fter some great exertion;
but there was no reply, and he tapped again, with the same negative
result. Then with an angry snort he said mockingly:

"Our young esquire seems to have reason on his side, and the Comte must
be asleep. Am I to leave him to his slumbers, Hurst? But maybe he will
sleep the better after awakening and hearing all I have to say. Open
the door, Hurst. Bah! I need no help for this." And, brushing by the
chamberlain, he noisily raised the latch, thrust open the door, and
entered the room.

It was the ante-chamber, with the couple of candles burning on the
mantel. The richly embroidered cloak lay upon the couch where it had
been hurriedly thrown, and the valise lay ready packed and strapped.

The King's eyes flashed as the valise caught his eye, and crossing the
room quickly he made for the door of the sleeping chamber, which was
ajar.

There was no pause to ask for entrance here, for now fully roused, the
King thrust open the door, with the light from behind him falling fall
upon the unpressed bed.

"Hah! What I expected," cried the King angrily. "This way, Hurst.
There is mystery and trickery here."

As he was speaking the clock from one of the turrets was chiming loudly,
the sounds of the bells seeming to quiver in the still air and mingle
with the faint strains from the room where the dancing was still going
on.

The chamberlain rushed forward, looked sharply round, and made for the
casement; but it was closed and fastened inside.

"The boy on guard, Sire, and no one here!" cried the chamberlain. "I do
not understand."

"Nor I," cried the King; "but we will, and that right soon." Then
making for the door, which had fallen back as the chamberlain entered,
he dragged it open, crying angrily, "Boy, your master is not sleeping
here. Where is he? What have you to say? Ha!" he roared, like the
angry lion he had described himself to be. "Quick, Hurst! Our guards!
The boy has gone!"

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

LEONI'S WEAPON.

But as Hurst made a step forward to summon the guard the King caught him
by the wrist.

"By my faith," he ejaculated, "there is black treachery here! Am I in
my own palace or in a tavern? These fellows come and go as if the place
were their own. A mystery too. But by the crown I swear I'll solve
it!" And for a few moments he stood fuming. "Here, Hurst," he said
hoarsely, "your brains have been sharper than mine, and I'm beginning to
think you