eginning 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 th