The Kings Esquires | Page 5

too fast?" said the doctor coldly.

"Oh yes, often," was the laughing reply; "but it's a habit it has. What
have I interrupted, though?"
"Master Leoni was giving me a fencing lesson, Saint Simon," cried the
lad eagerly.
"Then you are the luckiest fellow at Court," cried the new arrival.
"Why was I not here? There, pray go on, and let me stand by and
learn."
CHAPTER THREE.
HIS MAJESTY.
Denis glanced at the doctor, grasping his hilt tightly the while, and
ready to spring into position for a fresh encounter; but at the same
moment he noted the change which came over his adversary, who from
being tense, erect and active, suddenly seemed to grow limp of body,
though his face was more animated than ever. He hung his head till his
chin rested upon his chest, his eyes literally flashed, and he gazed up
through his bushy brows at the young courtier who had just joined them,
while for answer to his request he slowly finished sheathing his rapier
and then took his heavy gown from where he had thrown it upon a
chair, and held it out to Denis.
"Help me," he said. "I am growing old and stiff."
The lad looked at him wonderingly as he recalled the marvellous
activity of a few minutes earlier, and then helped his instructor to
resume his garment.
"What!" cried Saint Simon warmly. "You will not go on? Why, doctor,
I want to learn."
The doctor gave him a peculiar, double sinister look, and said, with his
unpleasant smile playing about his thin lips:
"The time to bend and train the wand is while it is young and green.

You, sir, have grown too old and tough and stubborn to learn."
"At five and twenty?" cried the young man, flushing.
"Yes, at five and twenty. The soil of a court makes a tree old before its
time, and--hark! Did I not hear his Majesty ring?"
"Yes," cried Denis quickly, and hurriedly smoothing his hair, which
hung loose from his late exertions, and then, readjusting his doublet
and seeing to the hang of his sword, he hurried through the arras, those
who waited hearing the click of the door latch as he passed into the
King's chamber.
"You don't like me, doctor," said Saint Simon, as soon as they were
alone.
"I don't dislike you," said the other, smiling. "Have I ever treated you as
an enemy?"
"No; but--"
"Hist!" whispered the doctor, as voices were heard beyond the hangings;
the door fastening clicked again, and the lad appeared, carrying himself
in stiff and formal fashion.
"Gentlemen," he said, "enter. His Majesty will give you audience."
"Both? Together?" said the doctor.
"Yes. His Majesty asked who waited. I told him, and he bade me show
both in."
"There, doctor," said Saint Simon; "it is not my doing, so don't visit this
upon my head. I daresay he will soon send me away."
Then, following their young escort, the two men stepped into the
darkened chamber where his Majesty, heavy-eyed, as if he was hardly
yet awakened from sleep, lolled back in a short fur-trimmed robe in the
corner of a couch, his left hand behind his neck, his right resting upon

the shaggy head of a huge boar-hound which glanced suspiciously at
the new-comers and uttered a deep muttering growl.
The King's fingers closed tightly upon the animal's ear, and he gave it a
jerk.
"Quiet, Tonnerre!" he said. "Can't you see they are friends?"
Ugh! grunted the dog.
"Brute!" cried the King. "You see, gentlemen, he seeks the company of
the wild boar so much that he has acquired his uncouth expressions.
Well, Saint Simon, you want to see me?"
"Always, your Majesty," said the young man lightly. "You told me to
wait upon you this afternoon."
"Did I? Well, I don't know that I want you. But to return your
compliment, the place seems dull when you are not here."
The young man smiled and darted a triumphant glance at the
saturnine-looking doctor, before turning to give Denis a look, his eyes
sparkling with pleasure the while.
"And you, Leoni," said the King, yawning. "Tut, tut!" he added
impatiently. "I am hardly awake. I was tired, gentlemen. Tonnerre and
his brother here led us such a race yesterday that I feel it yet. Well,
Leoni, what do you want?"
"Your Majesty told me that I might come and continue our little debate
of yesterday--"
"To be sure, yes," said the King, yawning again. "Let me see; it was a
sort of historical, half prophetic discourse, very learned and hard for a
hunting man to understand, about the past and the future, and the safety
of my throne, and its depending upon the recovery of a certain mystic
stone carried off--carried off--let me