CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.

THE BALAS RUBY.

"Who's this?" cried Francis sharply, and in a much firmer voice. "Hah!
You, Leoni?"

"I, M. le Comte."

"Bah! The Comte! But what is it? Have I been asleep and dreaming?
Where are we? What are we doing here?"

"Making for Fontainebleau, sir."

"Yes, Fontainebleau!" cried the King eagerly. "But like this--in a
boat?"

"Yes, sir--" began Leoni.

"Say Sire, man! I have done with this masquerading folly. Speak out
plainly. That mummery is at an end. Why are we in this boat?"

"Escaping from King Henry's vengeance, Sire."

"Hah!" cried the King. "I do not understand. Yes, I remember now. It
all comes back. There was some question of that--oh yes, I remember--
the fit of madness. But was I not wounded?"

"Yes, Sire; but your injury is healing fast."

"To be sure. I feel better, after long weeks of horrid dreams. Well,
that is all over. It was while escaping. But tell me--I am growing
confused again--what mean you? That we are escaping now?"

"Yes, Sire; soon to be in safety and on your way to your own great
land."

"Ah!" cried the King, in a tone full of satisfaction. "That is good. I
would that I had never left it upon this quest. But how dark it is
getting!"

"Yes, Sire; but it will soon be lighter," said Leoni quietly.

"Make it lighter in my dark brain, man, if you have it in your power,"
cried the King impetuously; "for one moment I see clearly; the next, I
am confused again. Yes--that is what I wanted to think of. Is Saint
Simon there? But where is my young esquire? On your life, man, don't
tell me he is dead!--Hah! Is that the truth?"

"No, Sire," said Leoni sadly. "I pray that he may be alive and well."

"May be alive! What do you mean, man?"

"That it was his and our duty, Sire, to save you from King Henry's
anger. You were his prisoner, and at all costs had to be saved."

"Yes, yes; I had to escape. I have a dream-like memory of something of
the kind, though it is all confused."

"Yes, Sire; from your wound."

"Hah!" cried the King. "But what is that to do with young Denis? Was
he cut down too?"

"No, Sire; quite uninjured when we saw him last."

"When you saw him last? Then where is he now?"

"A prisoner at the castle, Sire. The brave lad volunteered to take your
place while we endeavoured to save our King."

"To take my place! Do you mean to say, then, that he personated me?"

"Yes, Sire; to lie as if w