ers, and then clasped his hands and, with the weird strange
look in his eyes, said:

"What does my lord propose to do?"

"To do? Why, to go to the Court of our quick-tempered brother Henry at
this palace of his at Windsor."

"Ah!" said Leoni.

"You are doubtful?"

"I think, sir, that there may be difficulties in the way." And the
speaker glanced at the document before him.

"Difficulties for me! You are mad."

"No, sir, only cautious. When you are in France, at Fontainebleau, at
Compiegne, in Paris, no matter where, does his Majesty the King receive
any errant English nobleman who may be abroad to study the world? I
think not. Your minister would inquire into the traveller's papers, and
ask whence he came, and why."

The King turned thoughtful in a moment, and the haughty look died away
on his lips.

"By Saint Louis, I never thought of that! Leoni, you are wiser than I."

Leoni gazed intently at the King, who winced; and Francis ended by
putting his hand before his own eyes, as if the peculiar fixed stare
annoyed him.

"I was arguing by analogy, sir. Is it likely that this English monarch
will act differently from the first King in Christendom? I think not.
Henry apes your Majesty. It is you, Sire, who lead, and whom other
kings follow. Go in your proper person, and there is not a door in all
this land, or in any other, which can be thrown open wide enough to
admit you; but--"

"Leoni," interrupted the King, "what are you writing?"

"A suggestion, sir, to offer you."

The King crossed the chamber, and, leaning over Leoni's shoulder, read
out the words:

"To our well-beloved Cousin, Henry, King of England.

"Dear Cousin and King,--

"The bearer of this our letter, the noble Comte Reginald Herault de la
Seine of Angomar and Villay, is our good friend. We ask you to receive
him as such, and to permit him to see your Court, of which all the world
speaks, and your kingdom of England, whose power is so beneficent and so
mighty an agent of Heaven's will on this earth."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Will it serve, sir?" asked Leoni.

"Of course!" cried the King; and snatching the pen from the doctor's
hand, he took the letter to the other side of the table and clumsily
scribbled down a signature. "There," he cried, tossing the letter back;
"will that do?"

Leoni fixed him with his eyes and shrugged his shoulders slightly, and
his peculiar cy