glanced suspiciously at the
new-comers and uttered a deep muttering growl.

The King's fingers closed tightly upon the animal's ear, and he gave it
a jerk.

"Quiet, Tonnerre!" he said. "Can't you see they are friends?"

_Ugh_! grunted the dog.

"Brute!" cried the King. "You see, gentlemen, he seeks the company of
the wild boar so much that he has acquired his uncouth expressions.
Well, Saint Simon, you want to see me?"

"Always, your Majesty," said the young man lightly. "You told me to
wait upon you this afternoon."

"Did I? Well, I don't know that I want you. But to return your
compliment, the place seems dull when you are not here."

The young man smiled and darted a triumphant glance at the
saturnine-looking doctor, before turning to give Denis a look, his eyes
sparkling with pleasure the while.

"And you, Leoni," said the King, yawning. "Tut, tut!" he added
impatiently. "I am hardly awake. I was tired, gentlemen. Tonnerre and
his brother here led us such a race yesterday that I feel it yet. Well,
Leoni, what do you want?"

"Your Majesty told me that I might come and continue our little debate
of yesterday--"

"To be sure, yes," said the King, yawning again. "Let me see; it was a
sort of historical, half prophetic discourse, very learned and hard for
a hunting man to understand, about the past and the future, and the
safety of my throne, and its depending upon the recovery of a certain
mystic stone carried off--carried off--let me see, Leoni, who did you
say carried it off?"

"The enemy and invader of your country, your Majesty: Henry, the English
King. But, your Majesty--" The doctor ceased speaking and turned
slowly, to let his eyes rest meaningly upon the two young men in turn.

"Eh? What? You mean this is secret, and not for other ears?"

The two young men made a quick movement as their eyes sought the King's,
and mutely asked the question:

Your Majesty wishes us to go?

"My liege, what I communicated was of the gravest import to you and
yours, meant for your ears alone."

"To be sure, Leoni, but kings need very long ears indeed to take in all
that concerns them--and have them too, sometimes, my learned doctor, as
I have no doubt you men of wisdom think. But to be serious; I find I
cannot hear all I want for myself, and am glad to have the help of other
ears that I can trust. You are suspicious, my good old friend."

"No, your Majesty: cautious in your service. Years of e