The King's Esquires Part 4

"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-gla.s.s 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 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 pa.s.sed 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?"