om the room, closely followed by his companion, to whom in his
excitement as he followed the angry lion the movements of the dancers
seemed mocking, and the music sounded strange.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

DARK WORK.

More than one of the Court ladies thought the gallant Comte strange in
his manner, as they waited, fully expecting that he would come up and
offer his hand to lead them through the next dance; but it soon became
evident that nothing was farther from his intentions, and after looking
on for a short time he slowly left the great apartment, and began to
make his way towards his own rooms. "I don't like it; I don't like it,"
he muttered. "It is vile and degrading. I feel as if only to think of
it were lowering myself to the level of some cutpurse. I would I had
never come. No," he added sharply; "the time has passed too gaily for
me to say that; and the good, bluff, hot-tempered, cheery Henri! I like
the brave Englishman, and my faith, I have made him like me, traitor as
I am.--No, it is not I. It is the spirit of that cunning, subtle Leoni,
with his horrible fixed eye. I cannot tell why, but he masters me--King
as I am. He turns me round his finger and forces me to obey even
against my better feelings; for I think I have some. Can it be that he
is more than man, that he possesses some strange power over one's brain,
as he does over the body when one is ill? Well, I'll be master now. I
will not do this thing. By my sword, is this cunning Italian to force
his master to become a thief? No! He shall learn to-night that I'll
have none of it. Conceal who I am! Play the part of a masquerading
spy! No! to-morrow I'll tell my brother Harry the whole truth."

He started violently as he came to this conclusion, for a dark figure
suddenly glided from behind one of the statues in the long passage he
was following. "You, Leoni?" he said, in a hoarse whisper. "M. le
Comte! Yes, it is I. You have been long."

"Long?" said Francis haughtily. "How--" He stopped short, for Leoni
placed his lips close to his ear. "France is anxious, Sire, and the
time has come."

"The time!" said the King sharply. "Not for that?"

"Yes, M. le Comte, for that. I have been waiting for the fateful moment
to arrive for the great opportunity, and it has come."

"But," cried Francis, "I have been thinking--my position here--my good
friend the King. Leoni, all this must end; I cannot, I will not do this
thing."

"