o 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
d