nbuckled their reins, so that in
leading one he led all three; and offering his right arm to Denis, who
gladly took it and leant upon it heavily, he led the way back along the
lane to where they had parted, and from thence into the great
stable-yard and through the long stable to where the two hostlers were
still sleeping heavily, not in the slightest degree roused by the
trampling of the chargers upon the stone-paved floor.

"Now then," said Saint Simon, "shall we tie up the horses here again?"

"No," cried Denis sharply. "Look--through the door yonder. There's the
Comte!"

CHAPTER TWELVE.

A WELL-MEANT WARNING.

Saint Simon glanced in the direction indicated, to see across the yard
the King standing at the open doorway, talking, and evidently
questioning their hostess, who was pointing towards the stable where the
young men were.

"Now for a storm, Denis, boy, with plenty of royal thunder, and flashes
of lightning from his kingly eyes. Bah! How hard it is to forget his
rank! How are you now?"

"Oh, better. The sight of--the Comte seems to string me up."

"Come on, then, to make our excuses for the breach of duty, and take our
three witnesses to back our words."

The young men led the chargers out through the low doorway into the yard
and began crossing to where the King was drawing himself up with a stern
look upon his countenance, his right hand upon his hip, his left upon
his sword-hilt, which he kept on pressing down and elevating and
lowering the long thin blade behind him, the afternoon sun throwing it
out in a long dark streak from his shadow, giving him the effect of some
monster wagging its wiry tail.

The hostess was still there, drawing back a little into the shadow of
the comparatively dark doorway, a mingling of curiosity and sympathy
detaining her to hear how her offending guests would fare.

She had not long to wait, for as the young men came up with the horses'
hoofs clattering upon the paved way, "Now, gentlemen," was growled
forth, "why am I left like this? And by whose orders have you brought
forth those steeds?"

"What!" thundered the King fiercely, after hearing a brief narration of
his followers' adventure; and turning to their hostess, who heard every
word and stood loaning forward with agitated face and clasped hands,
"And so, madam, you call this the safety of your inn! This, then, is
the meaning of that warning paper which you have disavowed. Gentlemen,
we seem to