ic struck up, the English King turned to his visitor
and asked more questions concerning Francis.

"He is at Fontainebleau?" he asked.

"Not at present, Sire," said Francis drily, and with a glance at Leoni.

"Ah!" and Henry seemed to relapse into thought.

"I would that he were here, Sire, in order that he might see how well
you treat his envoys."

But Henry waved the compliment aside.

"Tell me about France," he said; "tell me about France." And he looked
fixedly at the messenger from the kingdom of the fleur-de-lys, while
Leoni would have given anything to draw nearer, to gather up if it were
only scraps of the conversation that ensued; but he was bound to imitate
the action of those around and draw back, full of anxiety about his
pupil, but fain to content himself with looking around at the gay
throng, before sinking into a chair where he could think about his
mission, his searching eyes always busy looking about, especially at the
jewels that were flashing on every side, as he hungrily sought for some
thread which might form a clue to lead him ultimately to the object of
his quest.

Meanwhile Denis and Saint Simon, looking as courtly as the most brightly
dressed among whom they stood, were invited by one of the dignified
functionaries to join in the dance, but declined on the score of
fatigue; and the former had sauntered away from the throng, to stand
near a curtained window a moment, when he heard his name spoken, and a
hand was laid on his arm. He turned sharply, to find himself face to
face with Carrbroke.

"Found you," he said. "Well, it did not require my services to show you
the Court. What do you think of it? Better than Fontainebleau, is it
not?"

It was not necessary for Denis to reply, because his companion went on
quickly to speak of other things.

"We shall be able to see a great deal of each other, I hope," he said.

"I hope so," responded Denis readily.

"I am sure. There is a great banquet to-morrow. You will be there."

"Would they ask me?"

"Why, of course; but--here, come this way," and Carrbroke touched the
other's arm. "You are not going to dance, so let us talk--out here in
the garden."

Denis accompanied his friend out on to a wide terrace where there came
to the ear the sound of the music still, and where there were the
thousand scents of the flowers on that soft June night.

"The King sometimes walks here," said the lad; "but he will not come
to-night. I like t