the King sternly.

The hostess started, spoke to the two girls, who stepped back with the
dishes, and she closed the door after them.

"One of my followers saw that panel move," said the King sternly.
"There is some one there."

"Oh no, my lord," she cried, "The room is empty. Look."

"But the panel moved," cried Denis, "and I heard a sound."

"Impossible, sir," said the woman.

"Then what does this mean?" said the King, taking up the scrap of paper.

The woman took it, looked at it blankly, and passed it back.

"I don't know," she said. "It is a foreign tongue."

"Humph!" ejaculated the King. "This is strange, madam. That paper lay
beneath my plate, and some one must have been watching us at our meal."

"No, my lord," said the woman; "it is impossible. Nobody could have
been there. If anyone has dared--" She said no more, but angrily thrust
the panel back into its place and turned the oaken rose, which gave a
snap as of a bolt shooting into its socket, and then, raising her hand
to the diagonal corner, she turned a fellow ornament in the oaken
carving, to produce another sound as of a second bolt being shot.

"There," she cried, "it is quite fast now. One minute, and I will
return."

She hurried out of the room, and the next minute they heard the sounds
of knuckles rapping the panel on the other side and directly after the
loud closing and locking of a door.

A few moments later, as the party stood there waiting, the woman was
back at their side, to lay a large key upon the table, looking flushed
and angry.

"I am very sorry, my lord and gentlemen," she cried, "and angry too"--a
fact which was plainly enough marked in her countenance. "But this is a
public inn, and some insolent idler, moved by curiosity, has dared to
watch. I never imagined anyone would venture; and now I beg you will
resume your meal."

"But there is the paper," said the King.

"Yes, yes," she said, "the paper. I do not understand."

"Ah, well," said the King, "we will not spoil our dinner; but I do not
like to have hungry dogs watching while I make my meal. Sit down,
gentlemen, and let us finish."

Setting the example, he recommenced, but thrust the half-finished bowl
away with an impatient "Bah! The soup is cold. Here, hostess! Call
those women back. And I want some wine. What have you in the house?"

"Some of the best vintages of France, my lord," said the woman eagerly,
and drawing a deep breath of relief i