The Kings Esquires | Page 8

would be no risk, Sire. It would be a question not of force but
guile. He would make his way to the Court of your brother of England
in a way which I have planned."
"With recommendations from me?"
"Perhaps, Sire. I have not settled that."
"No," said the King angrily. "Why, man, when the gems were missed,

the theft would be laid at my door. I would sooner march my people
across English ground and take them honestly by force."
"That could not be done, Sire. Leave that to me. Your messenger must
go, and carry out his ambassage by guile."
"And who is to be the man?" asked the King.
"I!" cried Denis, springing forward, to sink upon one knee before
Francis, and so suddenly as to rouse the dog, which leaped towards him,
barking furiously.
"You, my boy!" cried the King.
"No, Sire," cried Saint Simon excitedly, following Denis's example, to
spring to the King's feet. "I will go. It is work for a man grown, not for
a puny boy."
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the King merrily. "Quiet, Tonnerre! Quiet!" For
the great hound, roused by the excitement, was filling the chamber with
his deep-toned bay, his eyes glaring redly, and his glistening white
fangs bared, as he gazed in his master's face as if asking for orders as to
whom he should seize by the throat and pin.
"Down, sir!" cried the King again. "Quiet! There, Leoni, was I not right
in letting these boys share our confidence? Who says that Francis of
Valois has not followers in whom he can trust?"
"Not I, Sire," said the doctor grimly; "but this is no work for them."
"Not for Denis here," cried Saint Simon excitedly, "but, your Majesty,
for me. I would strike, and strike now. Mine be the task to do or die!"
"Silence, boy!" cried the King, laying his hand on Denis's head as he
dumbly looked up at him in protest, his eyes appealing the while that
his monarch's favour should be awarded to him alone. "No, no;
emphatically no! Neither of you will go alone. You hear, boys? I will
not send you on this quest."

Francis turned to Leoni as he spoke, and the doctor bowed his head in
acquiescence.
"Yours are the words of wisdom, Sire," he said. "The work is not for
such as these--these two gallant followers of their King."
"Who then is to follow out the task?" said Francis. "For I like it well,
and it must and shall be done. You hear me, Leoni? I have spoken now,
and I will not rest, since you have roused me to this task, until this
jewel glistens once more in its rightful place above my kingly crown."
"Spoken like the King of France!" cried the doctor, drawing himself up.
"And now, Sire, it will be done."
"By whom?" cried Francis sternly.
"By your servant, Sire, who has dwelt upon this for years, thought out
and nurtured the plans until the fruit is ripe. By the man who possesses
the energy, the guile, and the determination to serve his master in this
great duty to his King."
"And who is that man?" cried Francis, rising to his feet and standing
proudly before his three courtiers kneeling before him; for as he uttered
his next words Leoni sank in turn upon one knee and bent his head, to
say in a low deep tone, almost a whisper, but which seemed to fill the
silence of the place:
"I, Sire--your faithful servant. I am that man."
The silence for the next few moments was profound, while a cloud that
had eclipsed the sun for some time past floated slowly from before the
glowing orb, which poured its full beams through the gorgeous panes
of the stained-glass windows of the chamber, and flooded the standing
monarch with its glowing light as he made reply. His words were quick,
sharp, and decisive, and fell upon the listeners like a thunderbolt,
stunning them for a moment with the astonishment they felt; but they
were only these:

"Neither are you the man to carry out this quest. I will go myself."
CHAPTER FOUR.
THE DOCTOR'S EYES.
For some moments the trio remained kneeling and staring up at the
King in absolute wonderment; for in a few brief words he had swept
away, as by the touch of a magician's wand, the gathering feeling of
jealous annoyance which was forming in each breast. Leoni was the
first to find the use of his tongue; but it was in a hesitating way quite
foreign to his usual speech that he faltered out:
"You go, Sire?"
"Yes, I said so," said the King sharply.
"But it is impossible, Sire. You could not stoop to do such a thing as
this."
"Then