The Kings Esquires | Page 9

what's the use of being a king," cried Francis, "if one cannot do
what one likes?"
Leoni slowly rose to his feet and shrugged his shoulders.
"That is a question I cannot answer, Sire. It forms part of the scheme of
life. I have lived fifty years in the world, thirty of which have been
spent in thinking and in study of my fellows. I never met one man yet
who could do exactly as he liked."
"Well, if you come to that," said the King, "I don't think that I ever did;
but I mean to do this all the same."
"But how could you, Sire? If the King of England chose to play you
false he might throw you into prison."
"What!" cried Francis hotly.
"And hold you to ransom, Sire."

"Ah! I didn't think of that; but if he did it would give young Denis a
chance to come and rescue me. You would, wouldn't you, boy?"
"Yes, Sire, or die in the attempt."
"Don't you be so fond of talking about dying," cried the King. "Who
wants to die? Here, with all France at my feet, one wants to live and
enjoy oneself. But let's see, Leoni; that wouldn't do at all. What's to be
done?"
"Your Majesty will have to stay at Fontainebleau and let your servant
do this duty, as he has said."
"No!" shouted the King. "I told you I would go myself."
"With a powerful following, Sire," cried Saint Simon, giving Leoni a
triumphant look. "Let me choose and lead your bodyguard."
Denis frowned and set his teeth hard in his annoyance at being passed
in the race by his companion; but he brightened directly on hearing the
King's next impatient words:
"Hang your bodyguard! Leoni is right."
"Yes, Sire," said that individual, just loud enough for the young man to
hear.
"This must be done with guile."
Denis's eyes flashed.
"Pardon, Sire," he cried eagerly. "You might go in disguise." And the
next moment the boy's heart swelled within his breast, for the King
slapped him heartily on the shoulder.
"Good!" he cried. "That's it! Do you hear, Leoni? That's the idea: I'll go
in disguise."
"Sire! It is impossible!" cried the doctor.

"Quite," said the King, laughing; "but I like doing impossible things.
Let me see, what's the proper way to go to work? I have it! As a learned
doctor like you. H'm, no. They'd want me to cure somebody, and I
should be killing him perhaps. Here, Saint Simon, how should I
disguise myself?"
"Well, Sire, if I were going to undertake the task I should dress myself
like a--like a--like a--"
"Minstrel, Sire," cried Denis excitedly, "like the English King Alfred."
"Or Richard Coeur de Lion," shouted Saint Simon, striving not to be
beaten in the race.
"Here, hallo!" cried the King, "that won't do! I do know better than that.
It was Richard's minstrel who went in disguise."
"Yes, Sire," cried Denis eagerly, while Leoni, with his eyelids nearly
closed, glanced from one to the other with a look of contempt.
"That will not do," said the King gruffly. "There is no instrument that I
could play; but I must go as something."
"Is your Majesty seriously determined to go in disguise?" said the
doctor.
"Yes, old Wisdom. Now then, what do you propose?"
"I can only think of one way, Sire, and that is that I should go as what I
am--a doctor--a part, I believe, that I could worthily play."
"Of course," said the King. "There is not a better doctor in the world."
Leoni's eyes flashed, as he bowed his head gravely.
"But you are not going," said the King decisively.
"No, Sire, unless your Majesty thought it wise that I should go, and
take you as my servant."

"What!" shouted the King.
"In disguise, of course, Sire."
"That I won't!" cried the King. "Either in disguise or out of it. Bah! Pish!
The idea is absurd. Go as your servant! Are you growing into your
dotage, man?"
The two young men exchanged glances, brothers once again in
combination against their rival for the King's favour, who seemed to be
coming to the front and leaving them behind.
"Pardon me, Sire," said the doctor humbly. "I proposed that, as it
seemed an easy way to achieve your ends."
"I would sooner give up the project, Master Leoni," said the King
haughtily. "Propose something else."
The doctor spread his hands apart in the most self-abasing way, but the
King was not appeased.
"Picture me, the eldest son of Holy Church, His Most Christian Majesty,
masquerading as the servant of a leech! Have a care, Master Leoni.
You have a way of handling a lancet and letting your patients' blood.
Recollect that kings have a way too of