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diff --git a/23128.txt b/23128.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3ab41c --- /dev/null +++ b/23128.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10098 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The King's Esquires, by George Manville Fenn + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The King's Esquires + The Jewel of France + +Author: George Manville Fenn + +Illustrator: Ogle + +Release Date: October 20, 2007 [EBook #23128] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE KING'S ESQUIRES *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The King's Esquires; or, The Jewel of France, by George Manville Fenn. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +This excellent book is, as always with this author, a constant +succession of tense moments. + +Dated at the beginning of the 1500s, the action starts in the Court of +the 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, a +beautiful ruby, was taken from France and put among the English Crown +Jewels. So Francis, the King, decides on going to England on a visit to +the English King, the young Henry the Eighth, finding out where the +jewel is, purloining it before leaving, and restoring it to its place +among his own Crown Jewels. This all goes pretty well, except that King +Henry 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 eventually +they return to France, where to the amazement of all it turns out that +they were successful in their mission, and they really did manage to +bring back the famous ruby. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +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 preference +for his Palace of Fontainebleau among the many places of residence from +which he could choose, and it is interesting to glance into that +magnificent palace on a certain afternoon in the year 151--. In a +special apartment, from which direct access could be obtained to the +guard chamber, where a detachment of the favourite musketeers of the +King of France was on duty, and which also communicated with the +monarch's private apartments, a youth, nearly a man but not quite was +impatiently striding up and down. He stopped every now and then to +glance out of the low window, from which a view could be obtained over +the great Forest of Fontainebleau, where Philip Augustus in the old +days, centuries before, loved to go hunting. It seemed as though to the +young man there was a chafing disquietude in the silence, the inaction, +of the afternoon, when the inmates of the palace, like the inhabitants +of the tiny little white town, retired to rest for a time in order to be +ready for the evening, when life began to be lived once more. + +It was a very handsome chamber in which the young man was evidencing a +species of disquietude, as of awaiting the coming of somebody, or a +summons. As he stopped once in his feverish pacing up and down, a +massive clock was heard to strike three. Rich mats lay on the polished +floor, and the _salon_ was so lofty that high-up it seemed almost grey +dusk by contrast with the bars of sunshine which came through the +window. + +From outside there came the challenging clarion note of a trumpet. + +"Changing guard," he muttered, "already!" And then he fell to thinking +of other things, for there was beneath the thud of horses' feet, the +baying of a dog and a loud shout. + +He turned away from the window at last and tapped the dark arras with +which the walls were draped. + +He was a tall, dark-eyed, well-made lad, looking handsome enough in his +rich velvet doublet, evidently one who spent a large part of his time in +the 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, and +listening intently a minute, before dropping the drapery and then +impatiently springing on to a chair. The chair stood before a long, +narrow, slit-like window, and from it likewise there was little to be +seen but forest, all deep green and silent, and a strip of blue sky. He +sprang down again with a sigh, crossed to the other side of the chamber, +lifted the curtain again, opened a door, and looked out, before closing +the door, dropping the curtain, and resuming his restless walk, as if +saying, "What shall I do with myself?" Somehow the answer seemed to +come to that question, for he suddenly clapped his hand to its side, +drew a long, thin, triangular-bladed sword from its sheath, and +admiringly and caressingly examined the beautiful chased and engraved +open-work steel hilt and guard, giving it a rub here and there with his +dark velvet sleeve. Then he crossed to the great open carved +mantelpiece, took hold of the point of the sword, passing the blade over +so that the hilt rested beyond his right shoulder; and, using the keen +point as a graver, he marked-out, breast high upon one of the supporters +of 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 up +his right sleeve, and grasping his rapier by the handle, made the thin +blade whistle as he waved it through the air and dropped gracefully at +once into position, as if prepared to assault or receive an enemy, the +enemy being the dark oak, chipped and much rubbed, semi-classic figure, +the work of some wood-carver of a hundred years before, and whose grim +aspect was rendered grotesque by the want of a nose. The next minute +the polished floor gave forth sounds of softly shuffling feet, and +stamps, as the lad, page or esquire, and evidently for the time guardian +of the ante-chamber, began to fence and foin, parry and guard, every now +and then delivering a fierce thrust in the latest Italian fashion right +at the marked-out heart upon the grim figure's breast. It was warm +work, for the lad put plenty of spirit and life into his efforts, and +before long his clear, broad forehead and the sides of a rather aquiline +nose began to glisten with a very slight dew. But the efforts were +quite unsuccessful, bringing forth softly uttered ejaculations of +impatience as the keen point of the rapier stuck into the solid wood +above, below, to the right and left, never once within the ellipse +traced out to represent a heart. But evidently under the belief that +practice makes perfect, and regardless of coming shortness of breath, +the lad kept on thrusting away, so intent upon his work that he did not +bear the faint smothered click as of a latch behind him, nor note a +white hand from one of whose fingers glistened dully the stone _en +cabochon_ of a big ruby ring. + +This hand looked thin and ghastly against the dark curtain which it +grasped and held on one side for some minutes, while its owner, hidden +by the arras, seemed to be watching the sword-play of the lad. This +went on vigorously as ever even when the tapestry was lightly brushed +aside and a rather short, keen-looking, grizzled-bearded man appeared, +in square black velvet cap and long gown, which half hid a closely +fitting black velvet doublet and silken hose. He was armed, according +to the custom of the time, with a long rapier balanced by a stiletto at +his girdle, and as he dropped the curtain, his hands moved as if +involuntarily to these occupants of his belt and rested there. It was +not a pleasant face that watched the sword-play, for the wrinkles +therein 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 if +he were about to laugh, the sort of laugh that one would give who +enjoyed seeing a fellow-creature in pain; while his dark right eye +seemed to glow beneath the grey shaggy brow, at one moment in a strange +fiery way, while the next, as its owner made some slight movement, it +literally flashed as if sending forth scintillations of light, giving to +his countenance a weird, strange aspect, emphasised by the peculiar +fixed stare of his left optic, which suggested that it was doing the +fixed, quiet, patient work of its master, while the other searched and +flashed and sought for fresh subjects upon which its fellow might gaze. +Whatever value such a pair of eyes might be to their possessor, they had +one great drawback, and that was that they caused distrust in a stranger +who met him for the first time, making him involuntarily feel that this +man must be having him at a disadvantage, for it was as if one eye held +him in play and took up his attention, while that other with its strange +fixed stare searched him through and through. + +His was not a pleasant smile, and there were people about the Court who +said sinister things about Master Leoni, the King's physician, and who +would 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 laughingly +said: + +"He knows too much about poisons to please me." + +It was no wonder, then, that taking into consideration his quiet and +unexpected approach, and the grim aspect of his face, the fencing lad +should, when he became aware of his presence, give a violent start and +slightly change colour, his exercise-flushed face turning for the moment +pale. It was just after one of his most vigorous attacks upon the +supporter of the great mantelpiece, one which ended in a really +successful thrust delivered with a suppressed "Ha, ha!" followed by a +dull thud, and a tug on the lad's part to extricate the point of his +sword from its new sheath, quite a couple of inches being firmly thrust +into 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't +kill many of the King's enemies, Master Denis, if you can't do better +work than that." + +"What!" cried the boy, flushing. "You've been watching?" + +"Of course, I watch everything," said the other, smiling. "That's the +way to learn. You must watch, too, my boy--good fencing masters--and +learn how to parry and thrust. It's of no use to carry a fine blade +like that if you don't master its use. Some day you may have to draw it +to 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. You +seem to have drawn upon the King's furniture to the great damage of the +carving. Denis, my lad, you ought to be able to handle a sword to +better purpose than that. Why, even I, old man as I am, who have not +held 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, I +suppose?" + +"Yes, he is," said the lad shortly; "asleep." + +"Soundly, then, or the noise you made must have aroused him. Go and see +if he is yet awake. I want to see him." + +The boy frowned, and gave a tug at his weapon, which refused to leave +the 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 the +point, or drag the blade from the hilt." + +"But it is in so fast," cried the lad impatiently, and he pulled with +all his might, his anger gathering at being dictated to and taught. + +"Let me," said the doctor, raising one hand; and the lad resented the +offer for the moment, but on second thoughts gave way. + +"Perhaps you will find it as hard as I do," he said, with a malicious +smile. + +"Perhaps I shall," said his elder; "but I should like to try. +Sometimes, my boy, the _tactus eruditus_ will succeed when main force +fails." + +"I wish you wouldn't talk Latin," said the boy impatiently, and he +snatched his hand from the sword-hilt, leaving it vibrating and swaying +up and down where it stuck in the wood. + +"Worse and worse," said the doctor quickly, as he caught it by the +guard. "Why, Denis, you don't deserve to possess a blade like that. +There," he continued, as, apparently without an effort, he drew the +rapier 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 an +audience." + +"And if he is asleep?" said the lad. + +"Let him rest," replied the other, with a smile. "Let sleeping--kings +lie. They are always better tempered, my lad, when they have rested +well. Take that as being the truth from an old philosopher, Denis, my +boy, and act accordingly. You and I don't want to lose our heads +through offending the master we serve." + +"I don't," cried the boy sharply. + +"Nor I," said the doctor, with a smile that was more unpleasant than +ever. "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 ended +his afternoon nap, suppose I give you one of my prescriptions on the +proper 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 had +sometimes to wound or take life to save my own. But of late years my +work has been to heal." + +The lad nodded sharply, rested his left hand upon the hilt of his now +sheathed sword, drew aside the arras to the right of the fireplace, and +passed through the door that faced him, one which closed behind him with +a soft click. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +A FENCING LESSON. + +"Pert--impudent--all over the young courtier," said the doctor +thoughtfully; "but I like the boy for his father's sake. Yes, all that +was good and true. Now then, what will he say to me this time? I moved +him a little yesterday, and I think that his love of adventure will make +him 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, and +looking ten years younger, as he swung back his long gown from his +shoulders, grasped his rapier by the sheath, brought round his right +hand to the hilt, and drew forth a glistening blade, to hold it at arm's +length, quivering in the rays of light which came athwart the room from +the high-up narrow window. Then falling into position, his whole body +seemed to glide forward following the blade, as he made a thrust in the +most effortless way, the point of his weapon passing into the hole made +a few minutes earlier by the young esquire; and he was in the act of +drawing it forth to thrust again, when the arras to his right was +plucked 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 swordsman +about the Court." + +"Did he say that?" said the doctor quietly. + +"To be sure he did," cried the lad, drawing his sword and putting +himself 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 upon +my chest?" + +"There, now you are mocking at me." + +"Yes: I was." + +"Well, you shall attack. But had I better get some buttoned swords? I +shouldn't like to hurt you, sir." + +"I'll take care you do not," said the doctor quietly; "and there will be +no need, for I will not hurt you." + +The lad coloured slightly as the thought flashed through him that he +should like to humble the other's confidence and pride. The next moment +he was looking on, half astonished, as his adversary slipped off his +long 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 into +position the next moment and challenge him to come on. + +The lad required no second invitation, for, calling up all he knew of +fencing, he crossed swords and attacked vigorously, with the sensation +the next moment that he had received a sharp jerk of the wrist as his +rapier described a curve in the air and the doctor leaped up, making a +snatch with his left hand, and catching it by the middle of the blade as +it 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, he +attacked once more, to feel his adversary's blade seem as if endowed +with snake-like vitality, and twine round his own, which then twitched +and 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'd +give 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 learn +to do that in one lesson. Now attack again, and keep a good grip of +your hilt. There, come on." + +"No, not now, sir," said the boy huskily. "This has made me hot and +angry, and one ought to be cool when handling pointed weapons. I +shouldn't like to hurt you, sir." + +"Neither should I, my lad," said the doctor calmly; "but you need not +fear doing that. Come on, I tell you. There, I'm not speaking +boastingly, Denis, my lad. I am no master of fence, but I can do +precisely what I please with your weapon, disarm you at every encounter, +or turn your point whichever way I choose. There: you see." For +nettled by his words, and in a futile effort to prove that they were +untrue, the lad attacked sharply once again, made about a dozen passes, +to find himself perfectly helpless in his adversary's hands, and at last +stopped short, lowered his point to the floor, and stood with both hands +resting on the hilt. + +"You are right, sir," he said. "It's horrible. I thought I could; but +I can't fence a bit." + +At that moment there was a sharp click of the outer door, and the doctor +hurriedly began to sheathe his rapier, but not quickly enough for his +action to be unseen. The arras was thrown aside, and a tall handsome +young cavalier strode into the ante-chamber and stopped short in +astonishment. + +"Words and wonder!" he cried. "A duel? or young Denis defending his +Majesty from an attempted assassination on the part of Master Leoni with +a sword instead of physic?" + +"Does it ever occur to you, Saint Simon, that your tongue runs at times +somewhat too fast?" said the doctor coldly. + +"Oh yes, often," was the laughing reply; "but it's a habit it has. What +have I interrupted, though?" + +"Master Leoni was giving me a fencing lesson, Saint Simon," cried the +lad 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, and +ready to spring into position for a fresh encounter; but at the same +moment he noted the change which came over his adversary, who from being +tense, erect and active, suddenly seemed to grow limp of body, though +his face was more animated than ever. He hung his head till his chin +rested upon his chest, his eyes literally flashed, and he gazed up +through his bushy brows at the young courtier who had just joined them, +while for answer to his request he slowly finished sheathing his rapier +and 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 activity +of a few minutes earlier, and then helped his instructor to resume his +garment. + +"What!" cried Saint Simon warmly. "You will not go on? Why, doctor, I +want to learn." + +The doctor gave him a peculiar, double sinister look, and said, with his +unpleasant 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 before +its time, and--hark! Did I not hear his Majesty ring?" + +"Yes," cried Denis quickly, and hurriedly smoothing his hair, which hung +loose from his late exertions, and then, readjusting his doublet and +seeing to the hang of his sword, he hurried through the arras, those who +waited hearing the click of the door latch as he passed into the King's +chamber. + +"You don't like me, doctor," said Saint Simon, as soon as they were +alone. + +"I don't dislike you," said the other, smiling. "Have I ever treated +you 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 himself +in 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 show +both in." + +"There, doctor," said Saint Simon; "it is not my doing, so don't visit +this upon my head. I daresay he will soon send me away." + +Then, following their young escort, the two men stepped into the +darkened chamber where his Majesty, heavy-eyed, as if he was hardly yet +awakened from sleep, lolled back in a short fur-trimmed robe in the +corner of a couch, his left hand behind his neck, his right resting upon +the shaggy head of a huge boar-hound which glanced suspiciously at the +new-comers and uttered a deep muttering growl. + +The King's fingers closed tightly upon the animal's ear, and he gave it +a 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 of +the 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 to +wait upon you this afternoon." + +"Did I? Well, I don't know that I want you. But to return your +compliment, the place seems dull when you are not here." + +The young man smiled and darted a triumphant glance at the +saturnine-looking doctor, before turning to give Denis a look, his eyes +sparkling with pleasure the while. + +"And you, Leoni," said the King, yawning. "Tut, tut!" he added +impatiently. "I am hardly awake. I was tired, gentlemen. Tonnerre and +his 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 debate +of yesterday--" + +"To be sure, yes," said the King, yawning again. "Let me see; it was a +sort of historical, half prophetic discourse, very learned and hard for +a hunting man to understand, about the past and the future, and the +safety of my throne, and its depending upon the recovery of a certain +mystic stone carried off--carried off--let me see, Leoni, who did you +say carried it off?" + +"The enemy and invader of your country, your Majesty: Henry, the English +King. But, your Majesty--" The doctor ceased speaking and turned +slowly, 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 and +yours, meant for your ears alone." + +"To be sure, Leoni, but kings need very long ears indeed to take in all +that concerns them--and have them too, sometimes, my learned doctor, as +I have no doubt you men of wisdom think. But to be serious; I find I +cannot hear all I want for myself, and am glad to have the help of other +ears that I can trust. You are suspicious, my good old friend." + +"No, your Majesty: cautious in your service. Years of experience have +taught 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 boys +as thoroughly as anyone at Court. You know, old friend, that there are +hundreds here who will say they would die for me. Now, those two lads +would not say such a thing to save their lives." + +"Your Majesty!" cried the two young courtiers, in the same tone of +protest. + +"Well," said the King, smiling; "I am right. I believe you would either +of you die to save me, and without saying word." + +The pair drew back, smiling and satisfied, each glancing at the doctor +as much as to say, Do you hear that? + +"There," said the King, "I trust you all; so now go on, Leoni, and say +what you have to say; and, boys, mind this; we are in secret conclave +now. There must be no chattering afterwards, or discussion." + +"Your Majesty commands," said the doctor gravely. "Shall I continue +from where we left off yesterday?" + +"No; let's have it all again. My gallop yesterday through the forest +gave me so much to do in managing a fiery horse and keeping him from +breaking my neck amongst the boughs as he carried me into so many real +dangers, that all your imaginary notions were swept away. Let's have it +all again." + +The doctor bowed. + +"It will save me," said the King, "from making only a half confidence to +my young friends here. But be brief. Put it if you can into a few +words. 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 the +succession. But my throne is not a safe seat unless--" + +"Unless, your Majesty, that half sacred mystic balas ruby that was +carried off by Henry of England is brought back and restored to its +place in the French Crown." + +"Yes, that's it," said the King. "I remember all now. But do you +believe, Leoni, as a man who has long studied the secrets of nature, and +the mysteries of life, that there can be such virtue in precious stones +that they can influence our lives?" + +"Yes, your Majesty," said the doctor solemnly; "and everything goes to +prove it the wide world through; amongst the greatest and most civilised +down to the most savage nations these talismanic gems have been +preserved and treasured up. Prosperity and safety of life have always +accompanied 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 me +that this present Henry--what is he--the Eighth?--of England believes +all this?" + +"Yes, your Majesty, and proves it by treasuring up the ruby that by +right is yours." + +"Then you think that the holding of this stone, reft from our crown, had +something to do with the hold of these English upon our fair domains of +France?" + +"Certainly, your Majesty, and moreover, I hold that it is your sovereign +duty to restore it to its place." + +"How?" said the King, and his eyes rested upon those of the two young +men, whose intent and watchful faces told how they were drinking in with +intense interest the subject that was being discussed. + +"That, your Majesty," said the doctor gravely, "is what I am here to +urge upon you." + +"But what do you want, man?" cried the King impatiently. "If Henry is +more wise than I, and believes in all this mystic stuff, is it likely +that 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, in +previous reigns, to get the jewel back, but all in vain." + +"Very well," said the King impatiently; "and France seems to have got on +very well without it. We are at peace with England. Why should I +disturb our friendly brotherly intercourse by raking up the past? I am +quite content and happy to enjoy my hunting pursuits. Do you want me to +go 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 and +prosperous reign that I speak like this. Believe me, Sire, I have no +other aim." + +"Well, Leoni, I believe your words. You have a good position here at +Court, and a good master ready to give you anything in reason; and +believe me, I want to enjoy a quiet prosperous reign. Mine is a very +pleasant life. There are plenty of boars to kill, and I would rather +slay them than Englishmen. War is very attractive and very grand. The +clash 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 mimic +charge, and I don't much care for blood. But you as a wise and +thoughtful man, you tell me that I ought to stir in this and get the +ruby 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 the +dagger 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 and +fro." + +"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's +head again; and the dog whined with pleasure at the caress. "I was +growing 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 ancient +crown." + +"And I suppose I must say the same," said the King. "But how is it to +be done? There: speak. You have studied all this out, I suppose? How +is 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 would +seize 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 gem +belongs to France's ancient crown, from which it was wrenched, +plundered, stolen, carried away as spoil. And now it must be +recovered." + +"Openly," said the King. + +"No, Sire. That means war. My plan is that you should send a trusted +envoy to watch his opportunity, seize the gem or gems, and bring them +back." + +"Hah!" ejaculated Denis, in the excitement of the moment; and Saint +Simon turned upon him sharply, and with a resentful look which was +returned. + +"But it means a deal," said the King thoughtfully. "That ambassador +would risk his life." + +"Hah!" ejaculated Saint Simon, giving vent to his suppressed excitement +in his turn; and Denis now gave him back his resentful jealous look. + +"Yes, Sire," continued Leoni; "the envoy would risk his life, of +course--in the service of his King. But there are men who would do this +for 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 knowledge +that he was fighting in the cause of right and duty towards the master +that 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 I +should 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 but +guile. He would make his way to the Court of your brother of England in +a 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, the +theft would be laid at my door. I would sooner march my people across +English ground and take them honestly by force." + +"That could not be done, Sire. Leave that to me. Your messenger must +go, 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 before +Francis, 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, to +spring to the King's feet. "I will go. It is work for a man grown, not +for a puny boy." + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the King merrily. "Quiet, Tonnerre! Quiet!" For +the great hound, roused by the excitement, was filling the chamber with +his deep-toned bay, his eyes glaring redly, and his glistening white +fangs bared, as he gazed in his master's face as if asking for orders as +to whom he should seize by the throat and pin. + +"Down, sir!" cried the King again. "Quiet! There, Leoni, was I not +right in letting these boys share our confidence? Who says that Francis +of 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 or +die!" + +"Silence, boy!" cried the King, laying his hand on Denis's head as he +dumbly looked up at him in protest, his eyes appealing the while that +his monarch's favour should be awarded to him alone. "No, no; +emphatically no! Neither of you will go alone. You hear, boys? I will +not send you on this quest." + +Francis turned to Leoni as he spoke, and the doctor bowed his head in +acquiescence. + +"Yours are the words of wisdom, Sire," he said. "The work is not for +such as these--these two gallant followers of their King." + +"Who then is to follow out the task?" said Francis. "For I like it +well, and it must and shall be done. You hear me, Leoni? I have spoken +now, and I will not rest, since you have roused me to this task, until +this jewel glistens once more in its rightful place above my kingly +crown." + +"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 out +and nurtured the plans until the fruit is ripe. By the man who +possesses the energy, the guile, and the determination to serve his +master in this great duty to his King." + +"And who is that man?" cried Francis, rising to his feet and standing +proudly before his three courtiers kneeling before him; for as he +uttered his next words Leoni sank in turn upon one knee and bent his +head, to say in a low deep tone, almost a whisper, but which seemed to +fill 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 that +had eclipsed the sun for some time past floated slowly from before the +glowing orb, which poured its full beams through the gorgeous panes of +the stained-glass windows of the chamber, and flooded the standing +monarch 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 they +were 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 King +in absolute wonderment; for in a few brief words he had swept away, as +by the touch of a magician's wand, the gathering feeling of jealous +annoyance which was forming in each breast. Leoni was the first to find +the use of his tongue; but it was in a hesitating way quite foreign to +his 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 as +this." + +"Then what's the use of being a king," cried Francis, "if one cannot do +what 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 scheme +of life. I have lived fifty years in the world, thirty of which have +been spent in thinking and in study of my fellows. I never met one man +yet who could do exactly as he liked." + +"Well, if you come to that," said the King, "I don't think that I ever +did; but I mean to do this all the same." + +"But how could you, Sire? If the King of England chose to play you +false 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 a +chance 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. "Who +wants to die? Here, with all France at my feet, one wants to live and +enjoy oneself. But let's see, Leoni; that wouldn't do at all. What's +to be done?" + +"Your Majesty will have to stay at Fontainebleau and let your servant do +this 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 a +triumphant look. "Let me choose and lead your bodyguard." + +Denis frowned and set his teeth hard in his annoyance at being passed in +the race by his companion; but he brightened directly on hearing the +King's next impatient words: + +"Hang your bodyguard! Leoni is right." + +"Yes, Sire," said that individual, just loud enough for the young man to +hear. + +"This must be done with guile." + +Denis's eyes flashed. + +"Pardon, Sire," he cried eagerly. "You might go in disguise." And the +next moment the boy's heart swelled within his breast, for the King +slapped 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 a +learned doctor like you. H'm, no. They'd want me to cure somebody, and +I should be killing him perhaps. Here, Saint Simon, how should I +disguise myself?" + +"Well, Sire, if I were going to undertake the task I should dress myself +like 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 be +beaten in the race. + +"Here, hallo!" cried the King, "that won't do! I do know better than +that. It was Richard's minstrel who went in disguise." + +"Yes, Sire," cried Denis eagerly, while Leoni, with his eyelids nearly +closed, glanced from one to the other with a look of contempt. + +"That will not do," said the King gruffly. "There is no instrument that +I could play; but I must go as something." + +"Is your Majesty seriously determined to go in disguise?" said the +doctor. + +"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 what +I am--a doctor--a part, I believe, that I could worthily play." + +"Of course," said the King. "There is not a better doctor in the +world." + +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, and +take 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 into +your dotage, man?" + +The two young men exchanged glances, brothers once again in combination +against their rival for the King's favour, who seemed to be coming to +the front and leaving them behind. + +"Pardon me, Sire," said the doctor humbly. "I proposed that, as it +seemed an easy way to achieve your ends." + +"I would sooner give up the project, Master Leoni," said the King +haughtily. "Propose something else." + +The doctor spread his hands apart in the most self-abasing way, but the +King 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. You +have a way of handling a lancet and letting your patients' blood. +Recollect that kings have a way too of treating patients so that they +never bleed again." + +"I am your Majesty's humble slave," said Leoni, in low, deprecating +tones; but Denis noticed that there was no humility in the half veiled +eyes as they were lowered to the ground; "You are forgiven," said the +King. "But have a care. By the Faith! It brought the blood hotly to +my eyes! Now then, speak again. In what habit shall I go?" + +There was silence in the chamber, broken the next moment by the +impatient trampling of the monarch's feet as he paced up and down, while +for a time nobody ventured to speak. And then in his excitement lest he +should 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 burning +upon his head. + +"Hah!" shouted the King, and for a moment the boy's heart sank, for the +King's hand came down upon his shoulder in a painful grip; but the next +moment the sinking heart rose with a bound, his eyes flashed with +excitement, and for the life of him he could not keep from darting +triumphant glances at his fellow-courtiers. "There, Master Leoni! +There, Saint Simon! Who dares tell me we haven't got a young Solomon of +wisdom in our Court? Hear him! That's the very idea I had in my own +breast, only I couldn't think it then. Yes, Denis, that's the plan, and +we will go at once." + +"But your Majesty will want other followers," cried Saint Simon +excitedly. "I could--" + +"Select a score of quarrelsome, fiery young blades like yourself, to +pick 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 laughed +merrily. + +"Well, you're not a bad fellow, Saint Simon, and I might get into some +trouble 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, and +he 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 with +us at such a time." + +"Then he shall come," cried the King; and Saint Simon sprang forward to +kiss his sovereign's hand, while as he rose he turned his eyes upon +Denis, 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 relief +and 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 in +your 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 think +we three can manage without your help; but I won't be forgetful of old +services, and I'll trust you in this. There is no such scribe about the +Court as you, so you shall keep a chronicle of everything that happens +here while the cat's away, and read the record of the sporting of my +mice to me on my return. I can trust you to see twice as much as any +other 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 I +thought that you were guilty of duplicity, Leoni, do you think that I +should trust you as I do? There," he continued impatiently, "don't look +at 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 were +keeping me in conversation with one eye, while the other was seeking how +to take me at a disadvantage." + +"That's what people about the Court say, Sire," said the doctor, with a +grim smile. + +"Yes, I know," replied the King. "I have heard Saint Simon say so. I +shouldn't have thought of it myself. But it is quite right, all the +same." + +"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 lay +and 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 you +had studied your two crafts so well that one eye was the window from +which the clever doctor's brain looked out, the other that of the calm, +quiet, thoughtful statesman. I should long to have two such eyes as +yours, Leoni, only that there are the ladies, you know. I don't think +that they would approve, eh, doctor? What is your experience?" + +"That your Majesty is quite right," replied the other, with his cynical +smile. "I have never been a ladies' man." + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +A KING AT SEA. + +"Well, boys, we are fairly started," said the King, "but this vessel +moves about a great deal. I hope we are not going to have rough +weather." + +"Well, I'm sorry to say, Sire--" began Saint Simon. + +"Ah!" cried the King, in a low angry voice. "Four days since we +started, and I have been giving you lesson after lesson, and you begin +at once addressing me like that. Once more, both of you, I am the Comte +de la Seine, on my travels, and you, Saint Simon, are my friend, and +you, Denis, my esquire. Now look here, Denis, do I look at all like a +king 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 is +going 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, three +very beautiful chargers were doubly haltered to the rail, and whinnying +uneasily and pawing at the deck, and then made an uneasy gesture, for a +puff of wind filled out the two big sails of the clumsy vessel and made +it careen, so that the royal passenger made a snatch at a rope which was +hanging loose and gave to his touch, when he made another snatch and +caught at Saint Simon to save himself from falling. + +"A bad, a clumsy vessel!" he cried angrily. "Here, I'm tired with our +long two days' ride. I think I'll go into the cabin and lie down. Give +me your arm, Denis." And, steadying himself by the lad, he went below, +lay down at once, and dismissed his attendant, who returned on deck, to +be met by Saint Simon. + +The two young men, gazed silently at each other, and with mirth in their +eyes. + +"The sea doesn't respect kings," said Saint Simon merrily. + +"Nor anybody else," replied Denis; "so don't let us holloa till we are +out of the wood." + +"You mean across the water." + +"Yes," said Denis. "It may be our turn next. I wish we were over in +England now." + +"What, are you afraid?" cried Saint Simon. + +"Yes--for my poor horse. I'm afraid of his breaking away. Look how he +is straining at his halter, and how rough his coat is. It looked like +satin yesterday. If he broke loose what should we do?" + +"Try to tie him up again," said Saint Simon bluntly. "But if one gets +loose the others will follow, and then--" + +He stopped short and spread his legs as wide as he could, for the vessel +was 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 go +overboard 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, and +rise at it; and he'd go over like a skimming bird, and the others would +follow 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 up +to them. + +"Look here, young masters," he cried, "I don't often take cattle in my +boat, and when I do I have them slung down into the hold. My deck isn't +a safe place for beasts, and if those three don't break loose before +long 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 with +his 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 of +ropes. Call some of your men to help; we must put slip-knots round +above their hoofs and tie them in different places, so that they +couldn'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 more +evident; and with the young men standing by to calm and caress each +beautiful steed in turn, running nooses were placed round their +fetlocks, and the ropes' ends slipped through ring-bolt and round +belaying pin, to be made fast, so that before half an hour had passed +the horses were thoroughly secured, and stood staring-eyed and +shivering, ready to burst out into a piteous whinnying if the young men +attempted 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 young +men were too busy and excited to feel any qualms themselves. Not only +were there the horses, but their companion below made no little call +upon their attention, and in turn they descended into the rough cabin to +see what they could do. But the second time that Saint Simon approached +the spot where his suffering sovereign lay he was ordered back. + +"Send Denis," he said. "You go on deck again and mind that nothing +happens to my horse." + +"He's very ill," said Saint Simon, who did not look at all sorry, but +more disposed to laugh, as he joined Denis, who was dividing his +attention 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 the +slightest respect for the stricken monarch, who uttered a low groan from +time 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 I +ill, 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 you +can't. Denis, my lad, it takes all the bravery out of a man when he is +like this. Do you think the shipmaster would call it cowardly if I were +to send word for him to turn the vessel round and make sail back for +Havre 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 should +not get back." + +"No," said the King. "But this is very horrible, Denis, my lad.--Are +the 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, but +falling 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 over +and rushing along the deck." + +"How dreadful!" said the King. "Why is it so dark? Is it the sea +flooding 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 the +shipmaster 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 out +where 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 the +foam, standing beside the man at the rudder beam; and then it needed no +little care to pass along, holding on by the bulwarks, to ask the +question the lad was sent to bear. + +"How long, my lad?" said the skipper. "Oh, very soon. We are flying +across 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 we +shall be across in time for dinner at noon to-morrow, and perhaps +before." + +"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 have +another rope passed from neck to neck, and as soon as the poor beasts +felt 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 like +this. 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 be +across." + +"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-goose +chase 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 at +first, 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," said +Denis; "but I must go down again to tell him what I have learned. But +why couldn't you go?" + +"Because he sent you, and he'd be furious perhaps. There, go and tell +him." + +"Yes, I had better go," said the lad thoughtfully; "but--I am sorry to +leave you, all the same." + +"Hah! That makes me feel warm," cried Saint Simon--"that and the +knowledge that the horses can't get loose. There, go on down. After +all, 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 the +cabin ceil, and then, moving slowly, having hard work to keep his feet, +he reached the spot where the suffering monarch lay, to find to his +great relief that Francis had sunk into a deep sleep, and was breathing +heavily, 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 dim +skylight, grew stronger and brighter, and at last the sun arose, with +the King still sleeping profoundly, and Denis standing at the top of the +cabin ladder, gazing out over a glorious foaming sea, all purple, +orange, and gold, wide awake to the beauty of the scene, and ready to +wonder what had become of the horror and darkness of the night. + +There was a fresh breeze blowing and the sea was rough, but the clumsy +craft rode more easily and had ceased to pitch and toss. Far ahead too +the 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 is +going down, and in a couple of hours we shall be in smooth water. How's +your master?" + +"Fast asleep still," replied Denis. + +"Best thing for a man not used to the sea. Well, you see, we shall get +your 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 some +in an hour's time." + +The skipper passed on, leaving Denis with a look of disgust upon his +features, for he was thinking of the roughness of the common vessel upon +which they had been obliged to take their passage, and the pleasant meal +of which he would have eaten at Fontainebleau. + +Just then Saint Simon turned, caught sight of him, and signalled to him +to come. Denis started, hesitated, and then ran down into the cabin +again to see whether the King had awakened. But far from it: he was +flat on his back and looking far from king-like, for his mouth was open +and he was giving forth sounds which in a common person would have been +called snores. + +Hurrying back to the deck, Denis ran forward, awakening to the fact that +the sea was much smoother, for he could not have progressed like that +over-night. + +"Well, how are you?" he cried. + +"Beginning to get dry," was the morose reply. "Look here, boy, if I had +known that I was going to play horse-keeper all through a night like +this I wouldn't have volunteered to come. I shall want a week's sleep +to 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 expedition +before 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, for +the poor beasts knew me, and at the worst times a word or two and a pat +on the neck seemed to calm them, and they left off shivering with cold +and 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 in +smooth water, and that there will be some breakfast in an hour." + +"Heugh!" ejaculated Saint Simon. "Breakfast here! I don't want +anything till we get on shore--if we ever do. Here, look behind you." + +Denis turned sharply, to see a familiar face in the full sunshine +peering over the edge of the hatchway and looking about, but apparently +not seeing what was sought till a hand appeared to shade its owner's +eyes, sending forth a flash or two of light from a ring upon one of the +fingers. + +"Why, it's the--" + +"Comte!" said Saint Simon quickly. "Stop here, and lay hold of his +horse." + +Saint Simon said no more, and Denis obeyed, grasping his companion's +reason, while the next minute the King had mounted to the deck, and came +forward to join them, after making a rush to the bulwarks and grasping +the rail. + +"Oh, you're here, gentlemen," he said sharply. "Why was not somebody in +attendance--oh, I see; you're minding our steeds. It has been a very +bad night for them. Not injured, I hope?" + +"No, sir," replied Saint Simon; "but during the worst part of the storm +we had to have extra ropes. I was afraid at one time that we should +lose them all." + +"But they are safe," said the King, "thanks to you, gentlemen. Poor +boys," he continued, as he passed amongst the ropes, each charger in +turn uttering a low, piteous whinny, and stretching out its muzzle to +receive the King's caress, each too snorting its satisfaction the next +moment, 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 two +to his men to stand by the sheets, "it's chopping round again to the +south. Give us an hour like this, and we shall be in shelter, sailing +between the island and the mainland. You can't say but what we have had +a splendid run." + +There was such a quaint comical expression upon the King's countenance +that Denis felt obliged to swing swiftly round and bend down to make +believe to loosen the slip-knot about his charger's leg. + +"If I hadn't done so," he said afterwards to Saint Simon, "I should have +burst out laughing in the Comte's face. There," he added quickly, in +triumphant tones, "I have got it now!" + +"Yes, and you would have got it then," replied Saint Simon, "for my lord +will forgive a good deal sooner than being laughed at." + +This was some time later, when they were gliding gently on through the +smooth water on a bright sunny morning with their port close at hand and +full prospect of being, some time during the next half-hour, close up to +the landing-place; and before long so it proved, for the King, quite +recovered now from his indisposition, was in eager converse with the +skipper 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 wharf +over the planks, and down through the gangway on to the deck; but you +see it's different here." + +"Nonsense!" said the King. "There are landing-places here, for I can +see them. Work your vessel up quite close, and then boards can be laid +from 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. You +see, we are coming in just at low water, and I sha'n't be able to get +within 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 shall +be 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 the +horses 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 his +impatient eagerness to get clear of the vessel where he had passed so +many uncomfortable hours, he promised to hold the skipper free from +responsibility. + +Taking advantage of the King going aft with Saint Simon, Denis went up +to 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 my +horses I should go to your master and say, What's the use of being in +such a hurry? It's only waiting a tide, and then we could get close +in." + +"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 be +six 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-tempered +sort of an old chap, but a ship's captain has to be a bit of a Tartar +too. 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 any +suspicion 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's +cattle, sometimes it's pigs and sheep. Well, they don't like going down +into 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 just +shoves them overboard and lets them swim ashore. But with horses like +these it would be spoiling them to treat them roughly." + +"But you need not treat them roughly," said Denis. "You could sling +them 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 he +could, the vessel took the ground, and some time was spent in hailing +and getting a large flat barge close alongside to the open gangway. + +A big spar with its blocks and tackle was run out, and proceedings were +commenced with the men for slinging the horses off the deck and lowering +them down; but everything was of the roughest kind and perfectly +unsuitable, while the horses, which were recovering fast from their +stormy journey, grew more and more restless, and after several attempts +with the King's charger, which was to be the first, it resented the +handling of the men, lashed out, and then began to rear, proving in a +short time that disaster must follow the attempt, for plainly enough, if +the horse began to struggle when raised from the deck, it would free +itself from the badly fitted on ropes and be seriously damaged and +maimed 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 and +imbeciles, 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 his +Majesty 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 the +King will now betray himself." + +"The Comte, you mean," said Denis quietly; for he had been standing very +thoughtful and quiet, thinking over his conversation with the skipper +hours before, and starting forward suddenly just as the King was +clapping 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 let +me 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 his +steed was tethered, he patted and tried to soothe it for a few moments +before taking bit and bridle and fitting them on. Then he called to the +skipper. + +"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 a +clear space on the deck. There isn't much room, but I think I can +manage." + +"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. Well +done! Good idea!" + +The anger against the King seemed to die out at once, and giving his +orders sharply, in a very brief space of time the shallow barge had been +allowed to drift astern, there was a fairly clear space on deck, there +was the open gangway on the side of the vessel nearest the shore, and +the time had come for the young esquire to act. + +The next minute Denis cast loose the halter which tethered his charger +to 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 next +moment was seated upon his barebacked steed. + +The sailors gave a cheer, which startled the horse, but a few words from +Denis quieted it again, and in obedience to the pressure of the rider's +heels it paced forward along the deck as far as the hamper of the vessel +would allow, turned in obedience to the pressure on the rein, and paced +back again in the other direction, to be turned once more. + +Everyone else on board was turned into a spectator now, the men in the +flat watching as eagerly as the rest. "He will never do it, Saint +Simon," 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 waited +till they reached the open gangway, and then turned the noble animal's +head and let it stop to stretch out its muzzle towards the shore to gaze +with starting eyes at the solid land and moving people there. + +It snuffed the air loudly, and then a loud neigh rang out like a +challenge, which was answered by one of the horses attached to a trolley +high-up on a wharf. + +This had the effect of setting the other two chargers challenging in +turn, and as they ceased, Denis spoke to and patted his steed, bending +well forward the while. Then he turned its head again and rode a few +yards up and down the deck once more. + +"Well done, my lad," cried the skipper, coming to his side. "You will +do 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 it +sharply toward the gangway, and then with voice and heel urged it +forward, but only to elicit a loud snort as it stood with all four feet +pressed firmly on the deck. + +Once more, half despairing now, Denis rode up and down again, before +turning toward the open gangway, and it happened that just as he reached +it a neighing challenge came afresh from the shore, sending a quiver +through the charger, which snorted loudly, and then, in obedience to the +rider's voice and the pressure of his heel, rose and bounded bravely +forward from the vessel's side, out into the water, descending with a +heavy splash, and then submerged all but the extended neck, and with the +lad 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 begun +swimming steadily towards the shore. + +A ringing cheer rose from the vessel, was taken up by the men on the +flat, and answered from the shore, while all watched the progress of +horse and rider, who both seemed as if to the manner born. + +"That means success, sir," said Saint Simon eagerly. "Will you go +next?" + +"But I shall be so wet, man. You had better follow with my charger +now." + +"Yes, sir, I will if you wish," whispered Saint Simon; "but--this is the +beginning of our adventures, and--" + +"Yes," said the King, in a voice full of vexation, "it seems so cowardly +if I hang back. I am not afraid to do it, man, but I shall be so +horribly drenched." + +"You can get dry, sir, when we are ashore." + +"Yes, of course," whispered the King. "Here, I'll go next. I am not +going 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 on +his own steed, almost as soon as Denis had reached the shore, for his +steed to stand snorting and shaking the water from its flowing mane and +tail, the King was mounted, barebacked too. He rode his charger to the +open gangway, where the brave beast answered the neigh that came from +its companion on land, and without hesitation made the splashing leap so +suddenly that the rider nearly lost his seat, having an undignified +struggle to get himself upright again; while as soon as there was a +clear way Saint Simon followed without the slightest difficulty, his +charger in a few strides getting abreast of the King's; and they swam +together till the water shallowed and the swimming became a splashing +wade 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, who +had dismounted to shake the water from their clinging garments and make +much of their brave steeds. + +"My faith!" said the King. "We are beginning our adventures indeed; but +we are in a sorry plight, and ought to change." + +"Here's the boat coming, sir," cried Denis, who turned away from a man +who began questioning him eagerly as to who they were and why they had +come ashore like this. + +The fellow's manner had annoyed him, for though he pretty well +understood his English he replied shortly in his native tongue. But the +man was in no wise rebuffed, and turned now to Saint Simon, with whom he +fared no better, in fact, rather worse, the result being that he +addressed the King, who shortly told him to go and mind his own affairs. + +The boat, which soon reached the shore, contained the skipper, who had +thoughtfully brought on the travellers' light valises, their saddles, +and the remains of the horse-gear, ready to offer them any further +assistance, and praising their gallant swim; but warmed up by his +excitement, the King made light of it all, seeming ready to forget the +state of his garments; and eager to get away from the crowd, he joined +with his young companions in saddling up and mounting, to ride away from +the curious crowd and the hangers-on, several of whom seemed on friendly +terms with the man who had first addressed Denis, and whose curiosity +seemed in no degree abated. + +"I did think of going to some inn to change and rest, and start forward +later on for Winchester," said the King; "but we will start at once and +get away from here. Do the people think we have come to make an +exhibition 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 in +everything." + +"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 this +town. We shall soon dry in the hot sunshine, and be better ready to +make a breakfast, for I feel as if I could touch no food. Follow, +gentlemen," he continued, and putting spurs to his charger he cantered +away along what seemed to be the main street, at the end of which a few +inquiries put them on their right road and direct for the open country, +where, once amongst green fields and hedgerows, they dismounted, to rest +their horses by a river-bank and let them drink and graze. + +But for this the brave animals, which had suffered more than their +riders from the crossing, displayed no eagerness, and the travellers +advanced again, walking each with his bridle in his hand, enjoying the +glowing sunshine and the simple beauty of the country, and gradually +growing more light-hearted and ready for any fresh adventure that they +might encounter. + +The road became more and more deserted, a village or two was passed, and +later on in the day they were attracted by the appearance of a +substantial farmhouse whose very aspect suggested that here was the spot +to put an end to certain qualms connected with the fact that they had +not partaken of food for a considerable length of time. + +Here there was corn for their horses in a shady barn-like stable whose +loft shed a delicious odour of sweet hay, and in the house a clean white +scrubbed table with bowls of new milk, newly made bread, and freshly +fried ham, the whole forming a repast to which the party paid ample +justice, while it made the King declare that it was the most delicious +banquet he had ever enjoyed. + +Then with the horses quite recovered, the journey was recommenced and +the travellers rode off, Denis turning in his saddle to wave his hand to +the farmer and his wife, just in time to catch sight of another party +riding up to the farm as if to take their places and enjoy a similar +meal. + +Winchester at last, with the square tower of the fine old cathedral +standing up from amongst the trees, the river sparkling in the sunshine, +the wooded hills and verdant plains rising on all sides making Francis +draw rein to breathe his horse and half close his eyes as he gazed +around. + +"Well," he said, "France is France, but my brother of England, if all +his country is like this, possesses a land that any king might envy; and +I shall tell him so if we meet, as of course we shall. But after all, I +don'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 like +some lacquey. But there, I have said that I would do it. It is for +France, 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 the +start, eh?" he added, with a laugh. "But are you lads dry?" + +They declared they were, and the conversation turned upon their +proceedings. + +"This is evidently a fine city," said the King. "I have read enough to +know that it has been a home of kings, so we will sleep there to-night +and start afresh in good time to-morrow, though we shall not go to the +Palace 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 down +the High Street, to check their steeds by the Market Cross, the observed +of all observers, and they were many lurking about the place, for it had +been market day. + +It was not the costume of the three horsemen, for they were purposely +very plainly clad, everything about them, however, looking good and +soldierly. It was their beautiful horses that took the attention of +most of the sturdy country-looking folks, and more than one keen-eyed +man approached them with no little freedom, scanning their mounts from +head to heel, one man giving the King a nod and stretching out his hand +to run it down his charger's leg. + +The King looked furious, darted a fierce glance at the intruder, and +reined up his horse so suddenly that the fine beast reared and made the +man start back, his discomfiture being greeted by a roar of laughter on +the part of the uncouth people around. + +"The insolence!" muttered the King to Denis. "These English islanders +are brutal in their ways. If they knew who I was! Here, let's ride +on." + +His horse answered to the pressure of his knees and moved off upward +through the crowd, Saint Simon following his track, and Denis coming +last, having no little difficulty in closing up, for the increasing +crowd obstructed his way, the people's curiosity being aroused by the +strangers. + +"These horses for sale?" said the man who had been rebuffed, pressing up +to 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 brought +these over to sell. Look here, young man, I can help your master to +find a buyer in some great English lord. I deal in horses, and I'll +make it worth his while. Where are you going to stay?" + +"I don't know," replied Denis. "Keep back, please. My horse doesn't +like crowding, and he may strike out." + +"I'll take care," said the man. "I understand horses. Yes, this is a +nice animal you are riding too." + +Denis made no answer, but pressed forward. There was some shouting, but +the crowd gave way and he rode up close just as the King drew rein by a +gateway and then passed into a great inn-yard, where a couple of +hostlers hurried to meet them, and a buxom-looking landlady in widow's +coif came smiling to the door of the comfortable-looking inn. + +"Hah!" said the King, dismounting. "This looks like France. Here we +can rest and dine. Denis, my boy, talk to the dame there, and tell her +to get us quickly a dinner of the best." + +Denis turned, meeting the pleasant-faced landlady's eye as he dismounted +and threw his rein to one of the stablemen, noting, as he walked to +where the landlady stood waiting, that the man who had accosted them was +following 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 the +possibility of the fellow's insolence raising the King's ire. But he +had his task to fulfil, and the next moment the landlady was receiving +him with bows and smiles, ready to show him into a comfortable +old-fashioned room, and make his task easy by suggesting instead of +taking orders, the only one he found it necessary to give being the +simple 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 his +tongue, 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 the +chambers 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 Comte +de la Seine." + +"Ah," said the hostess, with a smile of satisfaction at the quality of +her 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 he +felt the King would like--that is to say, a fine old bedroom with a +double-bedded ante-chamber, which he immediately determined should be +for himself and Saint Simon. + +Within an hour, partly refreshed, the King and his two followers entered +the room where their dinner was spread, unbuckled and laid by their +swords, and took their places at the well-furnished table, as a couple +of fresh-looking serving-maids, under the guidance of the hostess, +brought in the soup and plates, the mistress seeing to the helping and +then retiring, leaving the guests to their repast. + +"Hah!" exclaimed the King. "My appetite is grand. What soup! Why, we +might be in France. No, it is better, thicker and stronger. But what's +this? The insolence of these Englanders! Here, Denis, boy, read it +aloud." And he tossed a folded paper, one end of which was sticking out +from 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 his +spoon 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 side +dresser 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 eaten +nearly half my soup!" + +"No, no, sir," cried Denis. "I'll vouch for this. A woman with a +motherly face like that could be trusted, I will vow." + +"I don't know," said the King. "You are only a boy. Now I have grown +old enough to think that it requires a very clever man to know exactly +what there is behind a woman's pleasant smiling face. This one looks +plump and comfortable and honest; but there's no knowing. Now, if we +had Leoni here he'd fix her with that quiet eye of his, and search her +through and through with the other. He'd know. And I am beginning to +find out that I have done a very stupid thing in not bringing his +Ugliness with us. By my sword, I wish we had brought him! I wished it +last night too, over and over again, when I felt so--ah, hum--when I +couldn't sleep for the creaking and groaning of that wretched vessel." + +As he pulled himself up short he looked searchingly from one to the +other of the two young men, giving each a suspicious glance, suspecting +as he did that he would find a mocking smile upon their lips; but he was +pleasantly disappointed, for Saint Simon looked stolidly stupid, and +Denis 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 for +ourselves; but that must be right. The soup is too good for that," and +he began to partake again. "Here, Denis, lad, on second thoughts it +must 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 the +chair. Do the same by your own. I am not going to leave this soup, and +if we are to fight for what is evidently intended for an excellent +dinner, why, fight we will." + +Saint Simon obeyed, and then at a sign from the King re-took his place +and went on eating with such appetite as he could command. + +"Shall I stand on guard by the door, sir, till you have dined?" said +Denis. + +"No, boy. Eat your soup and what else comes. We shall all three fight +the better for a meal." + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +THE SCENT OF DANGER. + +It was hard to imagine that there was danger in the air, for in that +comfortably furnished panelled room everything was suggestive of plenty +and peace, and, noticing as he went on with his meal how impressed his +two followers seemed to be, the King paused, spoon in hand, and cried +with a laugh: + +"Come, boys, where are your appetites? Are we to be scared with a scrap +of paper, a Latin exercise, perhaps, written by our hostess's son?" + +As he spoke there was a faint rasping sound as of wood passing over +wood, 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 the +panels of the wall behind where the King was seated. + +"What's that?" cried the latter sharply, as with a bound the lad sprang +past 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, followed +by the maids bearing fresh dishes, to look wonderingly from one to the +other. + +"Ah, mistress!" cried the King. "Is there a door there? Does one of +those panels open?" + +"Oh yes, my lord," she replied. "It is a hatch to pass dishes through +into a smaller dining chamber." And she smilingly stepped to the wall, +turned a carved rose at one corner of the panel, and pressed it +sidewise, showing a square opening through which a similarly furnished +room could be seen. + +"Send away those women," said the King sternly. + +The hostess started, spoke to the two girls, who stepped back with the +dishes, 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 lay +beneath my plate, and some one must have been watching us at our meal." + +"No, my lord," said the woman; "it is impossible. Nobody could have +been there. If anyone has dared--" She said no more, but angrily thrust +the panel back into its place and turned the oaken rose, which gave a +snap as of a bolt shooting into its socket, and then, raising her hand +to the diagonal corner, she turned a fellow ornament in the oaken +carving, to produce another sound as of a second bolt being shot. + +"There," she cried, "it is quite fast now. One minute, and I will +return." + +She hurried out of the room, and the next minute they heard the sounds +of knuckles rapping the panel on the other side and directly after the +loud closing and locking of a door. + +A few moments later, as the party stood there waiting, the woman was +back at their side, to lay a large key upon the table, looking flushed +and angry. + +"I am very sorry, my lord and gentlemen," she cried, "and angry too"--a +fact which was plainly enough marked in her countenance. "But this is a +public inn, and some insolent idler, moved by curiosity, has dared to +watch. I never imagined anyone would venture; and now I beg you will +resume 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 not +like 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 bowl +away with an impatient "Bah! The soup is cold. Here, hostess! Call +those 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 was +at an end, though there was a twitching now and then at the corners of +her eyes suggesting that she was not quite at ease. + +The fresh dishes were placed upon the table as soon as the soup was +removed, and soon after the hostess herself bore in a couple of +rush-covered flasks of wine. + +"Burgundy--Malvoisey," she said, indicating each in turn. + +"The Burgundy," said the King, and as the glasses were filled, and they +were once more quite alone, he made as if to tear up the paper, but +altering his mind folded it quickly, and thrust it in the pouch he +carried at his belt. + +"Come, gentlemen," he said: "that scrap of paper shall not spoil a +pleasant meal. It is a mere molehill in our path. Here's success to +our expedition.--Hah! better vine than my own." + +A few minutes later the hostess returned, and smiled once more upon +finding that her guests were hard at work evidently in the full +enjoyment of their meal. + +"Ah, madam!" cried the King, raising his glass and drinking again. "You +keep good wine. I would not have wished for better; but tell me, what +other guests have you in the house?" + +"None, my lord," said the woman frankly. "There have been some of the +country people at the market, but they have gone. There was an ordinary +traveller 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 I +humbly 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 be +undisturbed. Understand me, please. I take the whole place, and you +can charge me what you please." + +The woman made a grave courtesy, and retired to see to the next course +she had prepared, wiping her brow as soon as she was outside. + +"Some great French noble," she muttered, "travelling to London, to the +Court perhaps. I wonder who he is. Yes," she said to herself +excitedly, "and I wonder too who dared to enter that next room. It must +have been that evil-looking traveller, that starveling. I believe he +was 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 that +condition of mind which a good digestion produces, and ready to be +friends with all the world. + +"It is absurd," he said, "to let a scrap of paper which may mean +nothing, and the curiosity of some country idiot who wanted to get a +peep at me, interfere with our enjoying a comfortable rest in this +excellent 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 here +to-night." + +Saint Simon drew back respectfully, and the King, apparently mollified, +continued: + +"An excellent dinner. I suppose it was having such a bad night, and +tossing about. It has made me feel quite drowsy." And as he spoke he +settled himself down in a big chair and closed his eyes, while those of +the two young men met in a wondering glance, and had they dared, as they +thought of the night they too had spent, they would have burst into a +roar of laughter. + +But they contented themselves with just raising their brows, and then +sat there for a time silent and thoughtful. They could not converse for +fear of disturbing their lord and master, who now began to breathe +rather heavily. And then a curious thing happened to each: Saint Simon +began to think of the frightfully wearying night he had passed, and in +an instant the wind was whistling and shrieking through the rigging, the +sea rising with a heavy splash against the vessel's bows, to now and +then deluge the deck, and the shivering horses in turn were straining +their muzzles towards him in the darkness as if appealing to be relieved +from their miserable state. + +With Denis it was on this wise. He sat back in his chair watching the +King for a few minutes, before fixing his eyes upon the wall just to his +left. Then he too as if in a moment was down in the dark cabin with the +dim lamp swinging to and fro, and the King sleeping heavily and giving +forth that deep breathing sound, while a panel seemed to have formed +itself in the bulkhead of the ship, where it began gliding sideways till +there 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, and +then the whole of an arm so long that it stretched out like a +spear-shaft, and the fingers reached the King's plate and thrust the +paper underneath. + +Then it gradually shrank back and grew shorter and shorter till it had +all passed through the panel, which next closed of itself with a soft +dull 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 of +the panel was only the King's deep snore. + +"Having no sleep last night," the lad said to himself. "Enough to make +anyone drowsy; that and the long ride. Why, Saint Simon's worse than I +was. Nice pair of guards we make! Suppose instead of an arm a spear +were thrust through that panel, an enemy might reach his heart." + +Making an effort to shake off his lethargy, the boy stepped to where +Saint Simon lay back sleeping soundly, and then, buckling on his sword +the while, he bent over him, took his sword-belt from where it hung over +a corner of the chair back, and thrust the cold hilt into the heavy +sleeper's hand. + +"Quiet, my boy," muttered Saint Simon, "and keep your nasty cold wet +muzzle out of my hand. We shall get there some time," he added +murmuringly, "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 the +other'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's +lips 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 hilt +of his sword, and dashing away the fingers upon his lips he sprang +fiercely to his feet, gazing wonderingly at his companion. + +"Pst! The King!" whispered Denis. + +"Eh? The King?" said Saint Simon, lowering his voice and glancing at +the 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 on +the watch." + +"He wouldn't," said Denis, laughing silently, "for I went off as sound +as you; and no wonder after such a night. What with that and the +dinner, 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 have +been well fed." + +"Yes, of course. We ought to have thought of that before," whispered +Saint Simon; and together they crossed softly to the door, passed out, +and closed it behind them without a sound; and then, with a soft +pleasant air greeting their cheeks, they passed along the open hall, +caught sight of their hostess, who smiled a reply to their salute, and +entered the great inn-yard, going to the far end and the big range of +stables 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 again +that he had brought the old physic-monger. Nice time we should have of +it if he were here! He always makes me uncomfortable with those eyes of +his. 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 I +believe old Leoni always snoozes with one eye open." + +"I daresay; and I wonder which. But what do you mean about putting it +to 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't +know about that?" + +"About what?" + +"About that eye of his." + +"I only know that it's precious ugly, and used to make me very +uncomfortable, because I always felt as if I must look at it instead of +at 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 it +once when he was fencing." + +"Oh, I never heard that," cried Denis. "Then that accounts for its +queer fixed look." + +"Queer fixed look? It's horrible! I don't think that I am quite a +coward; but old Leoni, when he fixes me with that eye of his, quite +gives me the creeps." + +"Well, he does look queer sometimes. But I say, this is refreshing +after that hot room," said Denis. "There's a great garden yonder, and +open 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 his +lordship wakes." + +"Yes. It won't do for us to forget ourselves. Esquires ought never to +want to sleep," said Denis; and then quickly, "nor grooms nor hostlers +neither. Here, look at these two red-faced pigs." + +He pointed on to the two men who had taken charge of and rubbed down +their chargers upon their arrival, and who were now lying in a heap of +straw, eyes shut, mouth open, and with their heavy faces looking swollen +and 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 thorough +business 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 dark +corner there?" + +"No, nor can I see our horses. They were haltered yonder. Where are +they now?" + +"Ah!" yelled Saint Simon, and snatching out his sword he made as if to +prick the two sleeping grooms into wakefulness; but Denis flung his arm +across his chest and cried angrily: + +"Never mind them! The horses, man, the horses--the horses! They may be +only in the field, led there to graze." + +"You are mad!" cried Saint Simon angrily. "But yes; go on out through +that farther door." + +Denis was already making for an opening at the far end of the long low +building, through which the afternoon sunshine streamed. Passing out, +they found themselves in an inner yard, and beyond that there was a long +open meadow, surrounded by a high hedge. But for the moment all was +blank, and a feeling of despair made the young men's hearts sink as they +mentally saw at a glance that their beautiful chargers had not excited +attention for nothing--that they had been followed, horse-thieves had +been at work, and that their noble steeds were gone. + +"How shall we dare to face the King?" thought Denis, and the next +instant he grasped the fact that there must be a lane beyond the distant +hedge, for he just caught sight of the head of a man whose covering +seemed familiar gliding along above the fencing, now seen, now +disappearing, as if he were mounted on a walking-horse. + +"Look! Not too late, Sim," he whispered. "They're over yonder. We +must make for that lane. I'll go this way to cut that fellow off; you +go 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 his +own. "No: I am sure." + +No further words passed, for, separating at once, Denis dashed off to +the right to make for the far corner of the field, in the faint hope of +reaching it and getting through into the lane in time, while Saint Simon +ran swiftly to the left to get into the horse-track there and follow the +marauders 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! The +dog! I see it all: he must have given those two fellows drink till they +were helpless, and then led the horses quietly away. Oh, if I had only +been ten minutes sooner, instead of sleeping like the untrusty cur I +was! I never dare face the King now! I'm running now as hard as ever I +can run, not to bring back the horses, but to go right away. I never +dare show my face before him again. Here," he thought, "am I to go on +whining like some foolish girl? I can--I will get there first, in time +to stop him. I never used my sword in earnest yet, but if I can only +get face to face with that insolent hound I'll make him bleed, or he +shall me. Too late! Too late!" he groaned, for the man's head had +disappeared beyond the hedge. + +"There must be some turning yonder, and he has gone; and once out there +in the open country he, a man who rides with such horses as ours, it +will be folly ever to expect to see him again." + +The boy ran on, not growing breathless, but nerved as it were to the +highest pitch of excitement, seeing nothing now, but reaching the hedge +at last close by a rough gate, over which he vaulted lightly, to find +himself 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 only +walking," he argued to himself, and then with sinking heart, "Oh!" he +ejaculated, half aloud. "Perhaps it was only my mistake. I jumped at +the conclusion that it was the man we saw." + +There was nothing for it but to continue along the lane till he met +Saint Simon, and then he felt that they must go back to the inn and +rouse people to a pursuit. + +He began running at a gentle trot now, to husband his strength for what +might come, when all at once his heart seemed to give a violent leap and +then 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, pointed +cap of the horse-dealer whom he had credited with the theft. + +He was not looking forward, but bending over to his right, evidently +doing something to the rein of another horse he was leading--Denis's +own--while, in the middle of the three abreast, he was mounted on Saint +Simon'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 sword +in the middle of the lane to bar his way. + +The effect was to make him pull up short, and then with a cry to the +horses he swung them round and set off back at a canter, to disappear +round the bend directly after, with Denis running far in his rear. + +"Now," panted the lad, "if Saint Simon has only done his work we have +him between us." And he tried to utter a prolonged whistle, which he +hoped might reach his charger's ear; but he had not breath to give more +than the faintest call. + +"Oh, if I could only run ten times as fast!" he groaned. "I know what +he'll do. He will get them into a gallop, and ride my poor comrade +down. 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 it +seemed to die right away. + +"Sim's let them pass him," he groaned piteously. "_No_! No! No!" he +literally 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, coming +nearer and nearer, till all at once the noble animals swept into sight +again round the curving lane, galloping excited and snorting, Saint +Simon'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 their +reins. While perfectly unconscious of his peril, thinking of nothing +but checking the headlong gallop, the lad stood with extended blade +right 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 fine +chargers 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 a +fragile reed to stem the charge. But the unexpected happens more often +than the reverse, and it was so here. One minute the horses were +tearing along as far apart as the reins would allow; the next they +seemed to have passed over the brave youth, and went galloping down the +lane at increasing speed, leaving Denis flat upon his back in the middle +of the road and his sword-arm outstretched in a peculiar way above his +head, with the keen blade pointing in the direction taken by the steeds. + +He lay perfectly motionless for some moments as if dead, while the +horses tore on with the rider bending forward over his mount's neck till +they had gone about a couple of hundred yards, when the man suddenly +began 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 went +headlong down, to fall with a thud in the grassy track, roll over once +or twice, and then begin to crawl to the hedge on his left, creep +painfully through a gap, and disappear; while the horse he had ridden +stopped short, like the well-trained beast he was, and turned to follow +his late rider towards the hedge, snuffling and snorting in alarm. + +The others continued their gallop for some seventy or eighty yards +before, missing the guidance and companionship of their fellow, they too +stopped short, to utter a low whinnying neigh, which was answered from +behind and drew them trotting back to the halted beast. + +By this time the marauder had disappeared, and the three chargers seemed +to hold a consultation, uttering low whinnying neighs, and then, as if +moved by one impulse, they trotted back slowly to where Denis lay with +his head towards them, apparently dead. As they stopped short the +youth's charger lowered its muzzle to begin to snuff at his face, when +all at once the lad made a sudden movement to jerk back his outstretched +arm into a more natural position, making his bright rapier describe an +arc in the air, giving forth a bright flash in the afternoon sunshine +and making a whistling sound like the lash of a whip. The consequence +was that all three chargers started violently, to move off for a short +distance; but as the lad was motionless again they stopped short and +began to return, led by their companion, which seemed drawn to its +fallen master. But before it could reach him there was the sound of +feet, and Saint Simon came panting up to the group. + +"Hah!" he ejaculated breathlessly, as he dropped on one knee by Denis's +side. "Don't say you are hurt, lad! Not wounded, are you? Ah! +There's blood upon his sword! Denis, lad, where are you wounded? For +Heaven'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, blinding +him for the time being as they fell fast, while he eagerly felt Denis's +breast and neck, ending by unfastening his doublet and thrusting his +hand within to feel for the beatings of his heart. + +Those hot blinding tears fell fast, several of them upon Denis's +upturned face, and at the fourth the nerves therein twitched; at the +fifth there was a quick motion; and when six and seven fell together the +lad's left hand came up suddenly to give an irritable rub where he felt +a tickling sensation; and he opened his eyes, stared hard and blankly +for some moments in the countenance so near his own, and exclaimed +angrily: + +"What are you doing?" + +"Ah!" ejaculated Saint Simon, with a cry of joy. "Then the horses were +worth winning back, after all." + +"Horses? Winning?" faltered Denis wonderingly; and then as his +companion 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 ruddy +countenance 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 been +doing to my neck?" continued the lad, passing his left hand across his +throat. "Something seemed to jerk across me just here. Ah, how it +hurts!" + +He made an effort then to raise his sword-arm, but it fell back upon the +grass. + +"Here, my shoulder's bad too," he cried. "Just as if my arm was +wrenched out of the socket." Then as his wandering eyes fell upon his +horse, "Oh!" he cried, "I understand now. I have been thrown." + +"Never mind now," cried Saint Simon, in a choking voice, as he mastered +the 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 blood +upon 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 on +the centre horse, with the others on each side at the full extent of +their reins. I stood there to stop them, and he came right at me to +ride 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 the +same moment my right arm was jerked upwards, and--that's all. Where is +he now?" + +"Gone," said Saint Simon, "and with your mark upon him too. Why, you +brave old fellow! You, a mere boy! I daren't have faced three +galloping 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, flinching +involuntarily though again and again, till he could bear no more. + +"Oh!" he groaned at last. "Don't! It's horrible! How you do hurt! I +suppose I shall have no arm. It's horrible, Sim. I wish he had killed +me out of hand." + +"What! Why, my dear brave old fellow, it's only a horrible wrench, and +will soon come right." + +"Not broken?" cried the boy wildly. + +"Broken? No, or it wouldn't move like that. Why, Denis, lad, when you +gave point you must have run him through, and as he tore on your arm +must have been wrenched round while he dragged himself or was carried +away--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 taken +flight--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 of +the crushed-down herbage which grew densely at the foot of the hedge, +nettle and towering dock and hemlock looking as if something had crawled +through; and, rising quickly, he found somewhat of a gap through which a +person might have passed. + +And he found ruddy traces which made him go on a few paces to where the +hedge seemed thinner, so that he could force his way through, to return +on the other side to the gap and see traces again in the grass where +some one had crawled. This track he followed for a few yards to a spot +where the long grass was a good deal trampled, and beyond that there +were regular footprints, as if some one had risen and walked light +across 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 three +horses ready to raise their heads from where they were calmly cropping +the thick herbage and ready to salute him with a friendly whinny before +resuming 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 comes +back to take revenge on you, and then I should like to see you use your +sword again." + +"Oh!" groaned Denis. "With an arm like this! I feel as if I should not +lift 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 bleeding +like a pig. I followed his track to where he must have sat down on the +grass to bind up his wound. And there he stopped it, to rise and walk +off, making good strides for a dead man. You gave him his pay for +horse-stealing, and I'll be bound to say he feels more sore than you, my +hero. 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 hurts +horribly--my throat's better--but my arm feels as though it had been +screwed 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, let +go. 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. We +soldiers don't mind unless we are killed. That's better. Here, let's +wipe the blade," and he picked a bunch of grass. "I am not going to +soil my kerchief with the ruffian's blood. That's better," he +continued, as he returned the long thin blade to its sheath. "I'll give +it a polish for you when we get back to the inn. Now do you think you +could mount?" + +"No, not yet," said the boy. "Give me a little time." + +"Hours, lad; and here, let me arrange your scarf. Stand still. That's +the way. Over your right shoulder--tied in a knot--now opened out +widely here so that your arm can rest in it, like that. Those are +soldiers' knots for a wounded limb.--That feel easier?" + +"Not much," said Denis. "Yes, that's better. It seems to take the +weight, 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," he +continued, to the horses, as he unbuckled their reins, so that in +leading one he led all three; and offering his right arm to Denis, who +gladly took it and leant upon it heavily, he led the way back along the +lane to where they had parted, and from thence into the great +stable-yard and through the long stable to where the two hostlers were +still sleeping heavily, not in the slightest degree roused by the +trampling 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 the +Comte!" + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +A WELL-MEANT WARNING. + +Saint Simon glanced in the direction indicated, to see across the yard +the King standing at the open doorway, talking, and evidently +questioning their hostess, who was pointing towards the stable where the +young men were. + +"Now for a storm, Denis, boy, with plenty of royal thunder, and flashes +of lightning from his kingly eyes. Bah! How hard it is to forget his +rank! 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 our +three witnesses to back our words." + +The young men led the chargers out through the low doorway into the yard +and began crossing to where the King was drawing himself up with a stern +look upon his countenance, his right hand upon his hip, his left upon +his sword-hilt, which he kept on pressing down and elevating and +lowering the long thin blade behind him, the afternoon sun throwing it +out in a long dark streak from his shadow, giving him the effect of some +monster wagging its wiry tail. + +The hostess was still there, drawing back a little into the shadow of +the comparatively dark doorway, a mingling of curiosity and sympathy +detaining 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 growled +forth, "why am I left like this? And by whose orders have you brought +forth those steeds?" + +"What!" thundered the King fiercely, after hearing a brief narration of +his followers' adventure; and turning to their hostess, who heard every +word and stood loaning forward with agitated face and clasped hands, +"And so, madam, you call this the safety of your inn! This, then, is +the meaning of that warning paper which you have disavowed. Gentlemen, +we seem to have settled in a nest of thieves. Have your valises placed +at your saddles. I thank you for the way in which you have saved us +from disaster at the beginning of our journey. We will ride on at +once." + +"Oh," ejaculated the hostess, "that it should come to this!" And +ceasing to wring her hands she ran out past them and crossed the yard to +the open stable-door, disappeared for just long enough to verify the +young men's words by a sight of the sleeping grooms, and then came +running back to where her guests were making preparations to continue +their journey. + +"Oh, my lord," she cried, "it is a disgrace and shame to my house that +all this should have taken place. I pray your forgiveness." + +"Indeed, madam!" said the King haughtily. "Tell my gentlemen there what +there 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 watch +the 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 the +preparations. Pay this woman, Saint Simon, and come and tell me when +all is ready for the start." + +Then turning his back upon the hostess, he strode into the house, fuming +with rage and glowering fiercely at the group of servants whom he +passed. + +"Oh, woe is me!" sobbed the landlady, wringing her hands. "That this +great misfortune should happen to such a noble lord as this! And this +gallant boy too, hurt as he is! No, no, sir," she cried pettishly to +Saint Simon, who approached her, purse in hand; "don't talk to me about +money. I am thinking of the honour of my house. There, there," she +cried, lowering her tone; and she caught Denis by the doublet and signed +to his friend to come closer. "Your lord is angry," she said, "and he +has 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 believe +me, everything is safe. I will have trusty friends in, and not a soul +here but you shall close an eye. You must sleep here to-night." + +"Must, madam?" said Denis, forgetting his own sufferings in something +like amusement at his hostess's pertinacity. "There is no must with our +lord." + +"Don't say that, my child," cried the woman anxiously. "He must give +way to-night. I can see with a mother's eye that you are not fit to +mount your horse. You are hurt, and need rest. Go to him and persuade +him that he must stay." + +"Madam, it is impossible," said Denis; "and leave me, please. You heard +our lord's commands. We have our preparations to make." + +As he spoke Denis glanced at Saint Simon, who had waved back a man who +came to help, and was examining their horses' girths himself. Then, +turning his eyes towards the doorway, he caught sight of the King +returning, unnoticed by the landlady, who clutched at Denis's doublet +again, 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 here +towards 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 his +inability to use his weapon. "What do you mean about the road not being +safe?" + +The woman drew herself closer to him, and her ruddy buxom face became +blotched with white. + +"Bad men," she whispered. "Robbers and murderers have a stronghold in +the 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?" cried +Denis 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, as +she said in a strange voice: + +"You will be advised by me, and stay here, where you will be safe. I +cannot--I will not--let you go." + +"Indeed!" said the King fiercely, and the woman started as she realised +that her guest had heard her words. + +"Back into your own place, madam," continued the King. "I allow no one +to tamper with my servants." + +The woman shrank trembling back, for there was that in her guest's +manner which she felt she must obey; and with her hands clasped to her +breast as if to restrain her emotion, she went slowly into the house, +the King watching her, till she turned her head, started on encountering +his eyes, and then disappeared. + +"There, it's plain enough, gentlemen. This woman is in league with a +band of the rogues." + +"I think not, sir," said Denis quickly. "I think she is honest, and her +trouble real." + +"Indeed?" said the King mockingly. "Wait till you have a few more years +over your head, boy, before you attempt to give counsel to one who is +used to judge mankind. Foolish boy! Can't you see that it is part of +her work to trap travellers into staying at her house? Why, I believe +if we rested here we should be plunged into a long deep sleep, and one +from which we should never wake. Now, Saint Simon, you ought to have +finished. 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 me +to stay in this vile nest of thieves." + +"No, sir. If Saint Simon will help me to mount, I'll manage to ride the +long night through; but I fear if there is need that I could not fight." + +The King hesitated, and stood striking his two stout riding gloves +twisted together sharply in his left hand. + +"Yes, you look hurt, boy. Perhaps it will be better that we should +stay. We could hold one room, unless they burnt us out, and take turn +and turn to watch." + +"Oh no, sir; I am well enough to go," cried the lad. "Here, Saint +Simon, give me a leg up. I am better now, and shall feel easier still +when 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 hands +stirrup fashion and raised the young horseman smartly, so that he flung +his right leg over and dropped lightly into the saddle. + +"Well," continued the King, as he watched his young esquire keenly, "can +you 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 able +to ride between us if we are attacked and charge the scoundrels when we +make them run. Mount, Saint Simon. Have we left aught behind?" + +"No, sir," replied the young man, and he hesitated a moment to let the +King be first in the saddle; but an angry gesture made him spring into +his seat, urge his charger forward, and hold the bridle till his master +was mounted, pressed his horse's sides, and then reined up shortly in +the great entry of the inn, level with the door at which the hostess was +standing, pale and troubled, and backed up by the servants of the place. + +"Here, woman," cried the King, drawing his hand from his pouch; "hold +out your apron. Quick! Don't stand staring there." + +The words were uttered in so imperious a tone that the woman +involuntarily obeyed, and half-a-dozen gold pieces fell into her stiff +white garment with a pleasant chink. + +The next minute, in answer to a touch of the spur, the horses went +clattering through the entry out into the main street, the noise they +made arousing the two hostlers from their sleep to come yawning and +staring to the open stable-door, while the hostess stepped out into the +entry and hurried to the front with hand clasped in hand. + +"Oh, that gallant boy," she muttered, with her face all drawn. "If I +had only dared to tell them more plainly! But they would have marked me +if I had, and it is as much as my life is worth to speak. Why does not +our King put an end to these roving bands who keep us all in a state of +terror and make us slaves?" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +AN UNKNOWN LAND. + +The ride out from the town was uneventful, save that the people hurried +to their windows and doors to see them pass, and admire the beauty of +their steeds. Then as the city gate was passed and they rode out into +the open country, with the way before them seeming perfectly clear, the +King cried cheerily: + +"Hah! I can breathe freely now. I must tell my brother Henry that the +road to his Court is a disgrace, and travellers' lives not safe. Now, +in my kingdom of beautiful France every road to the capital from the +seaports is--Why are you looking at me like that, Saint Simon?" + +"Well, sir," said the young man bluntly, "I was thinking about two or +three cases where people have been waylaid and plundered and--" + +"Yes, yes, yes," said the King impatiently; "I think that there was a +case 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 I +can 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 that +ruffian's charge with three horses abreast. And you wounded him too, +and saved the beasts. I should like to see the young Englishman who +would do a deed like that! Why, Saint Simon, you and I must look after +our laurels. We ought to be proud of our companion, eh?" + +"Oh, sir," shouted Denis, giving a cry of pain, for as he spoke the King +had 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 turned +ghastly white. "There, hold up, boy. I wanted to show you how pleased +I 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 the +moment, but my K--lord's words of praise are thrilling still." + +"Just saved yourself, boy," cried Francis; "for if you dare to say you +know what till we are back again in my own fair France your punishment +will 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 making +comments from time to time. "Better and better," he said pleasantly. +"My brother Henry has a goodly land. All this woodland landscape forms +a pleasant place. Hah! but he should see my hills and forests about +Rouen, with the silver river winding through the vale. But that is far +away, and this is near, and it will pass if we do not meet the dangers +that woman prophesied upon our road." + +They rode on in silence for a time, just at a gentle amble, the King +giving a shrewd look now and again at his young companion to see how he +bore the motion of the horse. + +It was a glorious evening, and they saw the sun sink like a huge orange +globe; the soft, warm, summer evening glow seeming to rise and spread +around them from the west. + +There was a sweet delicious fragrance in the air, and the soft English +landscape began gradually to darken from green to purple, and then to +deeper shades, while as the glow in the west disappeared the eastern sky +grew more pearly; but the indications of the rising moon were not as +yet. + +"Hah!" cried the King at last, speaking as if to two companions of his +own rank enjoying with him a summer evening ride. "Here have I been so +taken up with our late adventures that I have had no thought of what is +to come. Our saddles are comfortable, and after that pleasant dinner +and my nap I feel ready for anything. But there will come a time when +we shall want to think of supper and of bed, for we can't go on riding +all night even if we are undisturbed. Now then, Saint Simon, what have +you to say?" + +The young man slowly shook his head. + +"Bah!" cried the King. "What a dumb dog you are! And I know nothing of +the 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 he +speaks these islanders' language better than they can themselves. But +he 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 I +can 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 and +through forests, and that there is a castle there." + +"Then that will do," cried the King. "Once within its walls we can +laugh at thieves and murderers. There, boy, you have your task before +you: lead us there." + +"But I do not know the way, sir. Would it not be best to get a guide +from the first village we ride through?" + +"Excellent!" cried the King--"for him to lead us straight into the den +of the forest outlaws." + +"It would be his last journey, sir," said Saint Simon grimly, as he +significantly touched the hilt of his sword. + +"And what good would that do us," said the King, "if we never saw +to-morrow's sun? Here, I must lead. Look out sharp, both of you, for +the next guide-post or stone. I will warrant that those old Romans +planted 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 shall +find 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 ease +their 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 were +sure to pass upon this direct road to London some good town where they +might venture to stay. But the miles seemed to grow longer, the country +more hilly, wild and strange, and, in spite of all endeavours to keep +bravely to their task, the two young men had the weight of the past +night's watch upon their brains. The consequence was that just after +crossing what seemed to be an open furzy down, and when the road, +looking white in the moonlight, had turned gloomy and black, save where +it was splashed by the silvery light on the trees of the forest patch +into which they had passed, they began to nod upon their horses, and the +King's voice grew as he talked into an incoherent drone. + +Then they were wide awake again, for just in the darkest part, where the +trees met together across the road, a shrill clear whistle rang out, +which made all draw rein and listen to the sound of horses' hoofs +clattering 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 one +meaning for Denis, and that was danger; and there was a movement common +to nearly everyone in bygone days when danger was afoot, and that was to +throw the right hand across the body in search of the hilt of the sword +with which every traveller was armed. + +It was involuntary then that, upon hearing the whistle and the trampling +hoofs, Denis tried to draw his sword, but only uttered a faint cry of +pain, for nerve and muscle had during the past few hours stiffened and +made him more helpless than before, so that his arm sank back into its +sling, but with the hand sufficiently free to receive the reins, which +he passed across, thus leaving his left hand at liberty for his dagger. + +"Hah!" said the King. "They are not fools. They have chosen a likely +place for their trap, and we have walked right in. Well, gentlemen, we +don't surrender. Which is it to be--retreat or advance?" + +"Advance!" cried the young men, in one breath, excitedly, and it sounded +like one voice. + +"Draw, then, and forward," cried the King. "You, Saint Simon, guard +Denis 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 with +one aim--to pass through the enemy, however many they may be. Forward!" + +Denis writhed at his helplessness, as in obedience to a touch of the +spur the three horses sprang forward, kept in the centre of the dark +road, and broke at once into a hand gallop; and for some fifty yards the +way seemed perfectly clear. + +Then all at once the route was barred by a number of men who sprang from +each side, yelling and shouting, while from behind the trampling of +horses came nearer, and the advance was checked; for apparently with +reckless bravery men rushed out of the darkness to seize the horsemen's +reins, with the result that the King struck at the nearest a downward +blow with the hilt of his sword, which took effect full in the man's +face, so that he sank with a groan, while, drawing back his arm, the +King's second movement was to give point, running the next man through +the shoulder, and he fell back. + +Saint Simon's actions were much the same, but in reverse, for he thrust +first, and equally successfully; while Denis sat supine, the feeling +upon him strong that he was a helpless heavy log to his companions, and +in their way. + +So successful was the resistance to the attack that for the moment the +way seemed open, and the boy's breast began to throb with excitement as +he felt that they had won. But they had only dealt with four, and as +they were urging on their horses once again at least a dozen were ready +to stay their progress, while with a loud shout of triumph four mounted +men came up in their rear to hem the trio in. + +"Give point! Give point!" roared the King, setting the example, and +every thrust seemed to tell; but where one enemy went down there seemed +to be three or four more to take his place, and in the darkness there +was a _melee_ of writhing, struggling men hanging on to the panting, +snorting horses and regardless of the keen steel, striving to drag the +wielders down. + +"It's all over with us," thought Denis, and a chill of despair seemed to +clutch 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 were +growing breathless with their exertions and hampered and overpowered by +their foes. + +The horses, too, were becoming frantic, and reared and plunged, greatly +to the riders' disadvantage, but advantage too, for more than one of the +assailants fell back from the blows struck by their hoofs, to be +trampled the next moment under foot; and then amidst yells, threats, and +savage cries, there was a fresh shout of triumph, for on either side the +defenders' arms were held, and but for the way in which the well-trained +horses pressed together, both the King and Saint Simon would have been +pulled from their saddles. + +Just at this crucial moment, in the midst of the lull which followed the +triumphal yell, there was the loud trampling of hoofs upon the hard road +in front, the shouting of a war-cry--"France! France!"--seemed to cut +through the darkness, and with a rush a single horseman looking like a +dark shadow dashed down upon the group, scattering, so to speak, with +wondrous rapidity a perfect shower of thrusts, making those who pinioned +King and courtier fall back, some in surprise and dread, others in agony +or in death, leaving their prisoners at liberty to assume the offensive +once again and aid their new supporter in his gallant efforts upon their +behalf. + +"Right!" he shouted, in a strange shrill voice. "About at once! Now, +all together, charge!" And, taking advantage of the temporary +astonishment of the enemy, the new-comer ranged himself by the King's +side, and all setting spurs to their horses, the brave beasts shook +themselves free from those who grasped their reins, and together broke +into a gallop, trampling down and driving to the right and left those +who, 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 rose +above the trampling hoofs in the order to halt and turn, followed by a +louder command to charge back once more. + +They needed no urging on the part of the riders, for the horses, excited +now to the fullest extent, recognised the orders, and broke into a +gallop once again, dashing back over the ground they had just traversed +towards where men were gathering together in obedience to excited voices +and preparing to once more stop their way. For the danger was not yet +over; the first charge had driven the horsemen, who had so far not been +seen but heard, into a headlong flight; but at the halt they had rallied +again, and as the gallant little band of four had turned for their +second charge were coming on in full pursuit. + +"Gallop!" yelled their new ally, and even in the wild excitement of +those few moments, while he seemed borne here and there like the +prisoner of his friends, the only help given being by the weight of his +horse, Denis fell to wondering who the gallant Englishman could be that +had come so opportunely to their aid; for there was a something not +familiar in the tones which, trumpet-like, gave forth their orders, but +somehow strange in the way in which they seemed to raise echoes in his +brain. + +"Gallop!" he yelled again. "France! France!" And like a flash the +question darted through the boy's brain, why should he use the +battle-cry of France? + +Momentary all this as, before reaching the little, dimly seen crowd that +once more barred the way, the chargers attained their fullest speed; and +then there were a few slight shocks as man after man went down in their +half-hearted resistance, and the rest were scattered, the little line of +horsemen passing through them, driving them here and there, and charging +on in their headlong gallop forward beneath the overhanging trees which +suddenly ceased to darken their way, for the gallant band had passed out +into the full bright moonlight once again, and the sound of pursuit by +the 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 if +commanding silence, listening; but the heavy breathing of the four +steeds was the only sound that broke the silence of the glorious night. + +"Forward slowly now," said the King quietly. "The danger is past for +the moment, and we shall have good warning if they come on again, for it +is not likely that they have thrown out a second detachment to take us +if we escaped the first. Now, just one word--who is hurt? Denis, my +brave 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 expect +when 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 have +suffered badly." + +"I have," said the King shortly. "I feel as if my beauty is spoiled by +a 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 more +selfishness. Though I have left him to the last, it is not that I do +not want to thank our gallant English preserver, who has given us the +best of proofs that he is ready to welcome strangers to his shores. I +don't know by what means you knew, sir, of our peril, or why you should +think it worth your while to play the brave knight, and fight against +such odds to rescue us from the spoilers, and perhaps from death. Pray +give me your name, sir, that we three strangers may bury it deeply in +our 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 in +familiar tones. + +"Master Leoni!" cried all three, in a breath, the King's voice sounding +loudest of all. + +"Yes, Sire," said the owner of the name quietly, as if there were no +such thing as excitement left in his composition, and instead of being a +fighting man he was the most peaceable of souls. "Your Majesty, in the +fullness of your confidence, thought you would not need your follower's +services, but I feared that you would, and hence I came. You see, you +did." + +"But how--and mounted! How came you here? You bade us farewell at +Fontainebleau a week ago." + +"Yes, Sire; a week gave me plenty of time, as you travelled slowly, to +get to the port two days earlier than you. I have been well before you +all the time." + +"Then that paper!" cried Denis excitedly. "It was you who placed that +beneath the King's trencher at the inn?" + +"I did, Master Denis," said Leoni quietly, "and I think the warning was +needed. 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 the +King. + +"Yes, Sire; I found that in a forest not far from here they have a +gathering place, and are always on the look-out for rich travellers on +the way to London. They have spies at the port and at the principal +towns to give them warning, and I wonder that you escaped so far without +the loss of your horses." + +"Humph!" ejaculated the King sourly. "We should have lost them but for +the brave action of young Denis here; but look you, Master Leoni," he +continued sternly, "I gave you my commands to keep watch and ward over +my 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 of +that is death." + +"Yes, Sire; but your royal life is the greatest of your possessions, and +I felt that might be in danger. You gave me a free hand to do what was +best in your service, and even if I have offended I deemed it my duty to +save my sovereign's life even at the cost of my own. Your Majesty, I +have no further defence to make." + +"Hah!" said the King. "He has disarmed me, boys, and I as his master +almost feel that I cannot order him to execution for such a crime as +this. 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 no +power 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 one +thing." + +"Hah!" cried the King. "This fight has made you find your tongue, my +lad. 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't +want 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 this +ruffian gang must have suffered far more than we. Why, Master Leoni, +the point of your sword I could well believe must have been everywhere +at 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, Master +Leoni, 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 by +heart: can you act as our guide to-night?" + +"I have studied them a little, sir, and been along here three times +before." + +"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 days +ago I sent forward a trusty messenger to an old town some ten miles from +here where there is a fine old manor-house, the home of a studious +English nobleman of whom I asked for hospitality for the noble Comte de +la Seine should he by any possibility on his journey to the English +Court appeal to him on his way. I and Sir John Carrbroke have often +corresponded upon matters of scientific lore, and you will be made +welcome as my patron, you may be sure." + +"Hah!" cried the King. "There seems to be no end to you, Leoni. You +know everything, and are always ready at a pinch. Well, I must let you +serve me this time, but to-morrow morning, mind, I shall be sore and +stiff, and savage as a Compiegne wild boar, so you had better keep +beyond the reach of my tusks when I order you back to France." + +"I take your warning, sir," said Master Leoni, rising in his stirrups +and 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, and +it would be wise to keep our horses at a steady pace to get well beyond +the outlaws' grasp, for you do not want to reach my old friend's manor +and 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 very +ungrateful master. Forward, gentlemen, and let's get there, for I am +beginning to grow boar-like and to long to stretch my sore and weary +limbs 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 with +which you have treated me more than once when I came to misfortune in +the 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 leave +behind." + +These were almost the last words spoken during the ten-mile ride, the +latter part being intensely silent, until Leoni drew rein upon the slope +of a wooded hill and pointed across a little valley, where a silver +streamlet flashed before their eyes, to the gables of a long low English +manor-house whose diamond-shaped casements glittered like the facets of +so many gems in a setting of ivy, full in the light of the unclouded +moon. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +THE NEXT MORNING. + +"Yes! Hallo! What is it?" + +Denis started up upon his left elbow, gazing in a confused way at a +glistening oaken door. + +He was in a well-furnished room with tall narrow window through which +the sun shone brightly, lighting up the furniture, and streaming across +the bed in which he lay; but for some moments it did not light up his +intellect, which was still oppressed with the impressions of a confused +dream, 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, aching +pain extending from his right hand right up his shoulder, and giving him +sharp twinges every time he breathed. + +"Some one called," he thought to himself, and as the idea passed through +his 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 came +quickly forward into the sunshine, to stand gazing at the guest from the +foot of the bed. + +"I hope you slept well?" he said eagerly. + +Denis looked at him admiringly, for there was something about the lad's +face which attracted him. + +"Oh yes," he said--"Oh no. It has been all a troubled dream. I got +hurt 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 the +socket." + +"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. I +was so tired last night and slept so soundly that I didn't hear you and +your friends come. Father woke me a little while ago and told me to +come and see you and welcome you to the Pines. Glad to see you. You've +just come from France, haven't you? But I needn't ask," continued the +boy, smiling. "Anyone would know you were French." + +Denis flushed a little. + +"Of course I can't talk English like you," he said pettishly. "But you +said 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 help +you." + +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 of +gentleman 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 same +with the late King, and that made him able to get me there. It's only +the other day that I left the great school--a year ago, though; and +now," he added, laughing, "I am going to be somebody big--King Harry's +esquire--the youngest one there. I say, isn't it a nuisance to be only +a boy?" + +"Oh no," said Denis, laughing, and quite taken by the friendly chatter +of his new acquaintance. "One wants to grow up, of course; but I don't +know 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 fellows +who have been there for a bit, ready to look down upon you just because +you're new, and glare at you and seem ready to pick a quarrel and to +fight 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 young +and inexperienced yet, and they're too much for me, but I am hard at +it." + +He ceased speaking, but stood with his mouth pursed up, frowning, as he +tied the points in question. + +"I see you are," said Denis, "playing servant to me; and it's very good +of you, for my arm does feel very bad." + +"Good! Nonsense!" cried the lad merrily. "You'd do the same for me if +I were visiting at your father's house, and crippled." + +"That couldn't be," said Denis sadly. "I have no father's house--he's +dead." + +"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 a +visitor; and you wouldn't like me to go away and send one of our +fellows. I shall be a knight some day, I hope; and it's a knight's duty +to fight, of course, but he ought to be able to help a wounded man. Now +you're a wounded man and I'm going to help you, wash you and all, and I +say, 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 he +smilingly 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 and +wanting to pick quarrels." + +"Oh, I see. I meant, I'm waiting my time. Can you fence--use a sword +well?" + +"Not very, but I'm practising hard." + +"Are you? So am I. We've got a French _maitre d'armes_ at Court, and +he's helping me and teaching me all he knows. He's splendid! He likes +me because I work so hand, and pats me on the back, and calls me `grand +garcon' and dear pupil. Ah, he's a wonder. Only he makes me feel so +stupid. He's like one of those magician fellows when you cross swords +with him. Yes, it's just like magic; for when he likes he can make his +long thin blade twist and twine about yours as if it were a snake and +all 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 across +the room, making you feel as helpless as a child. Ah, you don't know +what 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 he +could get his face free from the white linen cloth his new friend was +handling with great dexterity. + +"You do?" cried the latter. "What, have you got a _maitre d'armes_ over +where you came from?" + +"Yes, and he's here in this house now. You should have seen him in a +desperate 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 dressing +was hurried on. "He can do all you say when he's teaching; and when he +fights 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 he +gave his visitor so hearty a slap on the shoulder that Denis changed +colour and reeled. + +"Oh, what have I done!" cried the lad, catching him in his arms and +hurriedly lowering him into a settee, before fetching him water in a +silver 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 like +a great silly girl. You touched the tenderest place, where my arm was +hurt, and--" + +"Denis, boy! May I come in?" + +"Yes, yes," said the lad faintly. "Come in. Carrbroke, this is Master +Leoni, the gentleman who handles his sword so well." + +"I am glad to know you, sir," said the youth, drawing himself up and +welcoming with courtly grace the slight, keen-looking, elderly man whose +strange, penetrating eyes seemed to be searching him through and +through. "I am so sorry that I was asleep when you came last night. I +was helping my father's visitor just now, and I am afraid I have hurt +him a great deal. His shoulder is hurt, and he tells me that it has not +been treated by a leech." + +"Hurt?" cried Leoni, speaking quickly. "I did not know of this. Why +did you not tell me last night?" + +"Oh, I didn't think," said Denis. "I had enough to do to sit my horse +and manage to get here; and," added the lad lightly, "I thought that it +would be better." + +"Ah," said Master Leoni quietly, "let me see." And he looked at the boy +fixedly with that curious hard stare of the left eye which Denis never +could 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 listeners +eagerly grasped every word. + +"I see," said Leoni gravely. "Your blade must have passed through the +ruffian, and been held long enough by the muscles for you to receive a +horrible wrench. There, set your teeth, and if I hurt you try and bear +it. I will be as gentle as I can." + +A rapid examination followed, and then the carefully educated fingers +ceased their task, and Leoni spoke again as he drew a white kerchief +from his pouch and gently wiped his patient's moistened brow. + +"There is nothing wrong," he said, "but a bad strain at the tendons, and +of course the slightest touch gives great suffering. I will return +directly. I am only going to my room for something that will lull that +pain, 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! If +you hadn't been here I believe I should have shrieked." + +"Not you," cried the other. "I was watching, and I saw how you set your +teeth. Why, if he had pulled your arm off you wouldn't have said a +word. I say, I wish you were English." + +"Why?" said Denis wonderingly. + +"Oh, I don't know," said the other rather confusedly, "only I seem to +like 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, and +I'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 you +fellows embrace; but I meant about your arm. Can you shake hands +without 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 lads +seemed to seal the beginning of a long friendship in a warm, firm +pressure, which had not ended when they became conscious that the door +had softly opened and Master Leoni was standing there, a +dark, peculiar-looking, living picture in an oaken frame, an +inscrutable-looking smile upon his lips and his eyes half closed. + +The blood flushed to the cheeks of both the lads, as the young +Englishman tightened his grip and stood firm, while without appearing to +have noticed the lads' action, Leoni came forward, and they saw that he +had 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 you +have been to fetch?" + +"Yes," said Leoni, smiling, "and you need not think that I am going to +give you drops in water such as will make you shudder. I am only going +to moisten this linen pad and lay it beneath your waistcoat. I believe +it 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 minute +you will not feel the same. Come, Master Carrbroke, let us both finish +dressing 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, and +you 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 passed +completely out of the injured shoulder, and after a few words evincing +his gratitude, which Leoni received with a rather cynical smile, they +passed together, led by their new young friend, into the long low +dining-hall of the house, where the King, in company with Saint Simon, +both apparently none the worse for the previous night's experience, was +impatiently waiting, and conversing with his host, a tall grey-bearded +man of sixty, whose aspect told at once that he was father to the youth +who ushered in the injured lad. + +"Let me introduce my son, my lord," said Sir John. "Ned, my boy, this +is Comte de la Seine, a French nobleman about to visit your royal +master's Court. My lord, my fighting days have long been over, and I +only serve my King now with my counsel; but he has honoured me by +accepting the service of my only son for his father's sake, and has made +him, 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 his +host's heir to kiss. + +He winced slightly, his face twitched, and an ejaculation nearly passed +his lips, while the sinister look on Master Leoni's countenance deepened +as he half closed his eyes, at heart enjoying the scene; for the youth +advanced with the frank, manly courtesy of a young Englishman, and +instead 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 not +from want of respect that I was not here before. I have been with your +esquire.--He was badly hurt yesterday, father; he mustn't go on. You +must keep him here for days, till we have set him right." + +"Gladly, my boy," cried Sir John, "if his lordship will honour my poor +home with his presence." + +"Oh no, no," said the King shortly. "Why, Denis, boy, you are not so +bad as that. Here, Master Leoni, what have you to say?" + +"That he must rest two or three days at least, sir. His arm is badly +wrenched, and he is not fit to sit a horse." + +"But he sat one bravely enough last night," cried the King.--"But, Sir +John, are all your roads like this? If the people we passed last night +could have had their way you would have no guests to throw themselves +upon your kindness, for we should have been lying somewhere in the +forest to feed the English crows. But there, we have kept you waiting +long 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 his +status occurred to him then, and directly after he was busily employed +doing the honours of his table, the good things spread thereon soon +having a mollifying influence upon his guest, whose autocratic ways +became less prominent under the influence of a most enjoyable meal. + +Thoroughly softened then by his meal as far as temper was concerned, the +King now began to find out that he was exceedingly stiff, and questioned +Saint Simon a good deal about his sensations, to learn that he too was +in the same condition. + +"Ah, well," he said, "riding will soon take that off. Here, let's go +and have a look at the horses." + +Sir John accompanied his guest into the great stable-yard, followed by +Saint Simon and the two young esquires. + +The chargers had been carefully tended by Sir John's men, who did not +fail to point out that they were not taking their corn happily; and it +was perfectly evident to everyone that their hard day's work, following +so 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 think +they 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. Then +we shall see how the poor beasts are. Besides, we have to think of our +young friend." + +The result was that the King consented to stop for the aforesaid +forty-eight hours, at the end of which time, feeling himself very +comfortable and enjoying his host's company, he needed very little +pressure to prolong his stay, especially as Leoni announced that, though +Denis was mending fast, riding might have a bad effect and delay his +recovery. + +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 to +remain so far as the dictates of hospitality required, yet he forbore +when he saw the impatience of his guest to be once more on his way, and +at dinner the night before the departure he spoke only of the journey to +be undertaken on the following day. + +"You will find the roads safe enough from here onward, sir," he said +courteously, and the King bowed gravely. + +"I trust so," he said; "I trust so. England had been represented to me +as a land where everyone was safe." + +Sir John leaned forward. + +"I doubt not," he said, "that when you represent to his Majesty the +peril 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 sound +of a horse cantering into the courtyard, and a minute later Sir John's +own serving-man entered the apartment. + +"It is a message, Sir John," he said, "for my young master." And he +handed 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, looking +at the King, "how important an individual the boy there is becoming. +But," he went on, "you were expecting this summons, my lad, and now as +it 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's +company--glad indeed." And as he spoke Sir John gazed musingly at the +sparkling ring which his guest wore, one which flashed in the light of +the candles as Francis made a gesture with his hand. + +A few minutes later Ned Carrbroke glanced at his father, and then rose +from his chair, making a sign to Denis as he did so. + +"Come," he said quietly, as the two lads moved to the door and passed +out. "It was in my mind before, and now it has happened just as I would +have 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 never +seen 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 serve +King Henry." + +While Denis accompanied his new-found friend the talk went on in the big +wainscotted dining-room, and the King, who was leaning back in his +chair, 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 to +give 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 to +make 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 King +yawned. "Gentlemen," he exclaimed, "do not let me detain you." And +Leoni 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 the +morrow?" + +"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 by +Heaven 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 table +to dance, the King leaned back in his chair and just then caught his own +reflection 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 shall +meet him, and my strength will be greater than his since I shall know +who 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 be +right--that jewel will be mine, and the last link which binds us to the +old 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 he +lifted a _portiere_ and walked out of the apartment, entering a long +corridor where a coloured lamp hung from the ceiling. "Our host is well +lodged," he continued musingly, as he passed on, stopping at a door +through 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 intent +upon 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 of +learning 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 old +hunting song as he tapped the panes, while Leoni remained standing near +the 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 common +clay, sir. I am nothing; I can die; whereas you--" + +"No, no, Leoni; not here, not here. We have left that in France. Do +you not understand? Just at present we are travelling companions, and I +look to you and to your great learning for assistance, just as I +received it in the forest that night; and then it was timely indeed." + +"You are too indulgent, my lord, to any poor attainments that your +servant may possess. Such as they are, they will always be at my lord's +service," replied Leoni, and he slowly resumed his seat in the +high-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 of +patrists.--No, no, Leoni, old friend, I am not too indulgent," and he +gave his follower a keen glance. "But as to the route; is it good to +start to-morrow?" + +Leoni bowed. + +"Yes, sir, it is good," he said, and he blew some few grains of sand off +the 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 tips +of his fingers, and then clasped his hands and, with the weird strange +look 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 at +this palace of his at Windsor." + +"Ah!" said Leoni. + +"You are doubtful?" + +"I think, sir, that there may be difficulties in the way." And the +speaker glanced at the document before him. + +"Difficulties for me! You are mad." + +"No, sir, only cautious. When you are in France, at Fontainebleau, at +Compiegne, in Paris, no matter where, does his Majesty the King receive +any errant English nobleman who may be abroad to study the world? I +think not. Your minister would inquire into the traveller's papers, and +ask whence he came, and why." + +The King turned thoughtful in a moment, and the haughty look died away +on 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 by +putting his hand before his own eyes, as if the peculiar fixed stare +annoyed him. + +"I was arguing by analogy, sir. Is it likely that this English monarch +will act differently from the first King in Christendom? I think not. +Henry apes your Majesty. It is you, Sire, who lead, and whom other +kings follow. Go in your proper person, and there is not a door in all +this land, or in any other, which can be thrown open wide enough to +admit 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, read +out 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 la +Seine of Angomar and Villay, is our good friend. We ask you to receive +him as such, and to permit him to see your Court, of which all the world +speaks, and your kingdom of England, whose power is so beneficent and so +mighty 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's +hand, he took the letter to the other side of the table and clumsily +scribbled down a signature. "There," he cried, tossing the letter back; +"will that do?" + +Leoni fixed him with his eyes and shrugged his shoulders slightly, and +his peculiar cynical smile played about his lips. + +"I wish, Leoni, you wouldn't stare at me like that," cried the King +petulantly. "Yes. I know; it is bad--not like your regular writing. I +don'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 it +better 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 Henry +would think of a Comte de la Seine who writes a letter in the King's +name to introduce himself." + +"Bah!" cried the King angrily. "What an idiot! No; it was my honest +nature rebelling against deceit. Here, Leoni, what's to be done?" + +"I'll write the letter over again, sir, and you will sign it this time +as 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 to +you and to yours." + +"Excellent," said the King, and he glanced at the document endorsed with +the royal signature--"Francois, R."--at which he smiled with +self-satisfaction. "Now nothing more remains to be done." + +The King looked fixedly at his servant, and then laid his hand on the +latter's arm. + +"It is good," he said. "What you have done is well done. Leoni, with +mind and sword you have served me well, and that France which we both +love with loyalty and faith. And now--now that we are nearing our +journey's end, you hold it still to be the truth that Henry guards +jealously in his possession this jewel, which in his hands is an agent +for the downfall of France?" + +"I hold it to be true, sir," said Leoni solemnly, and he laid his hand +on a little golden crucifix which lay on the table before him. "I hold +it to be true, and that the old ambition which brought the English +hordes to our country is kept alive by the influence of that jewel. He +will serve France well who reclaims it and restores it to its rightful +place--your crown, Sire." And the speaker dropped on one knee, but the +King motioned him to rise. + +"Not now," he said; "not now." And then, as his royal master appeared +to be lost in thought, Leoni went on; "Never, sir, would I have brought +this matter to your notice, deeply though it concerns the welfare of +France, 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 to +the end." + +"Yes, sir; and yet I dreaded at first to speak, for I foresaw something +of what would happen, since to those who study deeply a vision of the +future is vouchsafed at times, and I realised even then what might be +your 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, is +good; but there is the future. Of that we will take thought. You are +in a strange land, sir, amidst people who to-morrow may be foes. You +are far from the army which would follow you to death, and to meet the +dangers which may come into your path there are but three swords, three +loyal hearts." + +"And they will be enough," said the King. "Leoni, old friend, you must +have no fear." + +"I have none, sir." + +"Well," said the King, "between ourselves, Leoni, I have. This thing +begins to look more awkward now we are getting so near. King Henry is +always very civil to me in his letters, and no doubt he will give the +Comte de la Loire--" + +"Seine, sir--Seine." + +"Bah! Yes, of course. I knew it was some river. I say: I mustn't make +such a mistake as that again, or he will find me out. Here, hadn't we +better change the name to something else? Seine--Seine--it's rather a +stupid name." + +"Too late, sir," said Leoni earnestly. "You must hold to it now. But +you were about to say something, my lord." + +"Yes, of course," cried the King hastily. "Suppose Henry does find me +out, and has got me there. Why, by my sword, Leoni, he'll hold me to +ransom, and instead of my getting back that one jewel he'll make me give +up my whole crown." + +"No, sir; no, sir," cried Leoni earnestly. "Have more faith in +yourself, and go forward. You cannot turn back now. You will soon get +used 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 now +you'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 have +no king now, and let's have no reverence, for if you get me regularly +into trouble over this, good a servant as you have been to me, your +friends will have to prepare your tomb, a short one too, for you will +lose your head." + +"In the service of my country and my lord, sir," said Leoni calmly. "I +shall 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 of +the town where was situated the famous castle which was so much to the +liking of Henry; and at this point there was a separation, for young +Carrbroke took leave. + +"We shall soon meet again," he said to Denis, as the two lads bade each +other 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 not +remain in England long." + +The King took dinner that night at the hostelry by the side of the ferry +and ford they had crossed that day, having previously despatched Denis +with the letter which was to bring him face to face with the King of +England, the lad shortly returning, having intrusted the missive to a +captain of the Royal Guards, by whom it was to be handed to the +chamberlain on duty. + +But the meal was not concluded when Francis was asked to receive a +messenger from the castle. + +"Bid him enter," said the King, and he rose and stood by the wide +hearth, 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 he +would gladly have provided an escort from the coast. He begs that you +will honour him this evening with your presence at his Court." + +"Tell his Majesty," said Francis gravely, "that I am very sensible of +his 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 go +in?--Don't!" cried the King angrily. + +"My lord!" + +"Don't stare at me like that. I know what you are thinking--that I am +afraid." + +"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 in +walking into his palace I was stepping into a lion's den.--What now, +boy? What were you thinking?" he cried, turning sharply to Denis, who +had been listening impatiently to his companion's words. + +"Only, sir, that if it be a lion's den the Comte de la Seine has his +sword." + +"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 was +interrupted by a hoarse, mocking laugh which came through the partly +open door, rousing the boy's ire so that he clapped his hand to his +weapon, the others turning also in the direction from which the sound +had 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 lads +minuets; 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 make +them 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 dust +swaggered in, followed by a couple more, who looked, like their leader, +hot and dusty, and, judging by their accoutrements, appeared to have +just dismounted. + +Francis started and frowned as he met the English officer's insulting +gaze--insulting, for the stranger gave a contemptuous look around at the +assembled party, swaggered forward, unbuckling his belt and throwing it +and his sword upon the table with a bang, before dragging forward a +chair over the polished floor, raising it a little, and then bringing it +heavily down, to throw himself into its seat and then cry: + +"Come, boys; the chairs are not all occupied. How long is that fellow +going to be with the wine?" + +Francis turned pale; Leoni bit his lip, drew closer to him, and +whispered softly: + +"Pay no heed, M. le Comte;" while Denis and Saint Simon, after gazing +fiercely at the new-comers, turned to look at the King as if to signify +their readiness, and mutely ask his consent to drive these intruders +from the room. + +The result of this was that the painful silence was broken by the +officer addressed as Sir Robert bursting into another loud insulting +laugh. He looked at first one and then at the other of his companions, +before doubling his great gloved fist and beginning to make his sword +dance 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 a +quarrel, and you cannot stoop." + +"What's that, Frenchman? Can't you speak English? None of your +miserable monsieuring here! Do you know where you are? In the shadow +of the Court of the great King Hal. Here, youngster, what are you doing +with that hilt? It isn't a fiddlestick. I didn't know dancing masters +carried swords.--Ah, here's the wine. Pour out landlord; and here," he +continued, 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 too +late, for, with his eyes flashing, the boy stepped quickly forward to +the table, caught up the cup, and raised it towards his lips. + +"Montjoie Saint Denis! God save the King of France!" he cried, and was +about to drain the cup, while Leoni uttered an impatient hiss, when the +vessel was brutally struck from his hand by the English officer, the +wine being scattered about the room, and bringing the King to his feet. + +"Insolent!" cried Sir Robert, with his face now crimson, as he too +sprang to his feet, and catching up another of the filled cups. "But he +shall drink it, boys, or I'll slit his miserable ears. Do you +understand plain English, you minuet-dancing puppy?" + +"Yes," panted Denis, between his teeth, and never taking his eyes from +the Englishman; "every word." + +"Ah! That's good. Then take this cup, and down upon your knees and +drink King Harry's health, or 'fore Heaven you shall go back to your +miserable country marked by an English blade." + +There was a momentary pause in the room, every eye being centred upon +the boy, fascinated as all were and self-forgetful, as they watched for +the outcome of the incident. + +They were not kept waiting long, for the fierce look upon the boy's +countenance gave place to a pleasant smile which the Englishman did not +read as meant mockingly. He stretched out and took the cup, and the +bully returned the smile as he gave his companions a quick nod of the +head. + +"You see, boys," he cried, in his loud bullying voice, "this is the way +to teach French monkeys! Now, my mincing young skipjack, God save King +Harry!--Malediction!" he roared, as he snatched up his sword, for with a +quick 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 their +chairs and drew their weapons, for Denis had stepped back with his own +blade leaping from its scabbard--a movement followed at once by his +three 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 the +window and leap out. I'll tackle this boy." + +The next moment there was the harsh, grating, rasping, hissing sound of +steel edge against steel. + +"Back, boy!" raged out Francis. "Let me punish this English +_canaille_." + +"No, sir," whispered Leoni sharply. "They are three. Let your servants +finish this." + +"Here's for you!" shouted one of Sir Robert's companions, and they made +for the King and his two followers; but they were hindered from crossing +swords by Sir Robert, who, stepping back to avoid a sharp thrust +delivered by Denis, felt his foot slip upon the wine-moistened polished +oaken boards, and in saving himself he came in contact with the table, +driving it heavily in his comrades' way, so that the two parties were +separated, the centre of the room being taken up by Denis and his +adversary. + +"The unlucky boy!" muttered the King angrily. "Leoni, he is no match +for that English bull." + +"No, sir," said the doctor coolly, as he stood watchful with his blade +advanced; "but he can fence a little. Give me place, and I'll see that +he does not come to harm." + +Seeing that their adversaries were disposed to hold their hands until +the couple engaged had finished their encounter, Sir Robert's two +companions stood waiting for their turn till the unequal match was +finished; for unequal it was, Denis being pressed hard in the fierce +onslaught made by the strong-armed bully, who kept on thrusting and +driving the boy sideways as, lithe and agile, he avoided or parried +every thrust. At last his fate seemed sealed, for his arm was growing +weak and his defence being beaten down, when with a quick movement and +just in the nick of time Leoni made a sudden dart forward and turned +aside 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 by +Sir Robert's followers, who sprang forward, to have their blades engaged +at once by Saint Simon and the King. + +Then in a general _melee_ the swords gritted and twined and seemed like +flashing serpents in deadly fray, while those who grasped them came in +contact with and were hindered by the furniture of the by no means +extensive room. + +The floor was made slippery by the wine which bedewed the boards, but +before the encounter had lasted a minute there were other drops which +added to the peril; for Denis's thin blade had passed along the +fleshiest part of the English captain's ribs, and raging now with +passion and pain as he felt the sting, he fought furiously, forcing +Leoni to do more than guard the boy, whose strength was utterly failing; +and interposing now, he literally took the Englishman's blade to his +own, beat upon it heavily, and the next moment sent it flying through +the 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 door +was suddenly flung open and an officer of halberdiers stepped in, backed +up by about a dozen followers, whose approach had been unheard, while +about a score more could be seen forming up through the window, their +great steal spears with their battle-axe blades glittering in the ruddy +evening 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 own +interpretation thereon, ejaculated angrily the one word: + +"Trapped!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +WHAT DENIS THOUGHT. + +"Sir Robert! Gentlemen!" cried the officer in command of the +halberdiers. "What does this mean?" + +"Can't you see?" growled Sir Robert angrily. "Fighting. Chastising a +pack of insolent musicians, dancing masters, or whatever they are, who +insulted us." + +"It is not true!" cried Denis angrily; and as he spoke Carrbroke, who +had received warning from one of the inn servants of the fight that was +going 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 our +defence." + +"The boy lies," cried Sir Robert. + +"No: Sir Robert lies," cried Carrbroke hotly. "Captain Bowman, these +gentlemen were my father's guests last night--yes, Sir Robert, my +father's guests, and you must have insulted them, or they would not have +drawn." + +"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 his +guests, whom I have been ordered to escort into the palace, have +received, 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 is +getting tired of your brawling and overbearing ways." + +"What!" cried Sir Robert fiercely, as he clapped his hand again to the +dagger he had sheathed. + +"I see you have lost your sword," said the officer contemptuously, "and +spared me the trouble of disarming you for drawing within the precincts +of the Court. Take my advice, sir--not that of a friend, but of one who +has his duty to do towards keeping order here. Take your friends away +and consult with them as to what steps you should take before his +Majesty hears of this outrage. Monsieur le Comte," he continued, +turning to Francis, "in his Majesty's name, let me apologise for what +must have been a grievous mistake on the part of one of the King's +officers. I am commanded to escort you and your followers into the +palace, where his Majesty will receive you at once." + +Francis bowed, and the halberdiers formed up ready for the visitors to +pass between their ranks, while Leoni, who looked calm and saturnine as +ever, 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; we +ought to have some minutes to prepare." + +"His Majesty knows that you have been travelling, sir, and will not +notice that you have been making some passes in your defence. My +master, sir, is impatient, and as he expects you, if I might advise I +would say, let me lead you there at once." + +The King bowed and stepped forward directly, closely followed by his +suite, and passed out to the front of the hostelry, where a little crowd +had 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 procession +moved towards the great gate of the castle on the hill, the Captain of +the Guard marching with drawn sword respectfully by the travellers' +side. + +Rather breathless still, the King remained silent, while Denis could not +refrain from glancing back, to see his late adversary standing at the +inn-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 tone +to Leoni. + +"It's wonderfully like being prisoners, doctor," he whispered; "and mind +this, 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 and +bravely fought. Yesterday, as it were, I looked upon you as a page; you +are now my esquire indeed. By my sword, the fighting we have had +already 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. Not +get out again! Tchah! With followers like these, who's going to stand +against us? _Vive la France_!" + +"_Vive la France, Monsieur le Comte_," said Leoni, in a low meaning +tone. "If I might say so, I should think his Majesty King Francis would +feel proud of the bearer of his letter, if he could know how bravely one +of his nobles kept up the credit of his court of braves." + +"I hope he would, Leoni," said the King, laughing to himself, and he +looked sharply upward as the halberdiers' footsteps echoed from the grey +stone walls of the arched entrance to the courtyard. "A noble-looking +castle. May I ask, monsieur the captain, what building that is to our +left--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 for +your 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 will +think 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! What +were you thinking?" + +The boy hesitated, but the King's eyes were fixed upon him fiercely, and +with 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 the +coming of Francis and his travel-stained followers. Courtiers stood +around with their gay, picturesque garments rendered more striking by +the sunset glow, vivified by passing through a stained-glass window +which shone down upon the central figure of the group, a big, bluff, +rather heavy-faced, typically English yeoman in expression, upon whom +Francis fixed his eyes and kept them there as upon the principal +picture, all the rest being merely frame. + +Irrespective of his position, the visitor would have known him at once +from the descriptions he had heard from ambassadors to the English Court +of what the English King was like; and forgetful of everything else, all +courtly custom, his secret mission, and his assumed character, Francis +made a slight obeisance and stepped forward eagerly to greet his brother +King. + +On the other hand King Henry gazed curiously at his visitor who bore +such worthy credentials, and he put out his hand as he stood drawing +himself up proudly, expecting to see the Comte sink upon one knee and +press it to his lips; but, to his utter astonishment, Francis came close +up, apparently not in the slightest degree dazzled or abashed by his +magnificence, to stop short when within easy reach, and, instead of +sinking down, exclaimed, "Aha! The brave, soldierly King Hal!" clapped +both hands upon his brother monarch's shoulders, let them glide quickly +onward till they joined behind the King's neck, and the next moment the +embrace tightened as he kissed the plump cheeks that were beginning to +flame smartly in turn. + +"This," he cried, "is a great joy that pays me for my long journey +here." + +The English King drew back in astonishment, and glanced quickly to right +and left of his assembled courtiers, as if asking the meaning of this +outrage, this strange conduct so completely in opposition to all Court +etiquette. + +He was completely stunned for the moment, and his inclination was to +exclaim, "Is this man mad?" But as he looked round it was to see face +after face expanded or contracted by the mirthful feeling within his +followers' breasts, and then rendered grotesque by their owners' efforts +to turn solemn and serious once more. + +A change came over the King's countenance. It was as a reflection of +the smiles upon his courtiers' lips. + +"He is a Frenchman," he said to himself, "and does not understand our +ways, though I should have thought--" he continued to himself, and then +broke off, to follow the example set him by his visitor, and clumsily +and with ill grace returned the salute, before bidding him welcome in +English, which Francis understood fairly well, turning occasionally to +Leoni, who stood close behind him, ready to interpret whenever his +master 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 about +his pursuits, the pair being well in accord as to their tastes; and the +meeting was nearly brought to an end by the King telling his visitor +that the letter from his brother Francis was sufficient to make one of +his favourite nobles quite welcome to the hospitality of the English +Court. + +"Believe me, I am glad to welcome my royal brother's favourite. A suite +of apartments will be prepared for you, sir, by my people, and a place +on my right hand at my table. Rest assured that your stay shall be made +pleasant here." + +Francis bowed and smiled, and seemed as if about to supplement his +embrace; but the King went on speaking. + +"But what is this I hear about an insult offered to one who occupies the +position 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 half +contemptuous 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 guests +a mere nothing!" + +"Oh, don't speak of it," replied Francis, laughing. "I was not +surprised." + +"You amaze me, sir!" cried the King. + +"Indeed, Sire? Why, we always knew in France that there is nothing an +Englishman loves better than to fight. I came to your gates +unannounced, and two or three of your bluff soldiers--officers, you +say--exclaimed amongst themselves, `What does this Frenchman here, +trying to enter our master's court?' As your defenders, they drew, to +try and drive us away. But we would not be driven. Then your gallant +escort 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 an +impediment in his speech, or as if he were suffering from some +forgetfulness of the English words he ought to use--"my noble English +sovereign, upon having such brave defenders at your gates." + +"I thank you, sir," cried Henry. "But this is too much! These soldiery +assume more than is their right. I have heard before of this man's +brawls. He is a fighter out of employment now, for we are at peace, and +I will not have him insult my guests." + +"But you will pardon him, Sire?" said Francis. "We were not hurt. Next +time 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 the +first 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 you +would like to retire to your rooms to rid yourselves of your +travel-stains. Later on I look to meet you at my board." + +Francis bowed in turn, and drew back, seeing that the audience was at an +end, 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 catch +the 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 that +our 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 that +they are well bestowed. Once more, sir, the favourite of my brother +Francis 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 the +preparations for the grand reception he had ordered in honour of the +ambassador-like visitor from France had been carried out quite to his +satisfaction. + +There was show, there was music, and there was dancing going on, as he +entered the _salon_ from his private rooms and looked round searchingly +before 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, half +expecting to be taken to task for not having the visitor there. + +"See that everything is done, Hurst, so that he may go back to my +brother of France full of admiration of my Court. We must make him +envious," added the King, with a laugh. + +At that moment there was a flourish of trumpets, and, escorted by two +noblemen of the English Court, Francis, followed by his three gentleman +attendants, advanced to meet the King. + +Leoni watched his master narrowly as he followed his progress through +the brilliant throng of courtiers towards the spot where Henry stood +awaiting his coming, and there was but one thought animating his brain-- +the thought of whether Francis with his impetuous nature would not +commit some act in this strangest of all episodes--King meeting King, +and one ignorant of the other's real identity--which would enlighten +Henry 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 recognised +here, or if any of these gentlemen who have travelled do imagine a +resemblance, they will laugh it on one side." + +He felt reassured again as he saw Henry advance a step to meet his guest +and take his hand with a few words of welcome, ere he pointed to a seat +near at hand. + +"Our brother of France is indeed fortunate," he said, "to be represented +by yourself, Comte." And then followed words which Leoni did not hear, +for a gentleman approached the group formed by himself, Saint Simon, and +Denis, 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 Rene +Leoni, the most learned of doctors, and at the same time one of the most +tyrannical. But to those who understand well the subtle art of +medicine, 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 stay +you make at our Court will not be displeasing to you, for that it will +be 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 two +companions, to each of whom Henry addressed words of encouragement and +welcome. + +Later, as the music struck up, the English King turned to his visitor +and 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 well +you treat his envoys." + +But Henry waved the compliment aside. + +"Tell me about France," he said; "tell me about France." And he looked +fixedly at the messenger from the kingdom of the fleur-de-lys, while +Leoni would have given anything to draw nearer, to gather up if it were +only scraps of the conversation that ensued; but he was bound to imitate +the action of those around and draw back, full of anxiety about his +pupil, but fain to content himself with looking around at the gay +throng, before sinking into a chair where he could think about his +mission, his searching eyes always busy looking about, especially at the +jewels that were flashing on every side, as he hungrily sought for some +thread which might form a clue to lead him ultimately to the object of +his quest. + +Meanwhile Denis and Saint Simon, looking as courtly as the most brightly +dressed among whom they stood, were invited by one of the dignified +functionaries to join in the dance, but declined on the score of +fatigue; and the former had sauntered away from the throng, to stand +near a curtained window a moment, when he heard his name spoken, and a +hand was laid on his arm. He turned sharply, to find himself face to +face with Carrbroke. + +"Found you," he said. "Well, it did not require my services to show you +the Court. What do you think of it? Better than Fontainebleau, is it +not?" + +It was not necessary for Denis to reply, because his companion went on +quickly 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 the +other's arm. "You are not going to dance, so let us talk--out here in +the garden." + +Denis accompanied his friend out on to a wide terrace where there came +to the ear the sound of the music still, and where there were the +thousand scents of the flowers on that soft June night. + +"The King sometimes walks here," said the lad; "but he will not come +to-night. I like this place. Yonder is the river. You have not a +river 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 would +have one always wearing one's best and acting the courtier; but the King +loves sport, and so do I. Let's go this way, and enter the palace by +another door. There will be supper soon, and one must eat." + +A moment before, Denis was beginning to think that the place was not so +attractive after all, but the word supper seemed to accord well with his +sensations. + +He was weary with the excitement of the day, and he suddenly felt that +some of his distaste was due to hunger, which he was ready enough to +appease, being well looked after by his new friend; while the rest of +the evening was filled up by faintly heard sounds of music and +conversation which seemed to be buzzing around him, as he sat back in +one of the many chairs of the grand _salon_, completely overcome by an +invincible sense of drowsiness which seemed dark and cloudy, while out +of it came a familiar voice, saying: + +"Why, Denis, boy, I have been seeking you everywhere. Saint Simon was +looking for you too, and said you must have gone off to bed." + +"Bed--bed?" the boy remembered saying, and then all was confused again +till 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 in +his bed, with the bright morning sun shining in through the window. + +"Where am I?" he muttered. "How did I come here?" And then by degrees +he began to have some faint recollection of Leoni helping him to his +room. + +"Why, I must have disgraced myself in some way," he muttered. "What +could I have done? Gone to sleep in the middle of that _fete_? I don't +know; everything seems a blank." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +CARRBROKE TELLS SECRETS. + +The days passed quickly, with the Kings the best of friends, for Francis +proved himself a boon companion, a good horseman, and quite after the +King'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 the +lips of Sir Robert Garstang, who, when the minstrels were busy in their +gallery, might have seen some justification of the bullying captain's +sneer respecting dancing masters, for Francis was ever ready and eager +to lead some Court lady through the mazes of the dance. + +For revels were plentiful at Windsor then, and Denis in the +companionship of Carrbroke found the time pass pleasantly enough, on the +terraces, in the park, and along the banks of the silver Thames; but he +was quite forgetful for the most part of the special mission upon which +he had crossed the sea. + +For Ned Carrbroke had always something fresh to propose in the way of +horsemanship, and often enough invited his French companion to +sword-play, which was readily accepted; and to Carrbroke's wonder and +delight Leoni would come to look on, and at Denis's request advise them +upon questions dealing with offence and defence, and proper conduct of +the 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, but +when I cross swords with him I feel quite a baby. You are lucky to have +some one like that to give you lessons. Why, you must be splendid +yourself." + +Denis laughed merrily. + +"Why," he said, "I always feel worse than you. Master Leoni, when I +fence with him and he gives me a lesson, makes me feel as if there were +magic in his blade which sends a strange aching pain all up the muscles +of my arm." + +"Yes," cried Carrbroke, "that's something like what I feel. I say, he's +your 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," he +continued 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?" continued +Carrbroke. + +"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 they +call magic--that there is something curious in it? You see, it turns +so, and seems so strong." + +"Yes, that is strange," said Denis. "It is no matter how you parry; the +point always seems as if it could enter your breast if it liked. I +always 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 other +men. 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 on +me, as he always does, it makes me shiver; although he is always very +kind, there is something about him I can't understand, and if he were my +enemy I should be ready to give everything up and go away. There, what +a bad job! I was just going to say, let's go for a long ride, or else +make some of the King's rowers take us up the river, and then float +down, and it's going to rain, and I don't want to get wet. It spoils +one'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 ladies +at this time of day. I can show you everything that there is to see." + +"Can you?" said Denis, whose thoughts suddenly turned to his mission +there. + +"Oh yes; I am allowed to go where I like, as the King's youngest +esquire." And then half pettishly: "They consider me only a boy. But +come along." + +Carrbroke was quite right, for the rain began streaming down; and a few +minutes afterwards the two lads were in the royal apartments, which were +quite deserted, and Carrbroke was proudly showing the different +pictures, King Henry's armour, and choice collections of weapons of war. +At last he stopped in front of a beautiful Italian cabinet which +differed from ordinary pieces of furniture, being made to stand +four-square in the centre of the apartment, each side being richly +ornamented with carving and delicate inlaid work which covered the doors +and 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 he +believed that it was full of gems and curious jewels that had been +presented to the King. I never saw it open yet, but there must be many +curiosities there, swords and petronels, as well as jewels." + +"Indeed!" said Denis, colouring slightly. + +"Oh yes; some of those curious gems that they say have magic +properties--charms, don't they call them? Magic crystals that confer +singular powers upon those who own them, bring good luck, and influence +the 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 a +little deeper, and then deeper still, and he winced a little as if he +felt that Carrbroke's searching eyes were reading his inmost thoughts; +and then he started and felt worse, for it seemed to him that his +companion suspected his reasons for being there, so that he was ready to +utter a sigh of relief when Carrbroke said: + +"Well, you needn't look like that. You needn't be ashamed to believe in +such things. I do, for there's a lot one doesn't understand. I was +told once that different precious stones have very curious qualities; +some will protect anyone from magic, some from enemies. There was a +ring 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 to +poison people there." + +"Yes, I have heard so," said Denis drily, as he stood with his eyes +fixed upon the cabinet, wondering whether the treasure Leoni sought +could be there. "But it seems nonsense. I don't see how a diamond or a +ruby could do such things." + +"No," said Carrbroke; "no more do I, unless you swallowed it to keep the +poison from doing harm. Perhaps it's all nonsense. But the King +believes 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 feel +as if you'd like to smuggle some of them?" + +"What!" cried Denis, flushing scarlet and gazing wildly in his +companion's eyes. + +"Don't look like that," cried Carrbroke, laughing. "I said smuggle; I +didn't say steal. I thought you might feel as if you'd like to have one +of these charms which hold such magic power." + +"I am not afraid of being poisoned," said Denis huskily. "Here, come +away from this; show me something else." + +"Oh, haven't you seen enough? But I say, is this better or worse than +Fontainebleau?" + +"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 with +arras and--oh yes, there is: I know. I say, you haven't got any secret +passages at Fontainebleau?" + +"We have all kinds of places hidden in the walls. Have you got any +here?" + +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 matters +about you knowing it, as you are not going to live here. It's something +I found out myself. I was on duty here--as page in attendance on the +King--one evening, just at dusk, and the candles weren't lit. There had +been a grand banquet the night before, with music and dancing, and I'd +been up all night, and just as it began to grow dark I turned so sleepy +I couldn't keep my eyes open. I tried ever so hard, but it was of no +use, and I sank down in a chair close up to the hangings in a dark +corner, and was asleep in a moment. I don't think it could have been +long before I woke up again with a start. I suppose some noise must +have woke me, and I sat there staring and wondering where I was, for I +felt quite stupid, when all at once the arras that covered the wall just +opposite to me seemed to open, and something dark came out, to stand +still for a few moments as if listening. Then there was a rustling of +hangings, and the dark figure came straight towards me, making me turn +cold; for I felt then that I had been asleep, and I thought it was some +one come to punish me. But the figure did not come close up to where I +sat, but suddenly turned off towards a light which appeared at the end +of the corridor and came nearer, while directly after I made out that +some 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 not +likely to be disturbed now." + +Before many minutes had elapsed the two youths were standing in front of +a huge needlework picture representing a classic scene, covered with +warriors 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 that +stands 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 left +to see if they were observed. "We are quite alone. Now you touch that +boss." + +"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 lifting +of a latch. + +"Now push," continued Carrbroke. + +Denis again obeyed, and something gave way as if he had pushed a door +which 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 in +the wall. I went in one day when the King was out hunting and I felt +grumpy because I had been left behind, and I thought I should like to +see what there was there." + +"Yes, and you went?" said Denis eagerly. "Yes, all along a dark passage +for ever so far. Then I came to another door, which opened easily, and +there was a flight of stairs; at the bottom of that there was another +door and another long passage, twice as long as the first, and then +another 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't +satisfied, for it was all new to me, and I felt curious to see where the +dark 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 pavilion +on 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 meddled +with the King's secrets might come in for the loss of his head, and I +didn't want to lose mine. I came back as fast as I could. There, you +can have a look through into the dark passage if you like. Kneel down +and lift up the hangings. There, what can you see?" continued the lad, +as Denis obeyed, finding the abundant folds give way easily, so that he +could peer right beyond. + +"Nothing at all; it is quite dark." + +"Come away," said Carrbroke quickly. "That's right," he continued, and +then quickly taking Denis's place he quite disappeared. + +"Am I to follow?" said Denis wonderingly; but he had hardly finished +speaking 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. But +there, you won't go and tell King Hal that I told you his secrets, will +you?" + +"Not very likely, is it?" said Denis, smiling, but troubled the while by +an uncomfortable sensation which made him feel as if he regretted his +knowledge, though at the same time he knew that he had acquired +information that might be of extreme value if their masquerading were +discovered, 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 if +I 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, standing +in the deep recess of a casement window, which he had flung open, and +was leaning out gazing at the landscape stretching far and wide before +him, and giving him a silvery glimpse here and there of the bright +glittering river. + +He was so lost in admiration of the scene that he did not hear the door +open, and was only made conscious of some one being in the room behind +him by hearing a low muttering voice say: + +"A blind search! A blind search! What shall I do next to bring it to +an end?" + +Denis made a sharp movement, catching the sleeve of his doublet against +the copper fastening which held open the casement; and as he turned a +nervous hand suddenly seized him by the shoulder in a painful grasp, for +it was as if fingers of steel were pressing into his flesh. + +"You, Master Leoni!" he cried, as the clutch was relaxed as quickly as +it came. "Yes, my boy," said the doctor; and the lad shivered slightly +as 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 teach +you." + +"And you will teach me all, sir?" + +"Of course, of course," said the doctor, laying his hand caressingly on +the boy's shoulder. "You are a pupil of whom I feel proud. But tell +me," he continued, as he passed his hand softly along the muscles of the +lad's arm, "what about the stiffness and pain?" + +"All gone, sir. That salve you applied seemed to make it pass entirely +away." + +"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, brown +fingers 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's +service we have come to seek. Denis, you are a boy in years, but I find +you in many things a man at heart, and there should be no half +confidences between us two. I like you, my boy, and always have, stern +and 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 are +working for the King and for France, and so far I am at fault. I +thought my task would be so easy that, once here, that which we seek +would be within my grasp; and so far it seems beyond me, while the +golden hours glide swiftly away, and before many days have passed our +visit with all its risks must have an end. I shiver sometimes, boy, as +I stand close by and listen to our master's careless, light-hearted +speech. Again and again he has been within an ace of betraying who he +is, and at any moment some of the sharper-witted of the courtiers by +whom we are surrounded may grasp the truth, and then, Denis, as Francis +has 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. "Then +you have no idea where the jewel of France is kept?" + +"Not the slightest, boy, and I want you to use your eyes and ears to +help me all you can. There is that young English esquire. You are +great friends; perhaps he might know. I don't like asking you to play +the spy and betray your friend, but the English are our natural enemies. +We are here upon a sacred mission, and we must quiet our consciences +with the recollection that what we seek was torn by conquest from the +Valois diadem." + +"Yes, I know, sir," whispered Denis eagerly, influenced as he was by the +masterful spirit and words of his tutor. + +"Then try, boy; try your best to help me, while we have time. You +promise me this?" + +"Of course, sir. But what," cried Denis, with his eyes flashing, "if I +already know?" + +"Boy!" cried Leoni excitedly; and he caught his young companion by the +shoulders, but checked himself, instantly drew back, walked slowly +across the room to the door, opened it and looked out, and then came +back and signed to Denis to close the window, while he softly moved here +and there; and the boy noticed how, as if to examine the beauty of the +silken hangings, he touched them again and again, as if to make sure +that no listener was concealed behind. + +Leoni ended by joining his young companions in the deep embrasure of the +window, taking him by the arm, and pressing him towards the diamond +panes of the casement as if to draw his attention to something out +beyond the terrace and the steep slope below. + +"Now," he said, in a quick whisper, "speak beneath your breath. You +know where?" + +"In the tall, square-turreted cabinet three parts of the way down the +long corridor by the King's private apartments." + +"Ah, I have not been there, and dared not raise suspicion by asking +permission to go. Are you sure?" + +"Carrbroke has as good as told me it was there. He spoke of a charm +with fateful powers of its own, and that the King held gems as sacred +relics." + +"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 to +say." + +"The King has a secret passage whose door is in the arras two chambers +down 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 avail +to us. It could not be found. Once the relic is in our hands, a silken +rope and some window must be our way." + +"But I know the secret of the passage, sir, how to open the door, and +where the passage leads." + +"Where, boy, where?" cried Leoni excitedly. + +"Down to the grounds, and then by a long winding alley through the +private gardens to the riverside." + +"Hist!" whispered Leoni. "No more, boy, for your words have seemed to +burn. Ah, it is strange! The workings too of fate. What I have +striven 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 our +behalf, and has made you the chosen instrument of our success. We must, +we shall succeed, and through you. Now silence; not another word but +these. I say silence, Denis. It is for our master's sake and for _la +France_." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +THE CHAMBERLAIN HAS SUSPICIONS. + +Several days passed at the Court in a succession of gaieties including +hunting, an excursion on the river, and at night banquet and dance. +Henry was charmed with the pleasant sprightliness of his guest, whose +lively French manner attracted him more and more. He distinguished +himself in the field and in the chivalrous sports in the Castle Yard. + +There were moments when the King looked grim and slightly disposed to be +jealous of the applause given to the Comte, and more than once Lord +Hurst saw his master frown heavily upon seeing how great a favourite +Francis had made himself with the courtiers, who were delighted with the +change the gay Frenchman made in the monotony of their daily life. But +Leoni felt that the luxurious seats he occupied at Windsor were stuffed +with thorns, and that they were placed close to the edge of a mine that +might at any moment explode. + +Still the time wore on and the danger seemed as far off as ever, for in +obedience to Leoni's prompting Francis, though often sailing very near +the wind, dexterously gave a turn to the rudder just at the right time, +and the doctor breathed freely once again, while he waited for the +moment when he could put into action one or other of the plans he had +thought out, to get possession of the fateful jewel whose resting-place +he felt he knew, lying as it did, though still distant, almost within +his grasp. For short of gaining entrance to the private corridor where +it lay, and boldly breaking open the cabinet some night, to carry off +the prize, he could not yet see his way. + +"That must be the last resource," he said to Denis. "The Comte and I +must exercise subtlety. The knowledge came from you, boy--given to you +by fate; and we must wait longer, even if it be for days. Who knows +but, as she has favoured us so far, fate may place in our hands the +fruit that is ripe to pluck?" + +"I wish they'd pluck it or leave it alone," said Denis to himself. "I +hate the whole business. It is very pleasant being here, and Carrbroke +makes himself quite like a brother, though I can't help laughing at him +sometimes when he speaks such bad French; but that doesn't matter. He +laughs at my bad English just the same, and it's all capital sport when +we are together, if I didn't feel so treacherous. There are times when +I should like to tell him all, and why we are here; but I can't, for +that would be behaving treacherously to my King." + +The lad ended his musings rather gloomily, as he felt sure that before +long they would be found out and the daring business be all come to an +end. + +Similar thoughts kept Leoni awake the greater part of each night in his +luxurious chamber, spoiling his rest, and making him attend his master +the next morning terribly troubled in mind, but only to brighten up on +finding how well in favour the Comte seemed with the King, who was +always seeking his visitor out for some new pursuit in courtly pleasure +or excursion. + +But the cloud was gathering all the same, and the discovery very near at +hand. + +One morning Lord Hurst was in attendance upon Henry, making his +customary daily reports and taking his orders for various preparations +to carry out something fresh in the way of entertainment, when the King +waved 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 do +you look at me like that? Do you not think he is a most worthy +representative of his master?" + +"Undoubtedly, Sire, but--" + +"Hurst," cried the King furiously, "have I not made you my trusted +adviser?" + +"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 keeping +something back. What does this mean? Have you some suspicion about +this man? Hah! I have it! You believe him to be a spy sent by Francis +to learn all he can about my Court--about my realm! Man, man, you do +not believe that this French King is plotting something to rob me +farther of the possessions gained by my ancestors in the past?" + +"No, Sire, no; but I am troubled in my mind," said Hurst, speaking in a +low 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 grave +anxiety for my master's weal, as to the real motives of this Comte's +visit." + +"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 to +my guest, as noble and accomplished a gentleman as ever entered our +Court--one whom I already look upon as my friend. Speak, man! What is +it you think--that he is some cheat?" + +"Cheat, Sire? No; but I believe him to be far higher in station than he +says." + +"Hah! Higher? How could he be higher?" + +"Some prince, Sire, of royal blood." + +"Bah!" cried the King contemptuously. "Fool! Dreamer! And at a time +like this, when the horses are waiting and my guest doubtless ready, +waiting till I join him! Always like this, Hurst, thinking out some +wild diplomatic folly to cast like a stumbling-block in my way when I am +upon 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!" cried +the King, after turning away. "See that there is a better banquet +to-night, something more done to honour my French brother's emissary; +more music and dancing, too. There, that is enough." And, hot and +fuming, the King strode from the chamber, leaving his chamberlain +standing alone, thoughtful and heavy. + +Shortly afterwards there came through the open window the trampling of +horses, eager voices, dominating all the loud, bluff, hearty voice of +the King, followed by the sharper, rather metallic tones of the Comte, +and then the merry laughter and ejaculations of the ladies who had +joined the cavalcade. Then silence once again. + +"Perhaps I am wrong," said the chamberlain thoughtfully; "and too much +zeal may prove my ruin, for mine is a dangerous post and I fear that I +have 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 the +scene in connection with the supper that night was brighter than ever; +but the King did not seem satisfied. His heavy face looked gloomy, and +Francis banteringly asked him if he was too much wearied by the hunt +that day, receiving a grave nod in reply. + +Later on Francis, who was excited and annoyed by the dullness of his +host, made an excuse to leave him and join the dance, but only to find +his progress stayed by Leoni, who led him aside to make some +communication--one which made his master frown and whisper back angrily. +But Leoni spoke again, and Denis, who was near, saw the King make a +deprecating 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 his +master. + +"I thought so," said the boy to himself, for as he watched Leoni he saw +the doctor turn slowly and with his peculiar fixed look sweep the +well-filled room till his eye rested upon the young esquire. + +The next moment he had raised his finger to his lips, gazing at him +fixedly for some moments, before turning and moving towards the door, +when Denis heaved a deep sigh and looked round in vain in search of +Saint 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 where +Henry sat moody and alone, the various gentlemen in attendance, knowing +their master's ways, having drawn back a little, to enter into a forced +conversation, waiting for the King's next move. + +They had not long to wait, for he suddenly looked round till his eyes +rested upon the chamberlain, when he rose, to lay his hand upon his +counsellor's shoulder and walk out with him towards the now deserted +corridor, into which the strains of music from the ballroom floated +again and again. + +"There, Hurst," he cried, as soon as they were alone, and they paced +together 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 by +the loss of my favour for spoiling what ought to have been a joyous +day." + +"Sire, I am deeply grieved. You must credit me with anxiety in my duty +towards your Majesty." + +"Yes, yes, I do," cried the King impatiently. "But your suspicions have +been absurd, and have made me behave almost rudely to my brother's +ambassador, as noble a gentleman as I ever met. Zounds, man! Is a +king'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 the +corridor opened out into a well-lit chamber whose walls were hung with +portraits. + +"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 side +of the chamber, where he took a candle from one of the sconces on the +wall to hold it up above his head in front of a large full-length +canvas, the work of some great master, whose brush had so vividly +delineated the features of his subject that the portrait seemed to gaze +fixedly down at the King, while a faint smile just flickered upon its +lips. + +"Does your Majesty know those features?" said the chamberlain. "Who is +that?" + +"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 in +this. 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; for +it could mean nothing else. What sinister plots and plans can there be +behind 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 the +black clouds that hang around them. A family resemblance? Then who +could this man be?" + +The chamberlain was silent. + +"Man," whispered the King hoarsely, "you are my servant. Don't thwart +me 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 I +tell you honestly that which I believe. This gentleman is wearing a +disguise, and comes here under an assumed name, and from my soul I +believe 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 fierce +expression mingled with anger, surprise, and triumph. "And what has +brought him here? If you are right. Hurst--mind, I say, if you are +right--But you had never seen this man before, and it may be only a +resemblance." + +"It may, your Majesty, but--" + +"If it is," whispered the King, with his face looking purple in the dim +light, "the fox has come unbidden into the lion's den, and if the lion +should 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 of +those fair domains won by my predecessors with the sword have been +wrested from the English crown bit by bit--the noble domains over which +these Valois now rule as usurpers. Hurst, what if the sceptre of +England should be held again swaying our ancient lands of France. +Supposing, I say, there were no Valois, or he perforce had been called +upon to render back all that had been stolen from our crown. I am the +King, and as my father used his gallant sword to gain one kingdom, why +should 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 act +my 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, a +gin, a trap to capture me, but for the setter to be caught himself. +Francis, King of France!" he continued hoarsely; and then a peculiar +smile, mocking, bitter, and almost savage, came upon his, lips as he +gazed piercingly at his companion. + +"No, Hurst," he said meaningly, "I know no King of France. He would not +dare to beard me in my own home like this. This man, this mock +ambassador, this Comte de la Seine, is the only one with whom we have to +do--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, and +we will clear this up." + +"Your Majesty is going to--" + +"Straight to the ballroom," replied the King, "to see this Comte de la +Seine and have the truth." + +"Now, Sire?" + +"Yes, now at once." + +The King turned abruptly, and, closely followed by the chamberlain, made +for the ballroom, where the dancing was in full progress; but the Comte +was not leading one of the brightest ladies of the Court through the +mazes of gavotte or minuet, and as the King turned angrily to his +chamberlain it was to find him in close converse with one of the +gentlemen in attendance. + +"The Comte made the excuse of a bad headache, Sire, some few minutes +back, 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 he +strode from the room, closely followed by his companion, to whom in his +excitement as he followed the angry lion the movements of the dancers +seemed mocking, and the music sounded strange. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +DARK WORK. + +More than one of the Court ladies thought the gallant Comte strange in +his manner, as they waited, fully expecting that he would come up and +offer his hand to lead them through the next dance; but it soon became +evident that nothing was farther from his intentions, and after looking +on for a short time he slowly left the great apartment, and began to +make 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 of +it were lowering myself to the level of some cutpurse. I would I had +never come. No," he added sharply; "the time has passed too gaily for +me to say that; and the good, bluff, hot-tempered, cheery Henri! I like +the brave Englishman, and my faith, I have made him like me, traitor as +I 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--King +as I am. He turns me round his finger and forces me to obey even +against my better feelings; for I think I have some. Can it be that he +is 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. I +will not do this thing. By my sword, is this cunning Italian to force +his master to become a thief? No! He shall learn to-night that I'll +have none of it. Conceal who I am! Play the part of a masquerading +spy! No! to-morrow I'll tell my brother Harry the whole truth." + +He started violently as he came to this conclusion, for a dark figure +suddenly glided from behind one of the statues in the long passage he +was following. "You, Leoni?" he said, in a hoarse whisper. "M. le +Comte! Yes, it is I. You have been long." + +"Long?" said Francis haughtily. "How--" He stopped short, for Leoni +placed his lips close to his ear. "France is anxious, Sire, and the +time has come." + +"The time!" said the King sharply. "Not for that?" + +"Yes, M. le Comte, for that. I have been waiting for the fateful moment +to arrive for the great opportunity, and it has come." + +"But," cried Francis, "I have been thinking--my position here--my good +friend the King. Leoni, all this must end; I cannot, I will not do this +thing." + +"Sire!" whispered Leoni. + +"No, no, man. It is the Comte de la Seine you speak to, and who tells +you he will let you lead him no more through these devious ways. Who +are 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 lead +you 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, and +can do no wrong." + +"Of my own will, no; but this:--" + +"Sir, the spirit of your country calls upon you to act. The fateful +jewel we came to seek is ready to pass into your possession, and the +time has come--" + +"Leoni, I will not hear you. I swear I will not sully mine honour with +such an act. This deed shall never be done by me." + +"Deed--deed, sir--act! You speak as if it were a crime," whispered +Leoni. + +"It is a crime," cried the King angrily. "Dare not to speak to me of +this deed again. Now, enough. The King expects me back, and to-morrow +I will place myself outside temptation, and leave this place. Whatever +happens, 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 the +King'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 now +that the fateful moment has arrived. Quick, sir, and in an hour's time +we shall be on our way to the coast. Silence, sir," he whispered +sharply, as Francis essayed to speak, looking half dazed the while in +his companion's eye, as Leoni leaned towards him with his hot breath +passing over the monarch's face. "This way, sir--quick!" + +"Where? Where?" faltered the King. "What does this mean, Leoni?" he +whispered. "Have you been tricking me with one of your accursed drugs?" + +"Silence, sir! I am calling you back to your duty," whispered the +doctor, as he guided Francis quickly along the passage, still holding +him tightly by the wrist, "for once more I pray you to prove yourself +our country's greatest son." + +Francis made no reply, no sign, but, yielding helplessly, allowed +himself to be led to the door of his ante-chamber, where the door opened +without being touched, and, once inside, closed behind them, Saint Simon +having been waiting, while Denis, who looked pale and excited by the +light of the two candles that illumined the room, rose up from where he +had 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 to +the 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, Leoni +thrust the hand at liberty into his breast and drew forth a little +golden _flacon_, which glistened in the light. + +"Set down the cup," said Leoni quickly, as Denis returned from the +bedchamber with the water. "Now, boy, unscrew the top of this, and hold +it in your hand." + +Leoni held out the little glistening flask, retaining it tightly, while +Denis 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 was +overheated, 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 to +master 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 time +has come for action. You, Saint Simon, be silent, and alert. There +must be no bloodshed unless it is to save the Comte. You will come with +us, and I shall depend upon your sword for our protection if there is +peril in the way. You, Denis, boy," he continued, turning to the young +esquire, who stood looking on now with his lips apart and a strange +feeling of misery and despair oppressing him, "you have your duty to +perform." + +"Not to--" began Denis; but he was checked by the angry gesture the +doctor made. + +"Silence, sir! Your master's work. Follow us outside, and remain there +on 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 pass +in here, but stand on guard till we return. If we are not back here by +the time the castle clock has chimed twice you will take the cloak and +valise, go down the long corridor, if possible unseen, and make for the +stables, where you will have the horses saddled at once." + +"But--" + +"But!" snapped out Leoni. "They must be saddled. Quick! Slip off my +pouch and gird it on. There is gold enough within, and if that will not +move the people there you have your sword." + +Denis uttered a sigh of relief as he hastily unclasped the doctor's +belt, 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 a +gloomy angle of the corridor, from whence as he watched them he saw +their figures seem to glide along the lighted portion, the Comte +yielding entirely to his leader's every motion, till they passed quickly +out of the sentry's ken. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +BEARDING A LION. + +The King walked swiftly on in the direction of that portion of the +castle where he had lodged his guest, the polished oak boards of the +floor resounding beneath his heavy tread, while the chamberlain heard +him keep muttering to himself as he went, till he reached a portion +where a couple of officers stood on duty by a heavy door, ready to +challenge 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 began +passing down an inner passage, and Henry read in his voice a protest +against the action he was taking. + +"Have done with your scruples," he said. "I am not going to assassinate +Francis, or even do him ill, only to make sure." And he proceeded on +his way, motioning to another officer, who came forward and saluted, to +resume his post. + +Turning at right angles, and going some distance further on, the King +stopped again. + +"It should be here," he said quietly, and he moved towards a wide arched +door, but drew back suddenly, for a figure emerged from the shadow into +the 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 his +robe. + +"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 master +to-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 have +words to say to him to-night. By Heaven, it is an honour I do him, I +think!" + +"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 more +difficult--I would cheerfully obey your commands." + +"But I have nothing else which I wish you to do--only this. Let me +pass." + +"No, Sire." + +"Boy, it is the first time in my recollection that I have been refused +obedience. 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 in +such a position of danger. Sheathe your sword at once, sir, and let his +Majesty 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 wait +longer. Stand back." + +This was too much for the determination of the young esquire. It was a +king who spoke, and drawing back slightly, he yielded to circumstances, +feeling that his puny efforts were in vain, and guarding the door no +longer, he thrust his sword back into its scabbard and stood aside. + +"Ah!" cried the King, growing mollified upon seeing himself obeyed, and +looking admiringly at the lad. "Not bad, Hurst, for a mere boy," he +said. "May I always be as well served by followers of mine. There," he +continued, 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 am +master 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 negative +result. Then with an angry snort he said mockingly: + +"Our young esquire seems to have reason on his side, and the Comte must +be asleep. Am I to leave him to his slumbers, Hurst? But maybe he will +sleep the better after awakening and hearing all I have to say. Open +the door, Hurst. Bah! I need no help for this." And, brushing by the +chamberlain, he noisily raised the latch, thrust open the door, and +entered the room. + +It was the ante-chamber, with the couple of candles burning on the +mantel. The richly embroidered cloak lay upon the couch where it had +been hurriedly thrown, and the valise lay ready packed and strapped. + +The King's eyes flashed as the valise caught his eye, and crossing the +room quickly he made for the door of the sleeping chamber, which was +ajar. + +There was no pause to ask for entrance here, for now fully roused, the +King thrust open the door, with the light from behind him falling fall +upon 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 mingle +with the faint strains from the room where the dancing was still going +on. + +The chamberlain rushed forward, looked sharply round, and made for the +casement; but it was closed and fastened inside. + +"The boy on guard, Sire, and no one here!" cried the chamberlain. "I do +not understand." + +"Nor I," cried the King; "but we will, and that right soon." Then +making for the door, which had fallen back as the chamberlain entered, +he dragged it open, crying angrily, "Boy, your master is not sleeping +here. Where is he? What have you to say? Ha!" he roared, like the +angry 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 him +by the wrist. + +"By my faith," he ejaculated, "there is black treachery here! Am I in +my own palace or in a tavern? These fellows come and go as if the place +were their own. A mystery too. But by the crown I swear I'll solve +it!" And for a few moments he stood fuming. "Here, Hurst," he said +hoarsely, "your brains have been sharper than mine, and I'm beginning to +think you are right about that portrait. Ambassador--poet--brilliant +conversationalist--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 trust +a Frenchman? But come on!" And he led the way back into the long +gallery. "I've got ears like a cat to-night," he said; "but +unfortunately not the eyes of one. Surely those were footsteps down +yonder?" + +"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 be +our own guard, and find out the truth ourselves." + +The King and the chamberlain had not gone many yards along the gallery +when 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 a +white doublet; and the radiance of the moon flashed on a bared and +shining 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 the +corner of the long gallery, passing from gloom to silvery light, and +again into the dusk, as they walked beneath the windows, while at the +angle the lustrous splendour was shed through red glass, falling +brilliantly on the King's plumed hat, his sword and royal star, as the +pair 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 could +half seat himself, half lean against the end of a great settee. "How I +do hate this guard work of a night! Yes, and there's the music still +going on. I just heard one strain. All bright and gay yonder, and here +all dark and dull. But it's an honour, I suppose, to be on the watch +over the ways to his Majesty's private apartments, and have him come and +find me here. It means promotion some day, such private service as +this. I wonder where French Denis is? Dancing with the prettiest girl +he can find, I'll be bound. Oh dear, how dreary it is! And I feel as +if I could lie down and go to sleep." + +Then with a start he was fully on the alert, ready to step out into such +light as was shed through the window near. + +"His Majesty coming back," he muttered, for quick steps were heard +approaching, and a few moments later he stepped quickly out to bar the +way as he did a short time before, and with a feeling upon him that he +would 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 private +apartments. You cannot pass here." + +In an instant Leoni had glided alongside, to lay his hand softly on the +youth's arm. + +"My dear young friend," he said, "you do not recognise who it is +speaking. It is the King's friend, the Comte de la Seine. The ballroom +was hot, and these corridors calm, cool, and refreshing. The Comte is +only going round this way to reach his apartment. We can reach it down +this passage, can we not?" + +"No, sir," said Carrbroke quietly. "I am sorry to have to turn you +back, but you must seek some other way. I am on guard here, and it is +his Majesty's commands that no one shall pass this private corridor by +night--and no wonder," thought the lad, as he recalled his discovery of +the 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 to +being treated like a prisoner"--words which Leoni translated, in the +belief that they were not understood. + +"The Comte de la Seine says, Monsieur Carrbroke, that surely his Majesty +would make an exception in favour of his friend." + +"I regret it much," was the reply, "but unless the King gives me such +orders in contradiction of those which I have received, I cannot let you +pass. Once more, gentlemen, it is impossible, and you must return. Did +you hear me, M. Saint Simon? Ah, sir, you--" He said no more, for Saint +Simon had passed onward, as if to go on in spite of all that had been +said, but only to turn quickly and seize his arms from behind, while at +the same moment his speech was cut short by Leoni's hand--the subtle +Franco-Italian having literally glided at him to clap a strongly +smelling hand, moist with some pungent fluid, across his mouth. + +The action seemed to the lad as instantaneous as its effect. He made a +bold brave struggle, uttering a groaning half-stifled sound, and he +vainly strove to free himself from the pinioning hands of Saint Simon; +while, as if through a misty dream, he saw with starting eyes the dim +figure of his master's guest straight before him, and pointing a +stiletto at his throat. + +The next minute Saint Simon, in obedience to the whispered orders of +Leoni, had raised the helpless lad in his arms. + +"Is there to be no end to this black night's work?" muttered Francis +angrily. "I don't know how it is. I don't think I took too much of my +brother Henry's wine, for I wanted to dance; but my head is all confused +and strange." + +"It was the heat of the room, perhaps, sir," said Leoni. + +"Perhaps so. The place was hot and stifling," said Francis. "There are +moments when my brain seems to whirl, and things go round. Did I go to +sleep?" + +"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 why +don't you say so? Here, I don't know what's the matter with me. I must +have dreamed that you took me by the wrist and led me along one of these +dark galleries, to stop and lean against some great piece of furniture +while something was going on. Then all was dark and strange again, and +I seemed to be going for ever along dark passages, till I felt the fresh +air 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 touch +of vertigo. You have been doing too much of late. But you feel better +now?" + +"Oh yes, better now--and worse, for I am not certain but what this rough +dealing with that boy is not part of another dream." + +"That is no dream, sir," said Leoni meaningly; "but be silent and let me +guide. We are on our way to make our escape." + +"Escape!" whispered back the King excitedly. "Then--then--oh, it's +coming back quite clearly. You have tried and failed?" + +"Hist! Silence, Comte!" whispered Leoni, in a commanding tone, as he +turned upon the speaker, but without taking his hand from Carrbroke's +lips. "Our task is nearly at an end, sir, and I will answer to you +later 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, Saint +Simon." And then in a mocking tone, "I am afraid that the faithful +sentinel will be in trouble when they find him here asleep. I didn't +think to find him here. Now, quick, before we are interrupted again." +And he moved a few steps down the gallery, passing his hand along the +hangings 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 if +it does--" + +"Hist, sir! there is a way out here," whispered Leoni. "You hinder and +confuse 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 the +boss, which he turned quickly, pressed hard, making the concealed door +swing 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 a +trap?" + +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 not +know the route we have taken in our flight." + +The young officer passed through without a word, and, half ashamed of +his hesitation, Francis followed, to have his hand seized in the +darkness by Saint Simon, who led him for a few yards along the dark +passage, where they stopped listening, to hear Leoni close the door with +a faint, half-smothered click. + +Leoni joined them the next moment, "Let me pass now and go first," he +whispered. "The passage is very narrow, and dark as dark. Thanks, +Saint Simon," he continued, as he squeezed by him; and then, as if to +himself, but loud enough for Francis to hear, "and then if there is any +trap or pitfall in the way I shall be the sufferer, and they will hear +me and escape. Ah," he continued to himself, "the way seems easy, and +what did the lad say?--that it led after several turns to some stairs +which descended to the ground floor, and finally to a door which opened +upon a bosky portion of the terrace, and from there led on through +various alleys to the river, a flight of steps, and a boat. Ah, a good +way 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 for +nothing--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 has +done his duty as I bade." + +As he thought this over to himself, breaking it up, as it were, into +sentences between which were whispered words of encouragement to those +who followed, bidding them come on, telling them that all was clear, and +to beware of "this angle," and the like, he passed on and on with +outstretched hands in front, his fingers gliding on either side over +smooth stone walls, till at last he was suddenly checked by a blank. + +"Ah!" he muttered, as he felt about cautiously. "This should be the top +of the steps." And so it proved; for, proceeding carefully from the +angle along to his left, his advanced foot, as he glided it over the +floor, rested on an edge. + +"The topmost stair," he muttered. + +Making certain that it was, Leoni uttered fresh warnings, and then began +to descend, followed slowly by his companions. At the bottom they +proceeded for a while upon the level, when he was brought up short by +his 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 heavy +door was sunk. + +"Hah!" he uttered, with a sigh of relief. "Here is the way out of this +kingly fox-burrow." And his hand glided down the edge of the door till +it came in contact with a huge lock, about which for a few moments his +fingers 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 the +lock; the door was fast; and just in this hour of triumph they were as +much prisoners as if they were in a cell. + +"Well, Leoni," whispered Francis, "why are you stopping? This place +makes me feel as if I could not breathe." + +"I am not stopping, sir," said the doctor bitterly; "I have been +stopped." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +CHECK!--QUERY, MATE? + +Feeling that the crisis had come, no sooner did Denis hear the first +strokes of the second chiming of the clock, which came so opportunely +upon the King's discovery, than the lad dashed off along the passage +leading towards the staircase that he would have to descend to gain the +inner court and the stabling. + +But he had not proceeded many yards before he stopped short, startled by +the thought that if he continued by this corridor he would come right +upon some gentleman of the household, whose nightly duty it was to be on +guard at the angle of the gallery which led towards the King's +apartments. + +"Oh," he muttered beneath his breath, "I had forgotten. Carrbroke told +me he would be there to-night." + +There was nothing for it but to retrace his steps, pass right round +two-thirds of one of the lesser courts, and get back to the corridor +again beyond the range of apartments sacred to the King. + +Then reaching the end of the gallery, he began to hurry once more to +make up for lost time, when feeling that, much as he desired to act, +such hurried procedure would attract the attention of the first officer +who was on guard, the lad checked his headlong steps, thrust his hands +into his trunk hose, and began to walk carelessly along, catching up and +humming the air which came softly from where the musicians were still +playing. + +It was well he did, for as he turned the next corner he came upon a +couple 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 it +being right away from the royal apartments, they gave way for him to +pass, and making a tremendous effort over himself, he descended very +slowly and carelessly, the hardest part of all being to stop once or +twice 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 crossed +it, fully expecting to encounter a guard at the archway which gave upon +the next court. + +As he expected, there were a couple of armed men here ready to challenge +him; but before they could speak he stopped short to ask whether he +would find men in attendance at the stables, adding carelessly in very +fair English: + +"I want to see how our horses are getting on." + +It was so likely a mission that the principal of the two guards +volunteered the information at once that some of the grooms would be +sure to be there at that time for a final look round before closing for +the night. + +"You know your way, sir?" added the man respectfully. + +"Oh yes, thank you," said Denis carelessly; "I know my way." And he +walked on, panting heavily now, in spite of his slow pace. "This is the +hardest 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, for +I can call it nothing else but a theft. How glad I am that they have +sent 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 but +to restore it to France--to France." + +"Now for it," he muttered, as he neared the entrance to the great +stables, where to his delight he could see by the light within that the +door was open and a shadow passing the lit-up entry showed him that at +all events part of his task would be easy. "Now no more thinking. I am +but doing my duty, and it is time to act." + +Increasing his pace now, he stepped boldly into a broad shelter from +which a long, dimly seen vista of horse-stalls opened out to right and +left, and he was confronted at once by two of a group of men, three of +whom bore lanterns, and who were coming towards him as if about to leave +the place. + +"Here," he cried authoritatively, as he recognised one of the grooms as +being he who had their steeds in charge, "I want our horses saddled at +once." + +"To-night, sir?" said the man, glancing at the lad's courtly costume in +search of his boots and spurs, and seeking in vain, his eyes being only +met 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 wishes +to 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 for +wine." + +He held out a couple of gold pieces, which, as they were taken, acted +like magic, and a busy little scene of emulation ensued, every man being +eager to assist in bridling and saddling the beautiful chargers that had +been 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 and +then another of the noble beasts, and talking to them the while. + +"It seems rather hard," he said, speaking in the same haughty tone to +the man he had before addressed; "but a good canter round the park will +do them good, and their work is very easy nowadays." + +The groom agreed to everything he said, for the glint of the gold placed +in his hand was still before his eyes; and in a very short space of +time, long as it seemed to the impatient lad, the last strap and buckle +were fastened, and with a man giving final touches to glistening coat +and mane, the horses were about to be led forth. + +"We are to take them round to the great entrance, sir?" said the chief +groom. + +"Oh no," replied Denis carelessly. "Just lead them into the entry; the +Comte and his gentlemen are going to join me here. It is just for a +quiet night ride, and--ah," he added, with a faint gasp of relief, "here +they come!" For heavy footsteps approaching hastily could be heard +outside--footsteps of only one, but which the lad in his wild excitement +easily magnified into those of all his friends, as he walked far more +swiftly than he intended to meet the three fugitives, ready to mount and +in full career leave the hospitable place behind. + +The words were on his lips to greet them and say, "All is ready; you can +mount in here." But they were frozen on his lips, for the light from +within fell full upon a big burly form, that of an enemy who, like a +flash, the lad felt, could only have come upon a mission of evil; and he +stood 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 the +night? 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 right +has 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 the +man humbly. + +"Ah, but this must be inquired into. There's something wrong here, I +feel sure." + +"Take no notice of this man," cried Denis, forgetting in his excitement +that he must speak in English, however bad, if he wished the grooms to +understand, and addressing them excitedly in French. + +"Bah!" cried Sir Robert, in his most bullying tones. "Take no notice of +the fellow's jabber. I order you not to let these horses go without the +permission of the chamberlain or the King's Master of the Horse." + +"But they are the gentlemen's own horses, Sir Robert," said the man +quietly, "and not the King's." + +"I don't care," cried the officer. "The rules are, as I know well, that +no horses shall leave here without special orders after dark." + +Denis grasped every word that was said, and stood literally trembling +with excitement, anticipating as he did that at any moment his friends +might 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 the +doctor had told him, he had his sword; and at this thought he drew in +his breath through his teeth with a sharp low hiss. + +"You hear!" cried Sir Robert sharply. "These horses are not to leave +the stable till I return with some one in authority who shall decide +what is to be done. You understand me? On your lives, obey!" + +He swung round to stride out of the building, and then started with +surprise, for the young esquire's rapier flashed out sharply in the dull +light of the lanterns, as he drew and cried sternly: + +"On your life, sir, stand back, and cease to interfere! I have the +highest of commands for what I do." + +"What!" cried Sir Robert. "Why, I have been waiting for this, to pay +you 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 the +precincts of the castle? This you have done, and it is my duty as one +of his Majesty's officers to arrest you on the spot. Give up your +sword, 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 the +chief 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 his +skin. I know what you would do, and that I'll do myself when I have +corrected this springald here.--Now, boy," he roared, "your sword!" + +"Now, Master Leoni," whispered the boy between his teeth, as he rapidly +placed himself on guard and made a feint at the burly captain's chest. +"Take it, insolent bully!" he said sharply; and the officer in his +astonishment at the suddenness of the attack, fell back a pace; but +recovering himself on the instant, he crossed swords with his young +adversary. Then, to the excitement and delight of the grooms, who +raised their lanterns to the full extent of their arms that the +combatants might see, the triangular-bladed weapons began to give forth +that peculiar harsh gritting sound of two steel edges rasping together. + +The encounter was but short, for, relying upon the superior strength of +his arm, and determined to punish his slight young adversary in revenge +for the past, the captain pressed hard upon him, lunging rapidly with +all the vigour he could command, his intention being to drive his +antagonist backward against one or other of the walls and pin him there. +But he had reckoned without his host, for though Denis was no +long-practised swordsman, Leoni's lessons had not been without their +effect, and as thrust after thrust was lightly turned aside, the young +esquire firmly stood his ground, merely stepping sideways and letting +his adversary's baffled blade glide by his slight form, while refraining +from thrusting again and again when the burly captain had laid himself +so 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 be +disarmed when I have mercifully shown myself disposed to let you off +without 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 a +lie." + +"What!" cried the captain, enraged by the low murmur uttered by the +grooms as if endorsing the young esquire's words. "More insolent than +ever! Give up your sword, or, by Heaven, I'll send you back to the +castle upon a litter." + +"Send me, then," said the lad contemptuously, "or be prepared to go +yourself." + +"Bah! No more words. Come on," cried the captain; and he prepared to +attack once more. + +"My turn now," whispered the boy to himself, "and it is time;" for in +his excitement he fancied that he could hear steps approaching. But +there was not a sound save the gritting of the rapiers and the captain's +hoarse panting breath as he uttered a loud expiration at every thrust. + +For in his turn, in spite of his determination to make this second +encounter an attack, and force his young adversary to remain entirely on +his guard, the retort had begun, and before a minute had elapsed he +uttered a sharp ejaculation as he felt the sharp pain caused by the +lad's keen point ripping open his muscular right arm. Stung now with +rage, hatred, and the determination to have revenge, he literally rushed +at the lad, to force him down, with the natural result that he threw +himself open to the point of his more skilful enemy, who chose his +moment, and made one quick thrust which darted like lightning through +the captain's bull-like neck, making him utter a low, deep growl as his +sword flew from his hand, and he staggered backwards into the arms of a +couple of the grooms, who lowered him to the ground. + +"Hah!" ejaculated Denis, whose heart was beating fast, and stepping +forward he stooped over his fallen adversary, raised a portion of his +cloak and drew his blade through it twice over. "Stop!" he cried +quickly. "What are you going to do?" His loud question was addressed +to 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 greatest +help you can give him now is to stop the bleeding." + +There was a tone of command in the boy's uttered words which had the +natural 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 that +Denis had followed them, to draw to the door and slip the two bolts with +which it was furnished into their sockets. + +Then sheathing his sword, he turned quickly to the stable, where the +four chargers stood untethered, and caught his own by the bridle, to +begin leading it to the door. + +He trusted to the nature of the horses for the result, old stable +companions as they were, and it was as he expected, for the intelligent +animals followed their leader quietly enough, to stand together in the +entry 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 the +shape of the saddle-room door, marked-out as it was in lines of light +from the lanterns within, listening to the low muttering of voices, and +shuddering once as his wounded adversary uttered a low deep groan, which +was followed directly after by an angry ejaculation as if he were +enraged by the clumsy surgery of the men. + +"Is all this going to be in vain?" muttered the boy. "It is as if the +whole business is accursed and is bound to fail." + +He stood listening, and the talking went on, to be interrupted by +another fierce ejaculation from the captain, who gave some order; but +what 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 all +was still, and then he started violently and clapped his hand to his +sword, 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, for +there was no mistake this time. Footsteps were rapidly approaching, +whether friends' or foes' it was impossible to tell, and taking a step +outside 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 light +which shone out of the saddle-room window, came breathlessly up, and the +first to speak cried in familiar tones: + +"My horse! Is it ready? Quick!" + +"Yes, Sire," whispered Denis, and Francis uttered a quick low "Hah!" as +he gathered up the reins and prepared to mount, his two companions +following his example, just as the lit-up window was dashed out by some +heavy blow, the glass coming tinkling down upon the stones outside, and +a 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 the +music in the ballroom and sending an electric thrill through every +listener within the precincts of the castle; but ere the great bell had +sent forth a score of vibrating notes which came quivering through the +darkness and echoing from every wall, the clattering of hoofs began in +obedience to the whispered commands of his Majesty of France: + +"Draw, draw, and all together to the gates. Then lead, Leoni, and ride +hard--straight away, man, for the south." + +The horses had not made a dozen strides before their sharp hoof +clatterings 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 halberds +borne by men who were evidently forming up in obedience to a shouted +order, before making for the castle. + +The horsemen needed no command. They knew what they had to do--to +charge right through the night watch assembling from the guard-room; and +this they did. + +There were shouts, commands to stop in the King's name, the impact of +horse and man, and the clatter and jangle of steel against steel, as the +fugitives rode their opponents down, kept together, and dashed on for +another hundred yards or so, and then were brought up short by that +which had not entered into their calculations, for they simultaneously +drew rein as Saint Simon, fully excited now, roared in a voice of +thunder; "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 rein +of the monarch's horse and drew back his own for him to pass, closely +followed by Leoni, who was just in time to rise in his stirrups and make +a thrust at a tall halberdier who had suddenly stepped forward to seize +the rein of Francis's horse. + +The man uttered no cry, only dropped his halberd and staggered back as +Leoni passed on into the darkness, his horse running side by side with +that of the King. + +Meanwhile--it was almost momentary--Saint Simon, who was the next to +pass through the narrow pier-bound way, cried out excitedly to his young +friend: + +"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 them +dimly seen in the gloom, who, recovering from the terrible shock they +had received, came running with their clumsy partisans levelled for +their charge, to take revenge upon and capture the daring unknown party +which had made this desperate attack. + +There were men among them who were suffering from blows and from +trampling hoofs, and other injuries they had received; but as they ran +they recovered their well-trained formation, and with their leader +dashed two and two through the narrow postern gate and along the +darkened road for full a couple of hundred yards, before the stern +command rang out for them to halt. + +As the trampling of their feet ceased to beat upon the road they stood +in the silence listening to the tramp of hoofs, which grew fainter and +fainter, till the last sound died away and the silence was broken by a +deep groan uttered by one of the men, who now dropped out and sank upon +his 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 of +us gone down. I saw the sentry had it as we passed out. Is there +anyone 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 go +back and meet the King." + +There was a peculiar sound from the little body of men, caused by their +simultaneously sharply drawing in their breath, and then silence once +again, as they listened to make sure that the beating of hoofs had +passed 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 he +galloped over me and struck me aside." + +"Hah!" said the sergeant, as he marched beside the improvised litter and +went on talking to his injured man. "It's bad, my lad, bad; but it +don't mean funeral march, and between ourselves, Staines Dick. I wish I +was you." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +BLUFF HAL RAGES. + +"I don't understand this, Hurst. I don't understand it a bit. One +moment I feel that he is no Comte, at another that there may be +something in what you say. But just now I can think of nothing but de +la 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 gallery +devoted to the priceless treasures of his collection, to which Carrbroke +had so proudly directed the young French visitor's attention, when his +foot came suddenly in contact with something which he sent flying along +the polished oaken boards, the object making a musical metallic sound. + +"What's that?" cried the King sharply; and the chamberlain started +forward into the gloom close beneath one of the windows, to pick up +after a moment's search what proved on being held up to the light to be +a beautiful little golden cup covered with such _repousse_ work as would +most likely have been placed there by some Italian artist of the +Benvenuto 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 the +little 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 gallery +where the great cabinet stood, to find it on the two sides he examined +perfectly intact; but the other two sides of the big ornamental piece of +furniture fell to the chamberlain's examination, and he was so startled +by the discovery he made that he remained silent and stood there with +his lips compressed. + +"Nothing here, Hurst," cried the King, in less excited tones. "It must +have 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, to +utter an ejaculation full of the rage he felt, for dim as the gallery +was, light enough came through the window opposite to which the cabinet +stood to show that one of the doors had been wrenched open; some of the +drawers within were half unclosed, while several little objects that had +evidently been dropped in haste were upon the floor. + +"Robbery! Pillage!" cried the King angrily. "They must have been +disturbed in their act of plunder, whoever it was, and--and--hah!" he +raged 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 gem +won 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. This +disappearance is accounted for at once. It must have been--" + +"The Comte de la Seine!" raged out the King. "Stolen not only from my +own palace, but out of my own private apartments, where I am supposed to +be guarded night and day. Hurst," he continued grimly. "I am afraid +some one is going to die on account of this. But the robbers cannot +have 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 schemers +down. This way first. There should be two guards at the head of the +south staircase--if they are not asleep." + +In his excitement the King drew his sword and led the way to where the +two officers were on duty, ready to challenge and answer frankly that +only one person had passed there, and that the young esquire in the +Comte de la Seine's suite. + +"Bah! We are on the wrong track," said the King angrily. "They would +not come this way. That boy was probably sent to take the guards' +attention while the deed was done. Come back, Hurst; this way. You men +arrest 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 cabinet +without giving it a moment's concern, and when nearing the private +corridor the King stopped short, to clutch his follower by the breast +with his left hand. + +"Hurst," he whispered hoarsely, the deep tones of his voice betraying +the 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, for +his master still clutched him by the breast, and the sword was trembling +in his hand as if he were about to use it upon a prisoner he had taken +himself. + +"Riddles!" cried the King. "When we are searching for that vile culprit +whom I believed to be still in the place, and who has not passed the +guards at either end of these galleries? That boy Carrbroke: he told us +that 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 not +watched and discovered for themselves--must have betrayed its existence, +known only to me and you. But maybe it has acted like a trap--the outer +door is locked, and a stranger would not be likely to find the key." + +"Oh," whispered the chamberlain, "it is possible, Sire. I will call the +guard." + +"No," said the King, with an angry hiss in his voice. "You can use your +sword, 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, your +suspicions are right. This French visitor is no paltry Comte. There is +the look of the Valois in his countenance. What if the great object of +his 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, and +possibly he is alone, for he would not trust such a task as this to +other hands. We heard just now that his page, esquire, or whatever he +is, had been sent away." + +"Yes, Sire. But he will be desperate. Your Majesty's safety must not +be risked. I implore you, let me call the guard." + +"Well, as you will," said the King.--"No, it would only be to reveal +that secret place to the common herd. No one shall know it but +ourselves. 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 to +me, and to my father in his time. Fetch him here." + +The chamberlain hurried off, while the King followed slowly, sword in +hand, till he was opposite to the concealed door, where he stood fast to +wait; but an ejaculation uttered by Lord Hurst took him to the latter's +side. + +"Traitor!" cried the King angrily. "No, sleeper." And in his rage he +drew back his arm as if to thrust at the youth who was lying upon the +heavy couch. + +"No sleeper, your Majesty," cried the chamberlain, bending over +Carrbroke, to raise his eyelids one by one. "Pah!" he ejaculated. "The +odour is quite strong. The poor lad has been drugged by some pungent +medicament." And then as he drew back his hand he took a kerchief from +his pouch to wipe his hands. "The noisome poison is still wet upon his +face." + +"Thank Heaven!" said the King. "It was a mercy I did not strike and +slay a faithful soul. Come, then, Hurst; but draw and defend me if +there 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 King +unfastened, and was about to raise the arras when the chamberlain +pressed 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 stooped +hastily, raised the arras well on high, and signed to the chamberlain to +hold it up and cast the light into the narrow way he was about to +traverse. + +Then with one heavy thrust he threw open the door, and without a +moment's hesitation passed in with his sword advanced, to be followed +quickly by the chamberlain, who raised the light above his head, to +throw the King's shadow right before him, so that his mock semblance, +looking black, solid, and grotesquely dwarfed, moved on in front till it +struck against the angle of the wall where the passage turned sharply to +the left. + +Here with sword advanced the chamberlain approached as closely as he +could, fully expecting attack from a hiding foe; but the King passed +boldly on, with his shadow before him, till the next angle was reached, +their footsteps sounding hollow, dull, and strange in the confined +space. + +The King walked onward like one well accustomed to traverse the place, +and in another few minutes the great candle his follower bore was +casting the dwarf shadow upon the heavy door that blocked the end. + +"A false clue, Hurst," said the King gruffly. "The secret of this place +is 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 the +massive door, and as the King seized the latch and raised it with a +click, the door swung inward easily upon its well-oiled hinges, followed +by a puff of the soft night air, which would have extinguished the light +had not the King hastily closed the door again. + +"Gone, and by this way!" he growled, as he turned the key, sending the +bolt with a sharp snap into the socket. Then with a sharp tug he drew +out the shining wards and signed to his follower to return. + +Lord Hurst uttered a low sigh of relief, for he felt that the King had +escaped a terrible danger, the loss of the jewel being as nothing to his +life. + +He backed slowly, lighting the way, till they were about half-a-dozen +yards from the door, when he stopped short and raised the light on a +level 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 a +stranger would not be likely to have found that key. Simple +hiding-places are often the most safe. But there," he growled, with a +suppressed oath; "back into the corridor, but extinguish that light +before you raise the arras, and make sure that we are alone." + +The order was obeyed, the chamberlain cautiously listening, before going +down upon one knee to raise the tapestry a few inches from the floor and +make sure that Carrbroke was the only occupant of the great gallery, +then creeping quickly out, holding the hangings upward for the King to +pass, and securing the door. + +"Now," cried the King furiously, as he brought one foot down with a +heavy 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 turned +upon his chamberlain and furiously bade him have the soldiery summoned +and the place well searched, while many minutes had not elapsed before +the alarm bell was sending its vibrating notes with a deep hum through +the night air, and room and corridor echoed with the sounds of excited +voices and trampling feet. + +It was in the midst of the orders that were being given by King and +courtier that the clashing sound of arms and shouts of angry men came +from the gate and guard-room, to be followed by the news of the +encounter and the visitors' escape. + +And then it was as if a storm was raging through the castle, set in +agitation by the bluff King, who played the part of thunder god himself, +ending by stamping and raging about the outer court animadverting upon +the sluggishness of his guards, till the strong body of horsemen who +formed his bodyguard of mounted archers stood drawn up, ready, with +their 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 culprits +alive or dead. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +SOMEBODY'S WOUND. + +As if to aid the fugitives' escape, the moon, which had been shining +brightly the greater part of the evening, had become overclouded almost +from the minute they set off, and headed by the King, who bent low over +the pommel of his saddle, and at the start had seemed to drive his spurs +into his horse's flanks, the little party tore over the darkened road at +a furious pace, no one uttering a word. + +The King led; that was sufficient for two of the party, who set their +teeth and gave the horses their heads, merely taking care to rein up +slightly as every now and then they came upon some terribly untended +piece of the road. + +"The King leads," thought the two young men, "and all we have to do is +to keep close at his heels, ready if wanted, and for France." + +Saint Simon was one who thought little and said less. They had had an +exciting charge, mastered those who opposed them, behaved like gentlemen +of France, and that was enough. + +But as Denis galloped on with the wind coming cool and pleasant to +cheeks fevered by the excitement that he had passed through, picture +after picture flitted through his brain, dominated by that in the stable +entry 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 pictures +took the others' place, illustrating the breaking open of the cabinet +and the stealing of the jewel--imaginary so far as he was concerned, for +no communication as to this having been accomplished had been made to +him. But he took it all for granted, and though he had taken no active +part in the theft--for theft his conscience persisted in calling it--the +base action pressed upon him more and more, in spite of his combating it +with declarations that it was an act of warfare to regain the King's +own, and that it was for France. + +At last as they galloped on with their horses following their natural +instinct and keeping closely together as in a knot, the trouble, the +worry became almost unbearable. + +"Oh, if something fresh would only happen--something exciting!" Denis +muttered. "I could then bear it better." + +At last a thought flashed through his brain, and he started, rose a +little in his stirrups, and began looking about him. + +"Are we going right?" he said to himself, and he looked straight ahead +now--beyond Francis, who was slightly in advance, he being on the King's +left, while Leoni's horse galloped level with his own, the beautiful +animal's head being almost within touch of the King's saddle upon the +right. + +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 the +fact that he who rode on his right was vastly troubled too, and +regardless of everything else kept one eye fixed upon his liege, for he +had noticed that Francis was not riding according to his wont. + +He was generally upright in his saddle, and he had never seen him bend +low before like this. + +At first he comforted himself with the thought that it was all due to +excitement and the dread of being captured after this nefarious act; for +gloze it over as he would, the subtle Franco-Italian knew in his heart +that though it might be for reasons of State, and to ensure the +stability and future of his King, the scheme was vile. Then, too, there +was all that had taken place that night, the peculiar semi-trance-like +state in which the King had seemed to be plunged. There was the +draught, too, that had been taken, and its effects before he had grasped +the King's wrist and had led him, a passive instrument in his hands, to +where the cabinet stood in the obscurity of the gallery, and had him +standing there, participator of that which had followed, but in a half +unconscious condition the while. + +Once or twice after coming to the conclusion, and owning to himself that +the state of Francis was due entirely to the draught he had +administered, Leoni started nervously in his saddle, for the King had +suddenly given a lurch as if partly unseated; but he regained his +balance on the instant, and muttered angrily at his horse for stumbling. + +They rode on now at a hand gallop, their horses' hoofs beating heavily +upon the road, but not drowning the King's voice, as every now and then +he 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 and +strange, and it was only now and then that Leoni, on his right, and +Denis, on his left, caught their import, always something about the hunt +and losing their quarry. + +It was just after one of these mutterings that the clouds were swept +from the face of the moon, passing onward like a vast black velvet +curtain edged with silver, and leaving visible a third, later on a half, +of the vast arch overhead, studded here and there with stars whose +lustre was paled by the effulgent moon. + +And now it was that, after studying the sky overhead for some minutes to +make sure, Denis could control himself no longer, and involuntarily +exclaimed; "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 we +not 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 they +rode 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 are +upon the wrong road; but the Count led, and I thought of nothing but +making our escape." + +"Are we to rein in, sir? Will you not tell him at once?" whispered +Denis, leaning towards him as near as he could get. + +"No; we can do nothing now but gallop on. There is certainly pursuit +going 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 would +naturally 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 his +saddle, this time towards his young esquire, who spurred his steed level +with the King's just in time to save him from falling headlong to the +ground. + +"Ah!" he muttered angrily. "This horse is going lame, and we shall be +last. Poor broken beast, I have ridden him too hard, and--I like it +not; I like it not." + +"Master Leoni!" cried Denis excitedly, as the King recovered himself +once more. "The Comte, sir--the Comte!" + +"I know. I saw. Keep as you are now, as close as you can ride. I'll +keep level on the other side. We must reach water somehow, and I will +give 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 moon +was shining brightly down upon them now. "A horrible cut upon his +brow!" + +"Halt!" cried Leoni; and at the command the horses stopped so suddenly +that but for the hands of his followers the King would have been thrown +upon 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 rein +fall upon the neck he drew his little _flacon_ from the breast of his +doublet, unscrewed the top, and passing his arm round the King's +shoulders, the head fell back, and the doctor pressed the neck of the +little flask between his lips, while Francis yawned slightly, and a few +drops trickled over his dry hot tongue. A few drops--no more--and then +the 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 the +plumed cap which had been dragged down over his eyes. + +"A cut from sword or axe," muttered Leoni. "It must have been given by +one of those halberdiers. He has borne it bravely, gentlemen, and like +a king. Hah! My handkerchief!" + +He snatched it out, just as it was, folded like a pad. "Now then, a +scarf," he said. "Yours, Denis. I will unfasten it myself. You, Saint +Simon, ride back a hundred yards and listen. Make out if you can +whether we are pursued." + +Saint Simon turned off and rode back without a word, while Leoni hastily +unfastened and drew off the young esquire's silken scarf, and said with +his white teeth glistening in a sardonic smile in the bright moonlight: + +"Why, Denis, boy, you will be honoured to-night. You must save this +scarf as an heirloom, for when you get it back it will be deeply stained +with 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 is +better: raise his head a little.--Stand still, horse!" he cried angrily; +and then, as Denis raised the King's head a trifle, the white +handkerchief was bound tightly over the wound, and the scarf adjusted so +that 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 the +embroidered baldric he wore. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +AN AWKWARD HALT. + +Meanwhile the strong medicament administered by Leoni had had its +effect, giving the sufferer temporary energy and to some extent +restoring the reeling senses, so that by the time the _al fresco_ +surgery was at an end, Francis began to speak with a fair amount of +coherence. + +"Who's this?" he said. "You, Leoni? Thanks, man. How cool and fresh +the night air feels! Have I been hurt? Yes, I remember. That caitiff +dog of an Englishman struck me with his partisan, and I had no time to +reach him and pay him back. Thanks, doctor. Yes, I am better now. But +on, on, on!" he panted, with a sudden return of the slight delirium from +which he had suffered. "An end to all this. Fontainebleau! Can we +reach there to-night?" + +"No, sir," replied Leoni soothingly, as with his hand upon the King's +rein he led his horse at a walk. "But we are well on the way for the +palace. 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. They +will have laid the hounds upon the boar's track. He will have broken +cover, and I shall not be there with my spear." + +"We will go faster soon, sir," said Leoni encouragingly; but he did not +attempt to increase their speed, continuing at a walk and suddenly +drawing rein to speak to Denis. + +"Saint Simon," he said--"I had forgotten him." + +"Coming on about a hundred yards behind," whispered Denis. "He thinks +we are not followed." + +"Hah!" exclaimed Leoni. "You ride on first. I will follow with the +Comte. 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, and +keep 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 beyond +pursuit." + +Denis obeyed and rode on, looking vainly for the road he sought, but +finding instead several leading in the opposite direction, while at +every turning he checked his horse to wait till the rest came up, for +their progress was necessarily slow. + +The night glided drearily on, with the paces of the horses at a slow +walk growing monotonous in the extreme; and for some time past the +excitement of the flight had been giving place to the first approaches +of a drowsiness that was rapidly becoming invincible, when with a faint +cry of joy the lad noticed, as he looked off to his right, that the +faint soft light was beginning to appear in the east, becoming soon a +long, low pearly band which grew broader and broader, while the stars +that 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 and +sombre, began to turn grey, leaves grew distinct, and before long +high-up in the zenith the sky was flecked with a few tiny clouds of a +soft rosy orange which gradually brightened till they glowed like fire, +and then died out, leaving nothing but the clear sky, darkened in the +west, 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 at +once, as if wakened by the footsteps of the horses, a lark sprang up, to +begin circling round higher and higher, carolling its joyous song, and +with it raising the spirits of the young esquire, as he felt that they +were free once more, and at all events taking the first steps homeward +and backward to the sea, which still lay between him and the rest and +peace for which he longed. + +It was horrible, he felt, that the King should have been injured in this +ill-starred expedition; but now it was to be at an end, and as the lad +thought this in the dewy freshness and cool air of the hour before +sunrise, he began to enjoy the beauty of the pleasant woodland country +through which their horses paced. But he looked back from time to time, +to see Francis more upright in his saddle, with Leoni riding knee to +knee, and Saint Simon grave and silent fifty yards behind. + +Still they passed nothing but some foot-track or rugged lane--nothing in +the way of a high-road--and the lad was about to draw rein at last to +seek counsel as to their further proceedings, when at a turn of the lane +he caught sight of a spreading clump of trees and what seemed to be a +village green, about which clustered a few humble cottages, and an inn +whose 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 of +our 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 a +gentleman who has had a fall from his horse. Denis, boy, we are in a +perilous strait. I dare not let the King go further until he has had +some 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 had +never before had guests of such degree, and when not observed he gazed +open-eyed at their rich habiliments, for there had been no time to don +their travelling garments. Everything had been made to give way to the +opportune moment for securing the jewel and making their escape. + +All the host studied was about how many gold pieces he would be able to +charge this noble gentleman who had had so unfortunate an accident +through his horse stumbling upon the ill-kept road, while he and his +wife did everything they could in their attentions, in the hope that +their visitors might prolong their stay. + +Leoni bit his nails to the quick as he paced up and down, watching the +road from the King's humble chamber, expecting every minute to see a +mounted guard coming to arrest them, and in spite of his longing to be +upon the road he dared not suggest such a thing to the King in his +intervals of consciousness, when he questioned about his state and where +they were, for his hurt was too serious for any risk to be run. + +So Leoni tended his wounded sovereign night and day, while, quite as +impatiently as he, Denis and Saint Simon tried to while away the time by +giving extra attention to the horses, and feeding them up ready for a +severe 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 and +anxiety of the King's followers had grown unbearable; but they had this +consolation, that the wound was doing well, and that though weak Francis +was conscious and ready to talk as much as Leoni would permit about +Fontainebleau and the journey home. + +But he always avoided making any mention of the jewel, or of his +dissatisfaction at having attempted so wild an escapade. + +It was, then, late in the afternoon of this fourth day, when after +Francis 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 attendant +had satisfied himself that the sleep was deep, he went down to the +shabby little room occupied by Denis and Saint Simon, who sat dolefully +comparing their quarters with those they had so lately left. + +"He is better, then?" cried Denis, springing up as Leoni entered; and +then he looked wonderingly at Leoni, who stood perfectly still, rapt of +manner and silent, gazing fixedly at him with that expressionless stony +eye, while with the other he seemed to be looking Saint Simon through +and through. + +"Yes," said the doctor at last, as if dragging himself back from where +his 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. I +dare not risk another breakdown on the road." + +"Oh," ejaculated Denis, "you surely do not advise that we should keep +his--the Comte in this squalid place another night?" + +"Not from choice, boy, but from necessity. Another such a night as he +has just had, and he may be fit to start. To leave to-day would +aggravate his wound." + +"Oh," cried Denis impatiently, "while at any moment Henry's people may +have obtained a clue and surround this place!" + +"We are playing for high stakes, boy," said Leoni gravely, "and we must +take all risks." + +The King did not awaken until late in the evening, seeming so much +rested and clear that Denis's heart leaped with excitement, for he began +to speak calmly, declaring that he was ready to start. + +"No, sir," said Leoni. "Believe me, not yet. Let us see what to-morrow +brings." And he reached out his hand to take his master by the wrist; +but with an impatient "Pish!" Francis snatched his hand away and sprang +to his feet. + +"Absurd!" he cried. "I am quite fit to start, for the pain has left my +wound. 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 and +fallen had not Saint Simon acted as the sturdy buttress he was, and +lowered him easily into a chair. + +"That giddiness again," cried the King, with a sigh. "The doctor is +right. Early to-morrow morning, then, gentlemen," he said, with a +peculiar smile. "Leoni is king now, and reigns in our stead. I like +not his palace, but we shall be safe here." + +The evening passed on. Leoni was with the King in his chamber, and +Denis and Saint Simon were seated gloomily together in their humble +room, and the latter was from time to time sipping and making wry faces +over a stoup of the bitterest, sourest, harshest cider that was ever +drawn from tub, when there was the loud clattering of horses upon the +road coming at a sharp trot; and as the young men sprang to their feet a +loud command was heard, which was followed by the stamping and shuffling +of hoofs as a troop of horsemen drew rein shortly in front of the little +inn. + +"Caught!" said Saint Simon abruptly, and his hand sought the hilt of his +sword, while Denis followed his example, just as the door was thrown +open 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 we +die for our master's sake, what then? We should only leave him a +prisoner 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 his +lips, "and I give you good counsel. It must be so. Hah!" he whispered +harshly, as he caught the boy by the breast. "Hark!" + +He loosed his hold, stepped lightly as a cat to the window, and peered +through a tiny opening in the partly fastened window-shutter, to make +out 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 just +then a sharp order rang out and the horses, which had been taking their +turns to lower their muzzles to the water in the long trough in front of +the inn, raised them, dripping, and a couple of minutes later the troop +was in motion again, with the hoofs of the chargers rattling and +gradually dying out upon the road. + +Denis was in the act of drawing a long deep breath of relief, hardly +believing that they had escaped, when their host appeared at the door. + +"The King's men, gentlemen," he said, "from Windsor; but it was only to +give their horses water," he added sadly. "They would not come in to +drink, and I expect," he continued dolefully, "when I go to look I shall +find the trough empty, and an hour's work before me to fill it from the +well. But they are the King's men, gentlemen; any other travellers +would have paid, as you do, gentlemen, generously and well." + +"Let me pay, then, for this," cried Denis, light-hearted as he was at +the thoughts of their escape, and he slipped a broad piece of silver +into the man's hand, sending him on his way rejoicing. + +That night Denis dropped into a deep but at the same time a thoroughly +uneasy sleep, in which at times it seemed to him that he was being +pursued, at others that he was the pursuer, while people were constantly +getting into his way, shouting out lustily, "You cannot pass!" He was +in terrible anxiety too about his master, who was just ahead, urging on +his horse, not apparently along an ordinary respectable country road, +but through what seemed to be absolutely interminable galleries of a +palace. He wanted to tell him to turn either to the right or to the +left, and by that means escape from what appeared to be a labyrinth; but +unluckily he could not get his horse abreast of that of his master, and +the wind was blowing so hard that his voice would not carry. He was +just about to shout "France! France!" when he woke up, with the +perspiration standing on his brow and the conviction full upon him as he +reached 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 and +Saint Simon were talking. + +And then sounds below caught the boy's ear, the trampling of horses and +the _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 entered +the inn, striding past the host. + +Francis heard these last words. + +"We must come to a great resolution, gentlemen," he said calmly. "We +must separate. Singly you may get through. You will leave me here as I +am ill. I will follow as best I can. Go." + +"Never, Sire," said Leoni, and his one word had two echoes in the little +room. + +"But--" began Francis, and he stopped, for there was a noise on the +stairs, 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 seems +doubtful. I will see for myself." + +The landlord was silent. + +"Stand out of the way, old man, and let me pass, if you value your +head." + +The door was pushed roughly open, and the Captain of the Guard strode +in. + +"Found!" he cried. "I shall save my credit at Court.--Gentlemen," he +went on, with the utmost courtesy and bowing low, "his Majesty the King, +disappointed with your abrupt leave-taking, has commanded me to escort +you back to his palace." + +"It is impossible," cried Leoni sternly. "The Count was seriously +wounded as we left the gates. You see for yourself. He is faint and +weak." + +"I am very sorry, sir," replied the captain sternly, "but I have his +Majesty's orders." + +"But not to brutally slay the King's guest. I am a _chirurgien_, and +you may take my word." + +The captain took a candle in his hand and held it over the rough pallet +where 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 be +possible, with care." + +"Very well," said the captain; "but I give you warning, gentlemen, that +any attempt at an escape--" + +"Bah!" ejaculated Leoni contemptuously. "Are we likely to leave our +master?" + +"Perhaps not," said the captain, with a bluff laugh, "but you might try +to take him." + +"In a litter?" said Leoni mockingly. + +"There, we must not bandy words, sir," said the captain. "It is my duty +to tell you that an attempt at escape may be at the cost of some of your +lives. We will stay here the night. But now, gentlemen, I have one +unpleasant duty to perform." + +"Our swords!" cried Denis hotly. + +"No, sir," said the captain, with a smile. "His Majesty would not +desire that I should call upon you to suffer that indignity. My +instructions were that in your hasty departure the other night one of +you took by mistake something--papers, documents, I don't know exactly +what--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. "Of +course 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. You +have an easy task, sir, for our valises were left behind." + +As Leoni said, it was an easy task, for all offered themselves freely to +the officer's inspection, and soon after the latter signified that he +was satisfied, and was about to leave the room. But as he reached the +door he stopped short and turned to Leoni. + +"One moment, sir," he said. "Can you and will you answer for the Comte +here, 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 me +your word that you are not bearing off any paper or despatch belonging +to his Majesty?" + +"Certainly," replied Leoni, "and my friends will too. We have neither +paper nor despatch belonging to your King." + +The captain bowed, and left the room, to set a couple of his men as +sentries at the chamber door; and as the occupants of the humble room +stood listening to the King's heavy breathing, for he had fallen into a +deep sleep, they heard the tramp of footsteps outside, sounds which made +Leoni 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 Denis +met the doctor's eyes with a stern reproachful look, he shuddered +slightly, for they looked to him more strange and fixed than ever, +having so strange an effect upon him that he could not put his reproach +into 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 had +better go back to your chambers and try to sleep. Of course it would be +madness to attempt to escape." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +A DEATH WARRANT. + +"Well," said the King, on the following evening, "you have them +prisoners?" + +"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's +guests." + +"Absurd!" cried the King fiercely. "This man can be no ambassador. He +is a marauder, a masquerader, who came to my court to act the common +thief." + +"But the letter, Sire, of which he was the bearer?" + +"Is as false as everything else concerning him. My guests!" cried the +King 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, "The +Comte 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 come +here 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 a +war with France. But mark me well--he dies as the thief who under the +mask of a French nobleman entered my palace to plunder. The world shall +see in this matter only the just punishment of a crime." And as he +spoke the King drew towards him paper and seized a pen. "Short and +sharp punishment," he said, "and in thus acting I clear the way to the +throne which by rights is mine." + +The chamberlain stretched out his hand in an imploring gesture, the +while 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 you +will rue the committal of a crime." + +"Hurst!" exclaimed the King angrily; but the chamberlain dropped on one +knee. + +"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 in +the old time belonged to his ancestors' crown." + +"That is naught," said Henry. "This man shall die." And he raised the +pen once more. + +"You who are so great a king, Sire, should be magnanimous here. This +night, Sire, is your own, to do good or ill; but it will be the darkest +of your reign if that warrant is signed." + +"But why do you intercede?" asked Henry, and he threw himself back in +his 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 speak +nothing of him but good; and I have not told you, Sire, that he is very +ill." + +"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 Robert +Garstang were wounded, the Comte was struck down by one of your brave +halberdiers." + +"And serve the villain right," cried the King impetuously. "Brave +fellow! 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 and +sick, 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 I +have made up my mind to this." And as he spoke the King drew himself up +in his chair once more and seized his pen. + +Hurst watched as if fascinated, seeing the King commence to write, and +then toss the pen aside as he finished, while afterwards he was about to +summon the officer of the guards without, but checked himself, extending +his hand to Hurst, who bent over it. + +"I will not doubt you," he said, handing him the warrant. "Deliver it +to the governor." And then with a wave of the hand he dismissed the +chamberlain, 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 the +words condemning the Comte de la Seine to die, and then the formula: "By +the King. Given at our Court at Windsor--Henry R." + +He went on slowly along the corridor till he had passed beyond the +King's private apartments, and, as if drawn by some attraction, made his +way in the direction of the chamber where Francis was lying suffering +from his wound. + +"Bad, bad, bad," he muttered to himself. "I must be right, and Francis +was ill-advised, if advised at all, and not led by his own impetuous +nature 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 I +would give something now for the instinct of the prophet, to be able to +see what this will mean in the future to France and to my own country +when it is known." + +He walked on dreamily, and then started, for he found that he had +unconsciously drawn near to Francis's chamber, and he hesitated, half +disposed 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 be +misconstrued by the most jealous man that ever sat upon a throne." + +He was passing slowly on in the gloomiest part by the door, when he +started, for some one had silently glided out of the opening and plucked +him by the sleeve. + +"My lord," whispered a voice. + +"Ah!" exclaimed Hurst. "You are the doctor, the Comte's follower with +the 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 your +master. 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 dimly +seen. + +"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?" cried +Hurst fiercely; and as he spoke he stretched out one hand and tapped it +sharply with the folded warrant that he held. + +"Hah!" ejaculated Leoni harshly, and then almost as fiercely as the +chamberlain he whispered, "Would he dare to raise his hand against the +ambassador of France?" + +"No, sir," said the chamberlain coldly, "but against the thief of the +night, who abused his hospitality that he might steal. Hark ye, man; if +you have your master's interest at heart, tell him to try to make his +peace with the King by telling him where the jewel lies, for it must be +somewhere 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 from +the door, where he remained without stirring until the chamberlain's +footsteps had died away. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY. + +A BOY'S RUSE. + +The doctor lost no time in thought, but returned to the outer apartment +which he had quitted only a few minutes before, to find that Saint Simon +had joined Denis and was watching by the bed where Francis lay +insensible. + +"We must act at once," he said, as they joined him and he gazed at a +narrow window through which the moonlight came. "Our King is in danger +of 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 with +craft and live. What! Would you fight an army? Bah! It is not by +that 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 two +up and down the apartment with his eyes fixed on the floor, while the +two young men watched him narrowly, seeming to be endeavouring to read +his 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 at +Denis, 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 to +go where we list, and Francis must be saved. I, alas, can be nothing in +my 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 peculiar +gaze. + +Leoni turned from him, walked slowly to the outer door, opened it as if +about to pass out, and then closed it again, to return quickly to his +two companions, and whispering softly in so low a voice that it was hard +to hear: + +"By taking his place while he escapes, and personating him as he lies +here bandaged, his face half hidden in the shadows of the heavy hangings +of 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 what +is done, and I can mould him to my wishes in every way. We are free, as +his servants, to come and go from the chamber, and there may be ways by +which 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 all +may be safe. Denis, boy, will you do this thing and be for the time +being the simulacrum of him we serve? Good: your face speaks. I knew +it. It is not a question of likeness, but of wearing a heavy bandage +that 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 gain +the grounds--but how?" + +"The secret passage, sir," whispered Denis. "It availed once, why not +again?" + +"The passage!" cried Leoni. "No; once used, they will guard it safely +now. But stop; they do not know that we escaped that way, and it might +prove as sure an exit as it did before. I have seen no guard in that +corridor 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 leading +downward 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 way +into the sleeping chamber, he busied himself with torn-up linen and +scarf, preparing the semblance of bandages, while Denis unbuckled his +sword-belt and hurriedly threw off his doublet. + +A few minutes sufficed for the skilful hands of Leoni to strap and +bandage the gallant lad's features, leaving him standing on one side of +the bed while he went to the other to draw back the coverlet. + +In obedience to the thought that flashed through his brain the lad bent +quickly forward, caught at the King's hand and raised it eagerly to his +lips, half rousing him, to mutter in his sleep, while Leoni took out and +unscrewed his little flask and applied it to the King's lips. + +"Drink this, sir," he said, and in strict obedience to his medical +attendant, the sick man drank till the vessel was withdrawn. + +"Ah!" exclaimed Francis wearily. "I am not well, Leoni. We pay dearly +for our adventure. But we will hunt to-morrow at Fontainebleau. Is it +not 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 thrown +on 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 leaned +heavily on Leoni's arm, while the latter drew the heavily plumed hat +which 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 expression +faded 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 would +succeed, whether the King would on the morrow be far on his way to the +sea. + +The next minute he was in the inner chamber by a mirror, smiling at +himself, before plunging into the King's place, turning on his side, and +drawing 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 wild +excitement. There was the disguise, and then the scene of preparing +Francis for another flight, his helplessness, and the calm, unresisting +way in which he had yielded himself to Leoni's hands. + +Then came the departure, the farewell of Leoni, whom at times he seemed +to shrink from with dislike, almost with dread, but only to feel himself +won back again, attracted by the doctor's manner and his manifest liking +for his young companion. + +Then there was the closing of the door, which seemed to cut the lad off +from his friends and leave him, as he threw himself wearily into the bed +to lie there alone in the darkness, face to face with a horror which +chilled him through and through. + +For in his chivalrous excitement which thrilled him with a feeling that +he was about to do a most gallant thing in the service of his King, he +seemed to have no time to think; but now in the silence and gloom of +that solitary inner room, there was time for thought, time for his +feelings to be harrowed by the knowledge of what was to come, and as he +lay 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 the +King's attendants, inquiry would be made, and possibly the supposed +Comte, lying wounded in the bed, would be sharply questioned as to the +whereabouts of his doctor and gentlemen. + +"What shall I do?" thought Denis. "I must keep up the semblance of +being the King. I am supposed to be very ill, and I can pretend to be +insensible. That will all gain time if I refuse to speak; and those who +come will never for a moment think that the King's attendants have left +him helpless here--far less fancy that they have escaped. + +"But have they escaped?" thought the lad; and in his excitement the +perspiration broke out upon his brow, as he lay wondering whether they +had found the private passage unfastened and won their way through to +the gardens, so as to pass unnoticed along the alleys and down to the +river steps and boat. + +"No," he thought. "Impossible. The people here would surely have +securely fastened up that way, and the King has been captured; and with +such an enemy as Henry what will be his fate?" + +For some time he gave these thoughts firm harbour, but at last his +common sense prevailed. The idea was absurd, he told himself. If the +little party had been seized while making their escape the whole castle +would have been in an uproar, full of wild excitement, with the hurrying +to 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 a +couple of sconces were hidden from his sight by the heavy hangings of +the bed, so that he lay there alone in the deep gloom. + +There were moments when the shadows cast by the lights seemed to take +form and move, making him feel that he could lie there no longer, that +he 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 a +childish superstitious dread brought about by the horror of his +position. + +It was hard to bear, and required a heavy call upon his manliness to +force back these fancies and prepare himself to play his part when the +crucial time came of some one visiting the room and finding that the +Comte's attendants were no longer there. + +"It is for the King of France!" he muttered, when at last the dread and +horror of his position had culminated in a feverish fit that seemed as +if it would end by his springing out of bed, tearing off the mockery of +his disguise, and hurrying through the outer chamber into the corridor +to seek the company of the nearest guards. + +"It means hastening the discovery," he muttered, "but I can bear this no +longer. 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 in +that one little word: + +"Why?" + +He began breathing more easily the next moment, for the weak boy had +mastered, and manliness was coming to his aid. + +"Oh," he muttered to himself, "am I to be as cowardly as a girl? It is +too childish. Afraid of shadows, shrinking from lying alone in the +dark! Why, I shall fancy next that I shall be afraid to lie here with +the sun shining brightly, through the panes. What difference is there +between the light and darkness? I can make it black darkness even at +noonday 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 a +trick, a masquerade. Sooner or later I shall be found out. But what +then? I am only a lad, and this King Harry would be a bloodthirsty +monster if he had me slain for what is after all only a boyish prank. I +have nothing to do but lie here quite still, as if a sick man, and very +bad. They will find out at last. Well, let them. I am utterly tired +out with all I have gone through. My head is as weary as my bones, and +now all this weak cowardice has gone I am going to do what I should do +here in bed, and go to sleep. + +"Oh, impossible! Impossible!" muttered the lad wearily. "Who could +sleep at such a time as this?" + +He rose upon his elbow and said those words in a hoarse whisper, as if +he 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 set +teeth: + +"--and I will." + +With a quick movement he drove his clenched fist two or three times into +the great down pillow, making it purl up into a hillock, upon which he +laid his cheek, and into which it softly sank, while, closing his eyes, +he strove to force himself into a heavy sleep, till his strong effort +joined with his bodily weariness, and he sank into a deep dreamless +trance. + +How long this lasted he never knew, but all at once he lay wide awake +and wondering, striving to realise where he was, and what the meaning of +that heavy distant tramp, tramp, as of soldiery coming nearer and +nearer, till it ceased outside the farther door in obedience to a hoarse +command. + +There was another order, followed by a close fusillade-like sound of the +butts of halberds planted upon the floor. Then a few moments' silence, +and as the lad strained his eyes in the direction of the doors, that +farthest was suddenly flung open and the outer chamber was filled with +light which emphasised the gloom of the inner, where, fully alive to his +position, Denis lay still, closing his eyes and pressing his face +farther into the pillow, as a stern voice shouted as if in warning, for +all 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 be +another daring attempt to escape; for Francis, under the influence of +the medicament that he had administered, was like a puppet in his hands; +while Saint Simon, big, manly, and strong, ready to draw and attack any +who should bar their way, spoke no word, but followed his leader's every +gesture watchfully, suggesting nothing, doing nothing save that exactly +which he was told. + +As they stood outside the door and began to move along the corridor, the +place looked so lonely and the task so ridiculously easy, that the +scheming, subtle doctor's heart smote him with a feeling of remorse. + +It seemed to be so cruel, so cowardly, to escape and leave that brave +lad, who was ready to sacrifice his life in his master's service, alone +there with his despair, waiting for the discovery that would probably +end with his death. + +"Pish!" said Leoni to himself. "What is the boy to me? Nothing more +than a pawn upon the chessboard of life, one of the pieces I am using +for the sake of France--France, my country, for which I have ventured +this. For what is this gay butterfly? King? Yes, the King upon the +chessboard, whom it is my fate to move; and where I place him, there he +stays. It is I, I in my calm, grave, unobtrusive way, who am the real +King of France--now nearly at the pinnacle of my ambition, or shall be +when I have achieved these last moves. And yet I am not happy. It jars +upon me cruelly that I should have to leave this boy. Pooh! Absurd! I +will not think about him," he muttered; and then with a silent mocking +laugh, "And yet what is he? Only, as I say, a pawn, which the +necessities of the position force me to sacrifice." + +These thoughts flashed like lightning through his brain, as, grasping +the King's arm with one hand, he waved the other in the air as if in the +act 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 him +and seemed to press him down. + +But there was stern work awaiting him, for he would not, he could not +believe that their escape could be as easy as it seemed. The corridor +leading to the great gallery near the King's apartment appeared +perfectly deserted; neither guard nor gentleman in attendance seemed at +hand 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 of +things. + +Stopping suddenly close up to the panelled wall, he signed to Saint +Simon 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. But +wait till I raise my hand." + +He walked swiftly on, almost gliding like a shadow over the wall, for +his footsteps made no sound, while as he passed one candle which gave +out 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, still +without seeing anything to hinder his signalling to Saint Simon, and +reaching safely the spot opposite to the secret door. + +"If I were alone," he thought, "I have but to cross here, pass behind +the arras, make my way to the riverside, and then somehow I could, I +would, 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 he +pressed himself back against the tapestry, looking in his sombre garb, +in the faint light of the great place, like one of the needlework +figures in the hangings. + +But his heart was beating fast, for all at once and quite unexpected +there was the sound of footsteps, so slow and measured that he knew they +must be those of a sentry; and the next minute a tall figure, dimly +seen, 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 and +clutched it fast. + +He held his breath and nerved himself for the cat-like leap he was +prepared to make as the sentinel came abreast, for he felt that it was +impossible that the man could pass him without his being seen. + +But to the watcher's intense astonishment the sentry stopped short in +the centre of the gallery, when he was about a dozen yards away, turned +upon his heel, and began to retrace his steps. Leoni on the instant +judged that the man had come to the end of his beat, and if this were so +the task seemed easy, for by seizing the minute when his back was turned +and he was at the full extent of his monotonous tramp in the other +direction, it seemed to the doctor that it would be easy to step across +the 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 I +make my chief piece obey me and move alone?" + +The disposition was upon the watcher of the sentry to glide back at once +to where he had left Saint Simon and the King; but he felt that he must +make sure in this crisis of the adventure before he took his next step, +and he waited, closely pressed up against the tapestry, looking more +than ever like an embroidered figure, as the sentry halted far down the +gallery, softened by distance into a mere shadow, turned, and resumed +his pacing. + +The task seemed harder than ever to stand pressed there against the +panelling, watching the coming of the stalwart guard, and it took all +the doctor's nerve and self-command to stand there so absolutely still +of body, while his nerves and thoughts were moving with an intensity +that literally thrilled. + +"Coming towards his death," said Leoni mentally, as the man came on and +on, gradually ceasing to be so shadow-like and dim as he advanced. "His +life or mine. His life or mine. His life or mine," something within +him seemed to keep on saying, till the end of the sentry's beat appeared +to be quite over-passed and he was coming nearer, so near that Leoni +felt 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 not +quite, for almost as soon as his back was turned Leoni's command over +his nerves and muscles ceased, and he began to glide silently along by +the tapestried panels to reach Saint Simon and the King at last. + +No word was spoken now but the single one "Follow," as Leoni softly took +the 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, and +standing close up against the wall, to wait till the man reached his +nearest point to the secret door to turn in his automaton-like fashion +and begin marching back. + +Leoni waited till the sentry half covered the distance he had to +traverse, and then led the King swiftly and silently till they were +nearly opposite the panel door, to pause once more--three shadowy +figures now--to wait there during the most crucial time, for the great +test was now at hand. + +Could he trust the King to remain silent till the man turned back--if he +did turn back without distinguishing that he was not alone in the gloomy +gallery? + +But Leoni was a man of resource, and to meet this difficulty he bade +Saint Simon lie down at full-length close to the wall, while he pressed +the King behind the pedestal of a statue standing in a niche a few yards +away. + +It was a great risk, but the King seemed plunged in a deep sleep, and at +a time like that something had to be risked. It was the daring of the +plan that carried it through, and the fact that the sentry's perceptions +were dulled by habit. Hence it was that he came on, gazing +introspectively and seeing nothing but his own thoughts, which were of +the near approaching time when he would be relieved, and return to the +guard chamber, supper, and sleep. + +Leoni hardly breathed as once more he watched the man come on nearer and +nearer, apparently to his death, for this time Leoni softly drew the +keen stiletto that he wore, and crouched ready to ensure silence and +save the King if he were driven to the last extremity. But that was not +to be. + +The man came to the full extent of his paced-out beat, turned, and +marched back, while before he was half the distance to the other end the +doctor had glided across the gallery, raised the arras, and pressed the +boss, fully expecting to find that the door was fast; but it yielded +silently, and the doctor's heart leaped as he drew in a long deep breath +of cool moist air. + +Dropping the arras, he stood for a moment gazing after the shadowy +sentry, feeling startled to see how far he was still from the end of his +beat; and, acting contrary to the mode he had planned in his +determination to seize this opportunity if it could be done, he glided +swiftly across to where the King was standing, and caught him by the +arm. + +"Come," he whispered, with his lips to Francis's ear, when the King +yielded as if he were a portion of the speaker's self, walking with him +silently till they were half across the gallery, when all at once a +bright light threw up into bold relief the figure of the sentry at the +far limit of his tramp, and the two fugitives stood out plainly before +Saint Simon like two black silhouettes upon the distant glow. + +"Lost!" sighed Leoni, as, utterly unnerved, he stood tightly pressing +the King's wrist, unable even to stir, but listening to the sounds of +voices 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 hardly +likely to discern them at so great a distance, he recovered himself and +pressed on towards the door and raised the tapestry, when without word +of direction Francis passed through, followed by Leoni, and the arras +was dropped. + +"Saint Simon," muttered the doctor, as without closing the door he led +the King onward for about a dozen yards, before returning to the open +door with the intention of kneeling down to raise the hangings slightly +and watch. + +"Must I leave him behind--another?" he muttered; and then he started, to +clap his hand to his dagger again and prepare to strike, for there was a +faint rustling sound from the open door and then the faintest of faint +clicks, followed by the expiration of a heavy breath as from one who +could contain it no longer. + +Leoni stood with his arm raised on high and his stiletto pointing +downwards. The next moment it had dropped to his side, for from out of +the darkness in front there came the whispered words: + +"Are you there?" + +"Saint Simon!" cried the doctor, not beneath his breath, for he was too +much excited by his surprise to control his emotion, as he stretched out +his 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. I +will go on first and see." + +He glided on with extended hands, expecting momentarily to touch the +King, 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 once +more by the hand, which he dropped as soon as they were at the foot, and +then passed on rapidly with his pulses throbbing and in a state of +ungovernable excitement such as he had not felt since the commencement +of 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 upon +his left, expecting moment by moment that it would come in contact with +the ledge. He was quite right. It did, and glided into the niche, when +a 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 were +prisoners as fast as ever, unless some other scheme could be devised. + +For a few brief moments Leoni gave way to despair. Then with an angry +ejaculation he pressed on with extended hands, covered the few yards +more that had to be passed before the door was reached, touched it, and +swept his hands towards the lock, and once more no longer in full +command 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 should +he be asleep or waking; but the heavy beating calmed down at once as he +heard the King's slow footsteps in the outer room, and then the question +in 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 with +him alone. Go, and retire the guards. I will summon you when I have +done." + +"But, your Majesty--" + +"Silence! Can I not defend myself were it necessary against a wounded +man? Go, and at once!" + +The chamberlain, whose voice Denis had recognised at once, retired in +silence. + +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 counting +the 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 the +King strode through the dividing door into the chamber, stopped as if +looking round for a moment, and then stepped round to the side of the +great canopied bed, drew forward a chair, and seated himself between the +recumbent prisoner and the window. Then he coughed again, but sharply +and 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 it +fall 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 this +night, to remind you that by the way in which you have repaid my +hospitality you have forfeited your life." + +Denis raised his hand again, so that it came out of the shadow thrown by +the 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, the +hand was waved carelessly in the air before it was allowed to descend. + +"Hah!" cried the King. "You are a Frenchman, sir, and you behave with +all the flippancy of your race. I understand your gesture. It means +recklessness. You, so to speak, tell me that you do not value your +life. You defy me. But you will alter your tone when you are called +upon to march in the middle of my guards to the headsman's block, and +suffer 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 now +listen to me, M. le Comte de la Seine, as you call yourself. But you +have not deceived me. I know everything, even to the reason why you +have stooped to play the part of a common cutpurse." + +Denis raised his hand again with an angry gesture, and Henry continued +more loudly: + +"I repeat it, sir," he cried; "a common cutpurse; and please understand +that 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, and +can 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 command +this mercy, possibly my forgiveness, and the continuance of the feeling +of friendship that you, so brilliant and talented a man, have won." + +Denis raised his hand again, as if in deprecation, feeling in spite of +his perilous position something like amusement at the success attending +the 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 before +you stooped to the wretched chicanery and folly which brought you to +this pass. Now, sir, I tell you I am ready to be merciful and spare +your life, but upon conditions; and these stipulations which I shall +make, I tell you, you as my prisoner are bound to accept. You came here +under false pretences to steal a jewel that was England's by the right +of conquest, making to yourself the excuse that originally it belonged +to France. Is not this so?" + +Denis raised his hand again. + +"You do not speak," said the King. "Well, knowing as I do that you were +badly wounded by my faithful guards, and are now suffering severely for +your crime, I am willing to accept a motion of your hand, a gesture, as +your acceptation, as a reply. You see, sir, that all through this mad +escapade Providence was working a means of compassing its righteous +ends. You have fallen completely into my power, and either you submit +to my terms or die." + +Denis raised his hand quickly. + +"You mean an appeal for mercy," cried the King. "Wait till you have +heard my terms. They are these. I have here," he continued, unfolding +a paper, "a complete renunciation on the part of France of the city of +Bordeaux with the towns and territories embraced by Guienne, lands that +were won by the good sword of my predecessors, to have and hold for +three hundred years, but which you now occupy on sufferance and by the +magnanimity of the English throne, which has mercifully withheld itself +from seizing them by an act of war." + +Denis's hand, now fully in the light, was extended for a moment, but +sharply withdrawn, for the fingers to begin tapping impatiently upon the +coverlet. + +"Ah, you hesitate!" cried Henry. "Let me tell you that it is no time +for hesitation, and that I shall brook no argument, accept nothing but a +full and sufficient resignation made now upon this paper, which needs +but 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 intense +satisfaction, as he rose to his feet and walked slowly to a side-table +standing beneath one of the sconces, upon which were writing materials +ready to the visitor's hand. "I am glad," continued Henry, "that you +are acting so wise a part. I might call in my chamberlain and others of +my people to witness your surrender, but I will spare the feelings of a +brother 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 a +book, to bear them in company with the paper he held to the side of the +bed, where he spread the paper upon the work. + +"Now, Sire," he continued, "at this moment we are enemies. Take this +pen and add your royal name where I will place my finger, and I give you +my kingly word that I will wipe out from the tablets of my memory the +whole of your dastardly action, and become henceforth not only your +brother of England, but your willing ally against all enemies who may +rise up in an endeavour to imperil our thrones. There, Sire; I presume +you 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 his +hand slowly and closed his fingers upon the pen, while with a sigh of +satisfaction Henry placed his index finger, upon which a large gem was +glittering, upon the blank spot beneath that which he had written upon +the paper. + +"Stop!" he cried suddenly. "I had forgotten. It is not written down +there, but for it I will take your kingly word. You promise me to +restore the jewel reft from my cabinet and hidden somewhere you best +know where. Surely you can speak enough for this--the fewest words will +do. You promise by your kingly word and all that is holy to restore +that gem?" + +He ceased speaking, and to one of those present the silence in that room +seemed 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, and +nerving himself to meet the crisis which might mean the sacrifice of his +life, Denis with a quick flick of his fingers sent the fully feathered +pen flying from the gloom of the hangings where he lay far out into the +room. + +"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 a +quick movement he threw back the coverlet, sprang from the bed, and tore +off his bandages, to stand there in the full light in white shirt and +trunk hose, scattering the wrappings which had disfigured his face, just +as, startled in his turn and fully expecting an attack, Henry took a +couple 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 Francis +out into the grounds. But drawing in a deep breath he was cautious the +next moment as some lurking beast of prey. + +The key was turned by slow degrees without a sound, and the door drawn +carefully inward till there was a slight crack, through which the night +wind came in pleasantly to his heated brow, and he paused for quite five +minutes, listening; then gradually opening more and more, he satisfied +himself that there were no concealed guards among the bushes, waiting to +spring 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. This +done, "Now," he whispered, and Francis, who seemed more than ever under +his control, stepped quietly out, followed by Saint Simon; after which +the door was cautiously locked, and Leoni slipped the key into his +pocket. + +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 is +rash; age is cautious. Our progress must be slow and sure." + +He took and pressed the young man's hands as he spoke, before leaving +him to take a few strides for observation along the path, and then +returning, musing to himself that all seemed too easy, and that at any +moment there might be some sudden check to their progress. + +Back once more, he bade his two companions follow, leading them slowly +and cautiously on, sword in one hand, stiletto in the other, as +advance-guard, Saint Simon, similarly prepared, forming the rear; and +then on and on they went downward through the bushes, which ever and +again brushed against their sleeves, and twice over startled and +arrested by a sudden dash as of an enemy; but it was nothing worse than +a startled bird, blackbird or thrush, roused from its roosting sleep by +the disturbers of its rest. + +And so downward along the winding, well-marked paths, with nothing to +hinder their progress, no guards to arrest, and Leoni strong in the +belief that some great check must come, settling in his mind that the +encounter would be down by the landing-place when they tried to set free +the boat. + +In this belief when they were nearly there he stopped short, laid his +hand upon the King's shoulder to press him aside, and whispered to Saint +Simon 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 was +reached, lying in the darkness of the clouded night nearly hidden by a +great overhanging willow, whose pensile twigs brushed the roof of the +waterside summer-house supported upon slimy water-worn piles, to one of +which the boat-chain was attached, the rusty iron creaking faintly +against the ring-bolt as the skiff swung softly to and fro, influenced +by the swift stream. + +"Hah!" sighed Leoni to himself. "Fate is with us yet. Who says our +mission is unrighteous?" And a feeling of exultation rose within his +breast, only to be crushed-down directly after by what seemed to be a +heavy weight of misery, beyond which he seemed to see the reproachful +eyes of the King's esquire, sacrificed that he might succeed. + +"Into it and unloose the chain, boy," whispered Leoni, eager by action +to change the current of his thoughts. + +Saint Simon quickly sheathed sword and dagger as he stood on the lowest +step and reached out to draw in the boat, into which he stepped, making +the chain rattle as he drew it through the ring, and his leaden utter an +impatient: + +"Hist!" + +The next minute the freed boat was grinding against the step, and Leoni +steadied 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 Leoni +followed, and took his own place between Francis and Saint Simon, whom +he relieved of one of the oars. + +"Push off!" whispered Saint Simon, who held the oar that rested on the +steps. + +"One moment's thought," whispered back Leoni, speaking over his left +shoulder, as he glared around for danger, his ears twitching the while +like those of some wild animal which felt that there was peril in the +air. + +"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 we +are 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 missed +they will think that we have taken the easier way. No, boy, ours is no +time for ease; hard work and safety must be our motto now. Push off and +row with me slowly and steadily onward against the stream." + +Saint Simon bore heavily upon his oar and with a thrust sent the boat's +head outward; and directly after, dipping as lightly as they could, they +pulled together with a wonderful regularity for such unpractised hands +out towards the middle, till a scattered light or two appeared from +beyond the trees, showing where the castle lay. + +And then onward in silence for a few hundred yards along between the +dimly seen silent banks of the black river, for the clouds seemed to +have 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, for +Francis had sunk slowly sideways, fast asleep; while, with the action of +a careful mother bending over her child, the strange subtle doctor +carefully readjusted his cloak to guard him from the night air, before +resuming his seat with a sigh, and taking up his oar. + +"A trifle, Saint Simon," he said playfully. "There are times when we +have to protect our master with our swords, but we must not forget such +little things as this." + +"Ah!" ejaculated Saint Simon, with a groan. + +"Why, what's the matter, boy? You don't resent having to row the night +through 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, but +he could not be so base as to hurt a boy like that. Row for our lives +while 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 do +it now till my arms refuse to stir." And on the boat glided, kept +closer to the shore where the eddies played and the full force of the +stream was missed. + +And then on and on hour after hour, with a few intervals of rest where +the waters whispered and they made fast to some overhanging bough and +spent the minutes thinking that horsemen might be near, scouring the +country where they could approach the banks on either side to cut off +the fugitives, though not a sound was heard. + +And so on till day broke and they made fast amongst the trees in the +most secluded place they came to, not daring to expose themselves where +they might be seen. + +They had no trouble with the King, for, weak with his wound and half +stupefied by the drug Leoni had administered, he slept on hour after +hour through the pleasant morning and through the heat of noon, his +resting-place quite cool beneath the shadowing trees and with his brow +fanned by the soft summer breeze. He did not even stir when, kneeling +in the boat, Leoni moistened and drew off the bandages to dress his +wound, washing them in the stream and drying them in a patch where the +hot sun heated the bows of the boat, but still slept on as if restful +and comforted by the chirurgeon's skilful hands. + +"Better or worse?" whispered Saint Simon, while the task was in +progress. + +"Better, boy, and healing fast. He will sleep for hours yet, and waken +quite 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 smiled +sardonically, making his companion wince at the peculiar look in his +eyes. + +"I was thinking, boy," he said, "of how you are going to spread the +white napkins and the silver cups for our master's banquet, for he will +be hungry, ravenous, after his long fast. You see, he may be displeased +to 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 beautifully +limpid 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 of +hostelries. Every one within reach of the river will be searched. We +shall 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 his +breast to draw out the little golden flask, which he tapped with his +finger-nails. + +"Three parts gone," he said; "but enough left for the Comte's use. A +few drops will quell his hunger; double the quantity will make him sleep +in peace. When you can bear your fast no longer, you shall have a few +drops 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 past +night's labours, and the King sleeping as quietly as a child; while from +time to time as Saint Simon glanced at him sadly, thinking of how he and +Leoni had been the cause of all the trouble to his friend, he could not +help a growing feeling of admiration within his breast as he saw how +able the doctor's ministrations were, as shown by the way in which he +had treated his master's serious wound. + +It was during one of these musing fits, when he was wondering, to use +the homely phrase, how Denis was getting on, that Leoni, after a long +silence, spoke out decisively. + +"We will wait till it is dark," he said. "It will not be long now--and +then row on through the night. It looks so clear that I expect we shall +have the moon to help us on our way. To-morrow morning we shall be +obliged to risk landing somewhere on the left bank, and then make our +way due south, walking till the King is weary--of course after one of us +has bought food of some kind, for he will never walk without. Hah!" he +continued, as he bent over the sleeping King and carefully examined his +face. "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 going +through some imaginary scene--hunting perhaps." + +Singularly enough, as the doctor spoke in a whisper, Francis proved the +correctness 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 will +not 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 at +once; 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 and +throat; but at the first touch of his hands the King started up and +caught 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 a +boat?" + +"Yes, sir--" began Leoni. + +"Say Sire, man! I have done with this masquerading folly. Speak out +plainly. 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. It +all 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 growing +confused again--what mean you? That we are escaping now?" + +"Yes, Sire; soon to be in safety and on your way to your own great +land." + +"Ah!" cried the King, in a tone full of satisfaction. "That is good. I +would that I had never left it upon this quest. But how dark it is +getting!" + +"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, I +am confused again. Yes--that is what I wanted to think of. Is Saint +Simon there? But where is my young esquire? On your life, man, don't +tell 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's +anger. 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 of +the kind, though it is all confused." + +"Yes, Sire; from your wound." + +"Hah!" cried the King. "But what is that to do with young Denis? Was +he 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 your +place 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!" cried +Francis; and he was silent for a few moments, while bending over the +side of the boat he scooped up the clear cold water in his hand and +drank again and again. + +"Hah!" he cried. "That gives me power to think. Did I understand you +aright that I am escaping and have left that boy to bear the brunt of my +folly, 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. Your +brave young esquire felt it to be his task, and he volunteered to play +his 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 just +entering 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 not +be." + +"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 boat +and 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 on +me if he dares. But he shall not injure a hair of that brave boy's +head. 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 entered +his 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 what +was to take place." + +"Leoni!" cried the King. + +"Those are the simple words of truth, Sire. That death warrant, signed +by the King's own hand, was the mainspring of my action. Was I not +justified in doing anything to save your life?" + +The King was silent. + +"Leoni!" he exclaimed at length. "I am faint with hunger. Is there no +place 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 either +bank." + +"Let them search and find if they will," cried the King. "I must have +refreshment before I do more." + +"Your Majesty wishes us to row there and take our chance of being +discovered?" + +"Yes," said the King, "and at once. But stay. You are certain that the +Count'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 you +declared 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 I +will not believe it of him, going as I shall now, for nothing shall stay +me 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 of +her King. You urge me to perform a dastardly act in fleeing at a time +like this." + +"Remember, Sire, the reason why you came." + +"I do," said the King, standing up proudly in the boat, as the edge of +the moon began to lift above the low mist that lay upon the river and +adjacent meads, lighting up the King's face, animated now into stern +beauty by the spirit within which spoke, "and think of it with shame. +Listening to your words, I blinded myself into the belief that it was +right, that it was a brave and a gallant act to wrest that Crown jewel +from King Henry's hand; but I see more clearly now that my mad +enterprise has met with its merited fate, and go back I will as a +chivalrous knight, ask my brother King's forgiveness, and save that +brave 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 stood +erect there was a look of triumph in his face which gave him, as it +were, a reflection of the kingly majesty before which he stood. "It has +not failed, but ended in triumph and success." + +"What!" cried the King fiercely. "You speak in riddles. Tell me what +you mean." + +He seemed to tower over his follower, who, apparently humbled, crouched +before him with lowered head and outstretched deprecating hands, with +which he covered his face as if asking mercy. But the next moment he +sprang 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 in +the light of the moon, which flashed and scintillated from the many +facets 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 of +France!" + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SIX. + +IN BORROWED PLUMES. + +Denis stood for a few moments panting heavily, not daring to take his +eyes from those of the King, who stood there speechless with +astonishment. Then by an effort the boy wrenched his gaze from where it +was held, as he thought of his own sword; but the weapon was on the +other side of the bed, and as he realised it the thought came that this +was 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's +esquire! Where is your King?" + +"Beyond your reach, Sire, by this time," said the boy boldly, nerved as +he was by the feeling that he had gained much time, and that his words +were true. + +"Escaped?" + +"Yes, Sire." + +"Ah!" ejaculated the King. "And I see now this was another ruse. How +like 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 passed +into 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 gang +of thieves!" + +"I am your prisoner, Sire," said the boy boldly, "and I know what is +bound to be my fate. I am no member of a gang of thieves, but one of my +King's esquires, bound to do his duty as his Majesty's servant; and I +have done mine--no more." + +"Ah!" cried the King, making a quick advance towards the boy, who made +an 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 the +shoulder. "Then that was the King of France!" + +"Yes, Sire." + +"I knew it," cried the King, "and Hurst was right. And you have been +deceiving us all here, lying bandaged in that bed, while he has been +placing himself beyond our reach, bearing away that fateful gem?" + +"Yes, Sire; but my word for it, his Majesty the King has never laid +hands upon the jewel, and is not bearing it away." + +"Well!" exclaimed the King, with his eyes rolling and his cheeks puffed +out; and then, loosening his fierce grip upon the boy's shoulder, he +staggered back to the nearest chair, dropped into it, and laughed. + +The next minute the mirth died out of his half closed eyes, and a scowl +appeared upon his brow, as he fiercely gazed in the eyes that did not +for a moment blench. But the frown died out in a look of admiration, as +he said sharply: + +"You springald, to play a part like this, with the executioner's axe +hanging 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 I +thought." + +"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't +turn white like that--a gentleman of France, as you call yourself--a +king'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 hardly +reached the listener's ears. "Look here, sir," continued Henry, "you +have forfeited your life and stayed me from showing mercy to your +master. 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 eyes +fixed admiringly upon the lad, who faced him still with a wondrous +command 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 my +faithful 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 blood +flowing in your veins. Well, why do you not speak? Is not mine a +kingly act?" + +"Yes, Sire, and I am grateful." + +"Well, why do you hesitate? Enter my service. The star of the Valois +must be setting fast when its representative can stoop to such a deed as +this." + +The lad shook his head. + +"What! Do you not understand? I will find work for your sword. Serve +me faithfully, and rank shall in time be yours. Do you forget that your +life 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 arms +crossed upon his breast, fighting hard for the resignation that refused +to come, while his heart now beat slowly and heavily, as if in the march +that ended in the scaffold and the axe. + +The next minute the King had flung open the outer chamber door, as if to +show to the boy his fate, for there stood the captain with the guards +drawn up on either side, their armour gleaming and the lights they bore +flashing from their halberds' heads. + +But the boy stood firm, seeing as it were through the glittering +pageantry of the English Court the gleaming fields of far-off France, a +sparkling 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 in +astonishment. + +"Behold my royal visitor!" cried Henry mockingly. "This is the way my +courts are kept." + +"I do not understand, your Majesty," cried the chamberlain, trembling +for 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 at +him, 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 my +apartments, Hurst." + +"As a prisoner, Sire?" + +"No," said the King, still fixing Denis with his eyes, and speaking to +him as much as to the chamberlain. "He is my guest still, though his +master 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, and +on one particular night, it would have been impossible to suppose that +not many hours before he had been indulging in so fierce a storm of +passion, such kingly rage, that not one of his most trusted courtiers +and counsellors had dared approach for fear of consequences that might +ensue. + +It was the lion's feeding time, and the food had evidently been good and +satisfying. The music too in the minstrels' gallery had been sweet and +pleasant to the ear. The Court jester had for a wonder excelled himself +in his strong endeavours to put the King in a good humour, and uttered +no 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 sting +which 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 great +dining chamber, especially below the salt, where the King's gentlemen +were seated who had for long been disappointed at the absence of royal +favour and promotion they had been hoping for since they came to offer +their services at Court; and though all who were well within the scan of +his Majesty's eyes spoke softly and with a stereotyped Court smile upon +their countenances, they said more bitter things by far than any that +had been uttered by the King's jester, their remarks being dipped in +envy, as they asked one another whether this French boy to whom the King +was showing such favour--this French _champignon_, "impudent young +upstart"--was to be the new favourite now, and one and all said to +themselves that which was too dangerous to confide to another, that the +King must have gone a little mad over the fit he had on discovering the +loss of his favourite jewel, which had been carried off--so rumour +said--by the so-called French Ambassador. This, joined to the second +escape, must have turned the royal brain; otherwise he would never have +displayed such sudden favour to one who had played so daring a prank as +the impersonation of the wounded man. + +But all the same this great favour had been shown, and there was the +young upstart of an esquire seated on the King's left, where all through +the evening he had been the recipient of the greater part of the royal +conversation, responding in French, with a little English which made the +King roar, and encouraged him to continue his rather lame efforts at +English conversation with an accent that could be called nothing better +than vile. + +The evening had passed away, and, wearied out at last, the King himself +had relieved his feelings with more than one unroyal yawn--signals these +of the time approaching when the gentlemen of the bedchamber would have +to be in attendance, and another of the Court days be at an end. + +Henry was about to rise, when the chamberlain came quickly behind his +chair and whispered something close to his ear, looking hard at Denis as +he spoke. + +So meaning was his glance that the boy, who in spite of the royal favour +had been on pins all the time, took fright at once, ready as he was to +associate everything informal as being in some way connected with those +who had escaped. The next moment the lad's hands had turned cold and +damp, while a giddy sensation attacked his brain, for the King had +suddenly exclaimed: + +"Hah! The Captain of the Guard with his reports?" + +"Yes, Sire. I have told him to wait at the door of your private +cabinet. Will you receive him there?" + +"No," cried the King bluffly. "Bring him in here, and see that he has a +cup of wine.--Now, my young masquerader," he cried banteringly to Denis, +"there's news for you. Scores of my guards have been scouring the +riverside, and they have come to announce that the prisoners have been +secured, for our sick friend the Comte was certain to break down before +he had gone far. Well, why do you look like that?" he continued, as he +noticed the change in the young esquire's face. "There, there: I am not +so 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 the +Guard, in half armour, huge buff boots, and pointed morion set well back +upon 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 a +strange sound as he went down--a sound repeated as the King signed to +him to rise. + +"Well, captain," cried the King bluffly, "what have you to report? You +have captured the French pigeons which escaped their cage, and brought +them 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 utter +stillness in the great chamber as, in no wise abashed, the captain went +on: + +"Six companies of horse, Sire, have searched every road and every +village on the way towards London, and six more companies have harried +every 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 his +spurs clinking, while his armour crackled loudly as he made his way; but +before he was half the distance towards the door he was brought up short +by 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 archers +of 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 sharp +rustling of garments throughout the great chamber as the courtiers who +had been present at the supper rose, when to the surprise of all the +great door was once more thrown open, and one of the Court functionaries +stepped 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 then +a heavy bang as Henry in his astonishment gave vent to his feelings in a +truly English way, for he brought down his clenched fist upon the table +with a thud which made the silver flagons leap, and one, the tallest on +the table, thin and weak with age, missed its footing and came down upon +its side, seeming to bleed the rich red wine in a little pool. + +The next moment, with bandaged head erect and flashing eyes, Francis +appeared in the doorway, resting upon Leoni's arm, Saint Simon slightly +behind on the other side ready to support his master should he want his +help. + +But none was needed. Francis stood for a few moments gazing towards the +upper table where the King was standing, and his quick clear glance took +in the position in a moment, for he had seen Denis standing a little to +Henry's left. + +Then with a quick movement Francis thrust back Leoni's arm and walked +proudly up towards Henry's chair bowing slightly once to right and left +as he swept with disdainful eye the now silent throng. + +Then, to use the good old grandmotherly term, a pin might have been +heard to drop, as Francis pressed forward till close up to where Henry +stood, and before the English monarch could recover from his surprise +his visitor had laid his hands lightly upon his shoulders and kissed his +cheeks. + +It was all done in the most courtly way, and only as one of the grandest +gentlemen in Europe could at such a time have given the salute, while +its reception was as marked and English as it was the reverse of +friendly. For the King was so utterly taken aback by this change in the +state of affairs that for a few moments he could not speak. When he did +find words they were of the gruffest and most matter-of-fact that an +Englishman could vent. + +"So then," he cried, "you have come back?" + +"Yes, my brother," replied Francis, and his voice sounded musical and +soft, as the gesture he made was graceful and easy. "I, the King of +France, have come back to you, my brother of England, to ask your pardon +for my mad folly and grave mistake. See here," he continued, after a +slight pause, and he once more looked round the tables at the glittering +courtiers, while he held out fully in the light the scintillating ruby +that had attracted him to the English shores. "I am no believer in +magic or the dark art, but there must be something strange and fateful +in 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 back +to its rightful owner, to its proper resting-place. It is yours, my +brother of England, won in the far back past on the battlefield. I for +the moment have held it once again in this right hand. Sire, I return +it now, asking once more your forgiveness of the past, your renewed +hospitality to a sick man for the night." + +He ceased speaking, as Henry made a snatch and caught the jewel from his +hand, when, light as the action was, it was sufficient to make his now +exhausted visitor stagger. He would have fallen but for the King's +strong arm, which saved him, and helped him to the seat Henry had just +vacated. + +"Quick, here!" he shouted. "Wine for my brother of France!" + +There was a quick movement, but Henry's hand was the first to snatch one +of the silver flagons from the table and hold it to the fainting King's +lips, as he drank with avidity, uttered a sigh, and then rose with a +smile. + +"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 his +right, as he turned now to the excited lookers-on. + +"My lords and gentlemen," he thundered out, "are we to be out-distanced +in chivalry and generosity by the King of France? No!" he almost +roared, as he turned to Francis. "Sire," he cried, "it was to win back +that 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 but +admire your daring and the gallantry with which you carried out your +quest to its successful end. And, Sire, I honour far more the gallant +act of chivalry, that bravery which forced you back to my Court to make +this honourable amend. Francis, my brother, I cannot take the gem. It +is the jewel of France, and you shall bear it there. Keep it, Sire. It +is yours." + + + +CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. + +LEONI'S SECRET. + +The festive days were few before Francis, now the honoured guest of +Henry, left Windsor on his return to Fontainebleau, for he was still +weak and suffering from his wound; but it was a pleasant time, +especially to the King's esquires, after a little cloud had cleared away +and 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 last +chapter, when Denis caught sight from one of the windows of the King's +gallery of Carrbroke walking in the gardens below, looking moody and +strange, 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 ready +to 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 French +lad'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 that +portion of the pleasaunce where he had seen his English friend. It was +some time before he could find him, but at last he came suddenly upon +him in a secluded portion nearly surrounded by a grey stone wall covered +with 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. "This +is 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 French +guest, whom my father had honoured, I foolishly trusted you with the +secret of the King's private way--and for what? To help you and your +friends to steal." + +"No," said Denis gravely; "you don't know that, for it is not true. I +did 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 duty +called; perhaps you would have done the same. But I had nothing to do +with the taking of the gem. Pah! I hated it all through, but as the +King's esquire I had to fulfil my duty to my master. Believe me, I did +not help to take the jewel. I felt that I would rather have died. Will +you 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 say +those words, I forgive you, when there is nothing to forgive?" + +"Oh," cried Carrbroke hoarsely, and he looked sharply round to see if +they were observed, before snatching and tightly grasping Denis's +extended hands. + +A few minutes later the two lads were walking together arms on +shoulders, in full sunshine of their young nature, that light seeming to +be at the zenith, while the ruddy orange sun itself finishing its daily +rounds was slowly sinking in the west. + +"Hah!" cried Denis. "I am glad we are friends again. I know it looked +black against me, and--" + +"Oh, don't!" said Carrbroke. "I thought we'd agreed that all that was +buried, 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 for +the sake of France, and to serve his master, but I never understood +where 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 his +confidence." + +"It is not to break his confidence, for he did not tell me," replied +Denis. "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 get +there?" + +Denis was silent for a moment or two, and then whispered something, with +a peculiar smile upon his lips as he placed them near his companion's +ear. + +"What!" cried Carrbroke, starting back and staring in wonderment at his +companion. "He hid it there? Then that accounts for his peculiar fixed +look." + +"Yes. He was fencing when a young man, and his adversary's rapier point +completely destroyed his left eye." + +"Ah!" whispered Carrbroke, beneath his breath. "I see. Then the eye is +false--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 that +gem." + +"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 never +have been found." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +A week later the parting of the two lads was like that of brothers, and +it 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; but +history only says-- + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The King's Esquires, by George Manville Fenn + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE KING'S ESQUIRES *** + +***** This file should be named 23128.txt or 23128.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/1/2/23128/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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