our chance of beingdiscovered?"

"Yes, " said the King, "and at once. But stay. You are certain that theCount's death warrant was signed?"

"Yes, Sire; sure. "

"Bah! If I declared myself there would be an end to that?"

"No, Sire. "

"What!" cried the King. 

"Henry doubtless has his ends and would gladly have you dead. If youdeclared yourself now he would laugh you to scorn and call you impostor, cheat. "

"Hah!" cried the King, grinding his teeth. "Let him if he dare! But Iwill not believe it of him, going as I shall now, for nothing shall stayme from hurrying back to save that poor lad's life. "

"But, your Majesty, let me implore you!" cried Leoni. 

"Implore, then, but you will find me deaf. "

"For your own sake, Sire!"

"It is for my sake I go--mine honour as a king. "

"For the sake of your servants, then, who have risked so much!"

"I cannot! I will not, " he cried. "I will go. "

"For the sake of France, the country you so dearly love!"

"It is for the sake of France I go, to prove myself worthy the name ofher King. You urge me to perform a dastardly act in fleeing at a timelike this. "

"Remember, Sire, the reason why you came. "

"I do, " said the King, standing up proudly in the boat, as the edge ofthe moon began to lift above the low mist that lay upon the river andadjacent meads, lighting up the King's face, animated now into sternbeauty by the spirit within which spoke, "and think of it with shame. Listening to your words, I blinded myself into the belief that it wasright, that it was a brave and a gallant act to wrest that Crown jewelfrom King Henry's hand; but I see more clearly now that my madenterprise has met with its merited fate, and go back I will as achivalrous knight, ask my brother King's forgiveness, and save thatbrave boy from his cruel fate. "

"But, Sire, remember! Remember Fontainebleau and France. "

"I do; and I remember too that your plot has failed. "

"But it has not failed, Sire, " cried Leoni, rising now; and as he stooderect there was a look of triumph in his face which gave him, as itwere, a reflection of the kingly majesty before which he stood. "It hasnot failed, but ended in triumph and success. "

"What!" cried the King fiercely. "You speak in riddles. Tell me whatyou mean. "

He seemed to tower over his follower, who, apparently humbled, crouchedbefore him with lowered head and outstretched deprecating hands, withwhich he covered his face as if asking mercy. But the next moment hesprang up once more, just as the King angrily repeated himself:

"Not failed!" he cried. "Tell me what you mean?"

For answer Leoni threw back his head and held one hand on high full inthe light of the moon, which flashed and scintillated from the manyfacets of a brilliant gem. 

"Hah!" cried the King excitedly. "What have you there?"

"That which we came to seek, Sire. The Balas ruby--the fateful gem ofFrance!"

CHAPTER FORTY SIX. 

IN BORROWED PLUMES. 

Denis stood for a few moments panting heavily, not daring to take hiseyes from those of the King, who stood there speechless withastonishment. Then by an effort the boy wrenched his gaze from where itwas held, as he thought of his own sword; but the weapon was on theother side of the bed, and as he realised it the thought came that thiswas a King--one who had but to utter a word to bring in his guards. 

"Tricked again, " said the King at last; "and by you, boy! Francis'sesquire! Where is your King?"

"Beyond your reach, Sire, by this time, " said the boy boldly, nerved ashe was by the feeling that he had gained much time, and that his wordswere true. 

"Escaped?"

"Yes, Sire. "

"Ah!" ejaculated the King. "And I see now this was another ruse. Howlike a Frenchman! He was not wounded after all. "

"He was, Sire, " cried the boy indignantly, "and dangerously too. "

"But that jewel--where is it now? On its way to France?"

"No, Sire; I can answer for that. "

"Then you have it. "

"No, Sire, I have it not; and I am sure--my life on it--it never passedinto his Majesty's hands. "

"You lie, boy!" cried the King fiercely. 

"I am a gentleman of France, Sire, " said the boy haughtily. 

"A gentleman of France!" cried the King scornfully. "A member of a gangof thieves!"

"I am your prisoner, Sire, " said the boy boldly, "and I know what isbound to be my fate. I am no member of a gang of thieves, but one of myKing's esquires, bound to do his duty as his Majesty's servant; and Ihave done mine--no more. "

"Ah!" cried the King, making a quick advance towards the boy, who madean involuntary movement towards his rear, but checked it on the instant, drew himself up proudly, and folded his arms across his breast. 

"Pish!" said Henry impatiently. "I was not going to slay you, boy. "And he thrust his sword back into its sheath and caught the lad by theshoulder. "Then that was the King of France!"

"Yes, Sire. "

"I knew it, " cried the King, "and Hurst was right. And you have beendeceiving us all here, lying bandaged in that bed, while he has beenplacing himself beyond our reach, bearing away that fateful gem?"

"Yes, Sire; but my word for it, his Majesty the King has never laidhands upon the jewel, and is not bearing it away. "

"Well!" exclaimed the King, with his eyes rolling and his cheeks puffedout; and then, loosening his fierce grip upon the boy's shoulder, hestaggered back to the nearest chair, dropped into it, and laughed. 

The next minute the mirth died out of his half closed eyes, and a scowlappeared upon his brow, as he fiercely gazed in the eyes that did notfor a moment blench. But the frown died out in a look of admiration, ashe said sharply:

"You springald, to play a part like this, with the executioner's axehanging above your neck and waiting to fall. Why did you do this?"

"To save my master, Sire. "

"Hah! To the risk of your own life. "

"Yes, Sire. "

"Speak out, boy--the naked truth. Are you not afraid?"

"Horribly, Sire, " replied the boy slowly. "The duty is harder than Ithought. "

"Hark ye, " cried the King; "are all French boys like you?"

"I hope so, Sire. "

"Do you? Well, boy, I don't believe they are. But speak, and don'tturn white like that--a gentleman of France, as you call yourself--aking's esquire, should not be afraid to die. "

Denis was silent perforce, for no words would come. 

"A daring young dog!" muttered the King, in a tone so low that it hardlyreached the listener's ears. "Look here, sir, " continued Henry, "youhave forfeited your life and stayed me from showing mercy to yourmaster. Now, sir, would you like to win it back?"

"Gladly, Sire, " cried the boy, "but--"

"But what?" said Henry sharply. 

"I will not do anything to betray my King. "

"Wait till you are asked, boy, " said Henry roughly, as he kept his eyesfixed admiringly upon the lad, who faced him still with a wondrouscommand of nerve. "You know that I have the power of life or death?"

Denis bowed his head slowly. 

"Well, then, a king cannot stoop to slay even an enemy if he is brave. I will give you your life on one condition. "

The boy started, and the King smiled. 

"Not to sign a paper which gives me Bordeaux and Guienne, but to be myfaithful servant and serve me as you have served your master to the end. I want followers like you. Be English, even if you have French bloodflowing in your veins. Well, why do you not speak? Is not mine akingly act?"

"Yes, Sire, and I am grateful. "

"Well, why do you hesitate? Enter my service. The star of the Valoismust be setting fast when its representative can stoop to such a deed asthis. "

The lad shook his head. 

"What! Do you not understand? I will find work for your sword. Serveme faithfully, and rank shall in time be yours. Do you forget that yourlife is still at stake?"

"I cannot buy it, Sire, by betraying my master. Francis is my King. "

"And fortunate in having followers like this, " said the King to himself, as he rose, turned sharply from where the boy still stood with his armscrossed upon his breast, fighting hard for the resignation that refusedto come, while his heart now beat slowly and heavily, as if in the marchthat ended in the scaffold and the axe. 

The next minute the King had flung open the outer chamber door, as if toshow to the boy his fate, for there stood the captain with the guardsdrawn up on either side, their armour gleaming and the lights they boreflashing from their halberds' heads. 

But the boy stood firm, seeing as it were through the glitteringpageantry of the English Court the gleaming fields of far-off France, asparkling river, and the grey steeple turrets of an ancient French_chateau_. It was home, with all he loved therein. 

It was momentary, and the vision was dissolved by the King's loud voice, as he cried sharply:

"Who's with you there? Hah! Hurst! Look here, man. "

"Your Majesty!" cried the chamberlain, looking at the boy inastonishment. 

"Behold my royal visitor!" cried Henry mockingly. "This is the way mycourts are kept. "

"I do not understand, your Majesty, " cried the chamberlain, tremblingfor what was next to come. 

"But I do, man!" cried Henry. "Here is our sick and wounded prisoner. "

"A ruse--a trick!" said the chamberlain excitedly. 

"Yes--French, " cried Henry, with a mocking laugh. "The bird has flown, and left another in his nest. There, young popinjay, young daw--look athim, Hurst! He has cast his borrowed plumes. " Then turning to Denis:"Put on your own feathers, boy. You will come with me. Bring him to myapartments, Hurst. "

"As a prisoner, Sire?"

"No, " said the King, still fixing Denis with his eyes, and speaking tohim as much as to the chamberlain. "He is my guest still, though hismaster is gone. See that you use him well. "

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. 

FRANCIS IS A KING. 

To have seen King Henry seated at his supper in that eventful year, andon one particular night, it would have been impossible to suppose thatnot many hours before he had been indulging in so fierce a storm ofpassion, such kingly rage, that not one of his most trusted courtiersand counsellors had dared approach for fear of consequences that mightensue. 

It was the lion's feeding time, and the food had evidently been good andsatisfying. The music too in the minstrels' gallery had been sweet andpleasant to the ear. The Court jester had for a wonder excelled himselfin his strong endeavours to put the King in a good humour, and utteredno less than three samples of his wit which had made the King roar, inasmuch as in the tail of each joke there was a slightly poisoned stingwhich had gone home to the three noblemen for whom they were intended, my Lord Hurst, the King's chamberlain, getting the worst dose. 

There had been a good deal of whispered wonder running through the greatdining chamber, especially below the salt, where the King's gentlemenwere seated who had for long been disappointed at the absence of royalfavour and promotion they had been hoping for since they came to offertheir services at Court; and though all who were well within the scan ofhis Majesty's eyes spoke softly and with a stereotyped Court smile upontheir countenances, they said more bitter things by far than any thathad been uttered by the King's jester, their remarks being dipped inenvy, as they asked one another whether this French boy to whom the Kingwas showing such favour--this French _champignon_, "impudent youngupstart"--was to be the new favourite now, and one and all said tothemselves that which was too dangerous to confide to another, that theKing must have gone a little mad over the fit he had on discovering theloss of his favourite jewel, which had been carried off--so rumoursaid--by the so-called French Ambassador. This, joined to the secondescape, must have turned the royal brain; otherwise he would never havedisplayed such sudden favour to one who had played so daring a prank asthe impersonation of the wounded man. 

But all the same this great favour had been shown, and there was theyoung upstart of an esquire seated on the King's left, where all throughthe evening he had been the recipient of the greater part of the royalconversation, responding in French, with a little English which made theKing roar, and encouraged him to continue his rather lame efforts atEnglish conversation with an accent that could be called nothing betterthan vile. 

The evening had passed away, and, wearied out at last, the King himselfhad relieved his feelings with more than one unroyal yawn--signals theseof the time approaching when the gentlemen of the bedchamber would haveto be in attendance, and another of the Court days be at an end. 

Henry was about to rise, when the chamberlain came quickly behind hischair and whispered something close to his ear, looking hard at Denis ashe spoke. 

So meaning was his glance that the boy, who in spite of the royal favourhad been on pins all the time, took fright at once, ready as he was toassociate everything informal as being in some way connected with thosewho had escaped. The next moment the lad's hands had turned cold anddamp, while a giddy sensation attacked his brain, for the King hadsuddenly exclaimed:

"Hah! The Captain of the Guard with his reports?"

"Yes, Sire. I have told him to wait at the door of your privatecabinet. Will you receive him there?"

"No, " cried the King bluffly. "Bring him in here, and see that he has acup of wine. --Now, my young masquerader, " he cried banteringly to Denis, "there's news for you. Scores of my guards have been scouring theriverside, and they have come to announce that the prisoners have beensecured, for our sick friend the Comte was certain to break down beforehe had gone far. Well, why do you look like that?" he continued, as henoticed the change in the young esquire's face. "There, there: I am notso savage as they say, and whatever happens it is nothing to you, boy, for somehow--there, never mind. Here comes my friend the captain. "

For there was the heavy tramp of feet, and the stalwart Captain of theGuard, in half armour, huge buff boots, and pointed morion set well backupon his head, strode up to the King's table, dusty and travel-stained, to sink upon one knee, the plates of his armour grinding together with astrange sound as he went down--a sound repeated as the King signed tohim to rise. 

"Well, captain, " cried the King bluffly, "what have you to report? Youhave captured the French pigeons which escaped their cage, and broughtthem back with all that they took away?"

"No, Sire, " said the captain shortly. 

"What!" roared the King, in a voice of thunder; and there was utterstillness in the great chamber as, in no wise abashed, the captain wenton:

"Six companies of horse, Sire, have searched every road and everyvillage on the way towards London, and six more companies have harriedevery place on both sides the river from here to--"

"Bah!" roared the King. "Out of my sight! Go!"

The captain saluted, and began to walk backwards, the rowels of hisspurs clinking, while his armour crackled loudly as he made his way; butbefore he was half the distance towards the door he was brought up shortby the royal thunder which exploded with one sharp crack about his ears. 

"Stop! At eight to-morrow let the outer court be filled with my archersof the guard and my horses ready. I will take up this quest myself. "

He rose to go, as the captain again saluted, and there was a sharprustling of garments throughout the great chamber as the courtiers whohad been present at the supper rose, when to the surprise of all thegreat door was once more thrown open, and one of the Court functionariesstepped quickly forward and in a loud clear voice announced:

"His Majesty the King of France. "

There was a peculiar thrill running through the great chamber, and thena heavy bang as Henry in his astonishment gave vent to his feelings in atruly English way, for he brought down his clenched fist upon the tablewith a thud which made the silver flagons leap, and one, the tallest onthe table, thin and weak with age, missed its footing and came down uponits side, seeming to bleed the rich red wine in a little pool. 

The next moment, with bandaged head erect and flashing eyes, Francisappeared in the doorway, resting upon Leoni's arm, Saint Simon slightlybehind on the other side ready to support his master should he want hishelp. 

But none was needed. Francis stood for a few moments gazing towards theupper table where the King was standing, and his quick clear glance tookin the position in a moment, for he had seen Denis standing a little toHenry's left. 

Then with a quick movement Francis thrust back Leoni's arm and walkedproudly up towards Henry's chair bowing slightly once to right and leftas he swept with disdainful eye the now silent throng. 

Then, to use the good old grandmotherly term, a pin might have beenheard to drop, as Francis pressed forward till close up to where Henrystood, and before the English monarch could recover from his surprisehis visitor had laid his hands lightly upon his shoulders and kissed hischeeks. 

It was all done in the most courtly way, and only as one of the grandestgentlemen in Europe could at such a time have given the salute, whileits reception was as marked and English as it was the reverse offriendly. For the King was so utterly taken aback by this change in thestate of affairs that for a few moments he could not speak. When he didfind words they were of the gruffest and most matter-of-fact that anEnglishman could vent. 

"So then, " he cried, "you have come back?"

"Yes, my brother, " replied Francis, and his voice sounded musical andsoft, as the gesture he made was graceful and easy. "I, the King ofFrance, have come back to you, my brother of England, to ask your pardonfor my mad folly and grave mistake. See here, " he continued, after aslight pause, and he once more looked round the tables at the glitteringcourtiers, while he held out fully in the light the scintillating rubythat had attracted him to the English shores. "I am no believer inmagic or the dark art, but there must be something strange and fatefulin this stone, magnetic perhaps, but he what it will, it led me here, knowing as I did the history of its loss; and now I have brought it backto its rightful owner, to its proper resting-place. It is yours, mybrother of England, won in the far back past on the battlefield. I forthe moment have held it once again in this right hand. Sire, I returnit now, asking once more your forgiveness of the past, your renewedhospitality to a sick man for the night. "

He ceased speaking, as Henry made a snatch and caught the jewel from hishand, when, light as the action was, it was sufficient to make his nowexhausted visitor stagger. He would have fallen but for the King'sstrong arm, which saved him, and helped him to the seat Henry had justvacated. 

"Quick, here!" he shouted. "Wine for my brother of France!"

There was a quick movement, but Henry's hand was the first to snatch oneof the silver flagons from the table and hold it to the fainting King'slips, as he drank with avidity, uttered a sigh, and then rose with asmile. 

"Am I a prisoner?" he said. 

"No, " cried Henry in his deepest tones--"my brother and my guest. "

As he spoke he caught Francis by the hand and half supported him on hisright, as he turned now to the excited lookers-on. 

"My lords and gentlemen, " he thundered out, "are we to be out-distancedin chivalry and generosity by the King of France? No!" he almostroared, as he turned to Francis. "Sire, " he cried, "it was to win backthat stone to the Crown of France that you risked your life and liberty, coming almost unarmed to my Court and bearing it away. I, Sire, can butadmire your daring and the gallantry with which you carried out yourquest to its successful end. And, Sire, I honour far more the gallantact of chivalry, that bravery which forced you back to my Court to makethis honourable amend. Francis, my brother, I cannot take the gem. Itis the jewel of France, and you shall bear it there. Keep it, Sire. Itis yours. "

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. 

LEONI'S SECRET. 

The festive days were few before Francis, now the honoured guest ofHenry, left Windsor on his return to Fontainebleau, for he was stillweak and suffering from his wound; but it was a pleasant time, especially to the King's esquires, after a little cloud had cleared awayand the sun of two young lives once more was shining bright and clear. 

It was towards the evening of the day succeeding the events of the lastchapter, when Denis caught sight from one of the windows of the King'sgallery of Carrbroke walking in the gardens below, looking moody andstrange, while all at once, as if conscious that he was being watched, he glanced up at the window and caught sight of Denis looking out readyto wave his hand. 

The English lad frowned, turned his back, and began walking away, while, stung to the heart by his reception, the blood flushed in the Frenchlad's face, and drawing back from the window he ran along the gallery, to descend into the court, reach the garden, and make his way to thatportion of the pleasaunce where he had seen his English friend. It wassome time before he could find him, but at last he came suddenly uponhim in a secluded portion nearly surrounded by a grey stone wall coveredwith growing plants. 

"Ah, there you are at last!" cried Denis. 

Carrbroke turned upon him angrily and clapped his hand to his sword. 

"You have come to fight?" he cried. "Well, it is death here to draw. Come out into the park, and I'll show you how I act towards a thief. "

"A thief!" flashed out Denis, imitating his companion's action. "Thisis cowardly from you. But no, I will not quarrel. You do not know. "

"Not know! Do I not know that in my confidence and belief in our Frenchguest, whom my father had honoured, I foolishly trusted you with thesecret of the King's private way--and for what? To help you and yourfriends to steal. "

"No, " said Denis gravely; "you don't know that, for it is not true. Idid tell Leoni--"

"Ugh!" ejaculated Carrbroke. "That man's horrid eyes!"

"Yes, " said Denis, with a peculiar smile; "that man's horrid eyes--thoughtlessly, I suppose, of the secret way, when I believed my dutycalled; perhaps you would have done the same. But I had nothing to dowith the taking of the gem. Pah! I hated it all through, but as theKing's esquire I had to fulfil my duty to my master. Believe me, I didnot help to take the jewel. I felt that I would rather have died. Willyou not believe me, Carrbroke?" And he held out his hand. 

"I feel I cannot, " cried Carrbroke. 

"Does it take a king to forgive?" said Denis, with a smile. "To saythose words, I forgive you, when there is nothing to forgive?"

"Oh, " cried Carrbroke hoarsely, and he looked sharply round to see ifthey were observed, before snatching and tightly grasping Denis'sextended hands. 

A few minutes later the two lads were walking together arms onshoulders, in full sunshine of their young nature, that light seeming tobe at the zenith, while the ruddy orange sun itself finishing its dailyrounds was slowly sinking in the west. 

"Hah!" cried Denis. "I am glad we are friends again. I know it lookedblack against me, and--"

"Oh, don't!" said Carrbroke. "I thought we'd agreed that all that wasburied, never to be dug up again. But look here, we must have it now;there is one thing I want to know. "

"What?" said Denis, with a peculiar mirthful look in his eyes. 

"It is very horrible, " continued Carrbroke. "I did not mean to ask you, but I feel I must. Of course your Leoni believed he was doing right forthe sake of France, and to serve his master, but I never understoodwhere he managed to hide the ruby. Do you know?"

"I did not know till yesterday. "

"Ah, did he tell you then?--But no, I will not ask you to break hisconfidence. "

"It is not to break his confidence, for he did not tell me, " repliedDenis. "I learned it from Saint Simon, for he saw it on the boat. "

"Saw the ruby in the boat?" cried Carrbroke. "Why, how did it getthere?"

Denis was silent for a moment or two, and then whispered something, witha peculiar smile upon his lips as he placed them near his companion'sear. 

"What!" cried Carrbroke, starting back and staring in wonderment at hiscompanion. "He hid it there? Then that accounts for his peculiar fixedlook. "

"Yes. He was fencing when a young man, and his adversary's rapier pointcompletely destroyed his left eye. "

"Ah!" whispered Carrbroke, beneath his breath. "I see. Then the eye isfalse--made, you say, of gold, enamelled to look exactly like the other, a little hollow globe. "

"Yes; an _etui_, we may call it now, but never meant to conceal thatgem. "

"Horrid!" cried Carrbroke. 

"Yes, " said Denis quietly; "but believe it if you can. "

"Oh, " cried Carrbroke, "I believe; but if he had liked it could neverhave been found. "

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A week later the parting of the two lads was like that of brothers, andit was full of promises of what they would do when they met again. 

Perhaps they encountered later on at the Field of the Cloth of Gold; buthistory only says--

THE END.