friend the talk went on in the big
wainscotted dining-room, and the King, who was leaning back in his
chair, had finished a long story of the chase, when his host half rose.

"If you will excuse me, my lord, for a few minutes," he said, "I have to
give an order as to your departure to-morrow?"

Francis made an inclination of assent.

"When you visit France," he said, "I trust, sir, that I shall be able to
make you some return for your kindness to me and to my followers here."
And then a minute later, left alone with his two companions, the King
yawned. "Gentlemen," he exclaimed, "do not let me detain you." And
Leoni and Saint Simon rose, the doctor hesitating a moment at the door.

"You do not, sir," he began, "see any disadvantage in--"

"In what?" said the King sharply.

"Why, sir, in our taking this English stripling along with us on the
morrow?"

"By my sword, no!" said the King. "Why should I?"

"He is keen and clever."

"And what of that?"

"Simply this, sir: he might divine the truth. A word, a look--"

"Leoni, have I not acted my part well till now?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then--"

"With your permission, sir; you are a King, and those who are chosen by
Heaven to reign cannot assume the guise of other men."

"But my disguise, Leoni--my disguise!"

"Has been admirable, sir."

"Then trust me for the future," was the reply.

And as the door closed and a puff of air caused the lights on the table
to dance, the King leaned back in his chair and just then caught his own
reflection in a tall glass at the further end of the chamber.

"Ah," he mused, "Leoni doubts of my address. Let him be quite assured.
And this Henry who has ambitions on my land of France! Shortly I shall
meet him, and my strength will be greater than his since I shall know
who he is, and he--he will be ignorant as to who I am.

"Never in France
Shall England reign!"

he hummed.

"To-morrow I shall meet him, and then that stone--for Leoni must be
right--that jewel will be mine, and the last link which binds us to the
old invasion will be snapped."

The King rose and took a turn up and down the apartment.

"I must speak again with Leoni," he said. "Where has he gone?" And he
lifted a _portiere_ and walked out of the apartment, entering a long
corridor where a coloured lamp hung from the ceiling. "Our host is well
lodged," he continued musingly, as he passed on, stopping at a door
through which a stream of light issued