uddenly 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