Sire!" whispered Leoni.

"No, no, man. It is the Comte de la Seine you speak to, and who tells
you he will let you lead him no more through these devious ways. Who
are you that you should dare to force me onward into such a crime?"

"Your servant, sir, but at the same time he to whom it is given to lead
you aright towards making your country the greatest in the world."

"Through crime?" said the King hotly.

"The acts of kings, sir, are outside crime. You are the anointed, and
can do no wrong."

"Of my own will, no; but this:--"

"Sir, the spirit of your country calls upon you to act. The fateful
jewel we came to seek is ready to pass into your possession, and the
time has come--"

"Leoni, I will not hear you. I swear I will not sully mine honour with
such an act. This deed shall never be done by me."

"Deed--deed, sir--act! You speak as if it were a crime," whispered
Leoni.

"It is a crime," cried the King angrily. "Dare not to speak to me of
this deed again. Now, enough. The King expects me back, and to-morrow
I will place myself outside temptation, and leave this place. Whatever
happens, my visit here is at an end."

"Your visit ends to-night, sir," said Leoni, in a low, harsh whisper;
and as he spoke he leaned forward, passed his hands quickly before the
King's face, and then caught him by the wrist.

"Leoni!" said Francis quickly. "What means this?"

"I have told you, sir. It is too late to attempt to shrink back now
that the fateful moment has arrived. Quick, sir, and in an hour's time
we shall be on our way to the coast. Silence, sir," he whispered
sharply, as Francis essayed to speak, looking half dazed the while in
his companion's eye, as Leoni leaned towards him with his hot breath
passing over the monarch's face. "This way, sir--quick!"

"Where? Where?" faltered the King. "What does this mean, Leoni?" he
whispered. "Have you been tricking me with one of your accursed drugs?"

"Silence, sir! I am calling you back to your duty," whispered the
doctor, as he guided Francis quickly along the passage, still holding
him tightly by the wrist, "for once more I pray you to prove yourself
our country's greatest son."

Francis made no reply, no sign, but, yielding helplessly, allowed
himself to be led to the door of his ante-chamber, where the door opened
without being touched, and, once inside, closed behind them, Saint Simon
having been waiting, while Denis, who looked pale and exc