nd, 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