gic?" said Carrbroke.

"I don't know. I suppose I do," replied Denis.

"I do," said Carrbroke; "and your friend seems so different from other
men. Look at his eye."

"Oh, I never do if I can help it," said Denis. "You've noticed it,
then?"

"Noticed it?" cried Carrbroke. "Who could help it? When he fixes it on
me, as he always does, it makes me shiver; although he is always very
kind, there is something about him I can't understand, and if he were my
enemy I should be ready to give everything up and go away. There, what
a bad job! I was just going to say, let's go for a long ride, or else
make some of the King's rowers take us up the river, and then float
down, and it's going to rain, and I don't want to get wet. It spoils
one's doublet so. Here, I know; I'll take you all through the castle,
if I can, into all the King's private rooms. They'll be with the ladies
at this time of day. I can show you everything that there is to see."

"Can you?" said Denis, whose thoughts suddenly turned to his mission
there.

"Oh yes; I am allowed to go where I like, as the King's youngest
esquire." And then half pettishly: "They consider me only a boy. But
come along."

Carrbroke was quite right, for the rain began streaming down; and a few
minutes afterwards the two lads were in the royal apartments, which were
quite deserted, and Carrbroke was proudly showing the different
pictures, King Henry's armour, and choice collections of weapons of war.
At last he stopped in front of a beautiful Italian cabinet which
differed from ordinary pieces of furniture, being made to stand
four-square in the centre of the apartment, each side being richly
ornamented with carving and delicate inlaid work which covered the doors
and drawers.

"I wish I had the keys of that," said Carrbroke.

"Why? What's inside?"

"I hardly know; but my father told me once to take notice of it, for he
believed that it was full of gems and curious jewels that had been
presented to the King. I never saw it open yet, but there must be many
curiosities there, swords and petronels, as well as jewels."

"Indeed!" said Denis, colouring slightly.

"Oh yes; some of those curious gems that they say have magic
properties--charms, don't they call them? Magic crystals that confer
singular powers upon those who own them, bring good luck, and influence
the fate of people. I say, do you believe in such things as that?"

"Ye-es, I think I do," said Denis,