mile.

"Am I a prisoner?" he said.

"No," cried Henry in his deepest tones--"my brother and my guest."

As he spoke he caught Francis by the hand and half supported him on his
right, as he turned now to the excited lookers-on.

"My lords and gentlemen," he thundered out, "are we to be out-distanced
in chivalry and generosity by the King of France? No!" he almost
roared, as he turned to Francis. "Sire," he cried, "it was to win back
that stone to the Crown of France that you risked your life and liberty,
coming almost unarmed to my Court and bearing it away. I, Sire, can but
admire your daring and the gallantry with which you carried out your
quest to its successful end. And, Sire, I honour far more the gallant
act of chivalry, that bravery which forced you back to my Court to make
this honourable amend. Francis, my brother, I cannot take the gem. It
is the jewel of France, and you shall bear it there. Keep it, Sire. It
is yours."

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT.

LEONI'S SECRET.

The festive days were few before Francis, now the honoured guest of
Henry, left Windsor on his return to Fontainebleau, for he was still
weak and suffering from his wound; but it was a pleasant time,
especially to the King's esquires, after a little cloud had cleared away
and the sun of two young lives once more was shining bright and clear.

It was towards the evening of the day succeeding the events of the last
chapter, when Denis caught sight from one of the windows of the King's
gallery of Carrbroke walking in the gardens below, looking moody and
strange, while all at once, as if conscious that he was being watched,
he glanced up at the window and caught sight of Denis looking out ready
to wave his hand.

The English lad frowned, turned his back, and began walking away, while,
stung to the heart by his reception, the blood flushed in the French
lad's face, and drawing back from the window he ran along the gallery,
to descend into the court, reach the garden, and make his way to that
portion of the pleasaunce where he had seen his English friend. It was
some time before he could find him, but at last he came suddenly upon
him in a secluded portion nearly surrounded by a grey stone wall covered
with growing plants.

"Ah, there you are at last!" cried Denis.

Carrbroke turned upon him angrily and clapped his hand to his sword.

"You have come to fight?" he cried. "Well, it is death here to draw.
Come out into the park, and I'