g into his palace I was stepping into a lion's den.--What now,
boy? What were you thinking?" he cried, turning sharply to Denis, who
had been listening impatiently to his companion's words.

"Only, sir, that if it be a lion's den the Comte de la Seine has his
sword."

"To be sure," said the King.

"And three followers who carry theirs, and--"

The boy stopped short, for as he uttered his boastful words he was
interrupted by a hoarse, mocking laugh which came through the partly
open door, rousing the boy's ire so that he clapped his hand to his
weapon, the others turning also in the direction from which the sound
had come.

"What!" came in a loud, bullying tone. "The room engaged? Nonsense!
Who are they! What are they doing here?"

"French gentlemen, Sir Robert."

"French dancing masters, I suppose, come to teach the Court lads
minuets; and are they to keep English gentlemen waiting outside because,
forsooth, they have engaged the public room? Come in, boys. Here,
landlord; a stoup of wine. I'm thirsty. Frenchmen! Why, we can make
them dance!"

There was a thump struck upon the panel of the door, which flew open,
and a big, soldierly-looking man in horseman's boots covered with dust
swaggered in, followed by a couple more, who looked, like their leader,
hot and dusty, and, judging by their accoutrements, appeared to have
just dismounted.

Francis started and frowned as he met the English officer's insulting
gaze--insulting, for the stranger gave a contemptuous look around at the
assembled party, swaggered forward, unbuckling his belt and throwing it
and his sword upon the table with a bang, before dragging forward a
chair over the polished floor, raising it a little, and then bringing it
heavily down, to throw himself into its seat and then cry:

"Come, boys; the chairs are not all occupied. How long is that fellow
going to be with the wine?"

Francis turned pale; Leoni bit his lip, drew closer to him, and
whispered softly:

"Pay no heed, M. le Comte;" while Denis and Saint Simon, after gazing
fiercely at the new-comers, turned to look at the King as if to signify
their readiness, and mutely ask his consent to drive these intruders
from the room.

The result of this was that the painful silence was broken by the
officer addressed as Sir Robert bursting into another loud insulting
laugh. He looked at first one and then at the other of his companions,
before doubling his great gloved fist and b