efence."

"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 behi