ng coat
and mane, the horses were about to be led forth.

"We are to take them round to the great entrance, sir?" said the chief
groom.

"Oh no," replied Denis carelessly. "Just lead them into the entry; the
Comte and his gentlemen are going to join me here. It is just for a
quiet night ride, and--ah," he added, with a faint gasp of relief, "here
they come!" For heavy footsteps approaching hastily could be heard
outside--footsteps of only one, but which the lad in his wild excitement
easily magnified into those of all his friends, as he walked far more
swiftly than he intended to meet the three fugitives, ready to mount and
in full career leave the hospitable place behind.

The words were on his lips to greet them and say, "All is ready; you can
mount in here." But they were frozen on his lips, for the light from
within fell full upon a big burly form, that of an enemy who, like a
flash, the lad felt, could only have come upon a mission of evil; and he
stood as if turned to stone, as a familiar voice exclaimed:

"Hallo, my French friend! I saw you cross the Court and come in here,
and so I watched. What's your business, pray, at this time of the
night? Have you come to steal his Majesty's steeds?"

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

LEONI'S PUPIL.

"How dare you!" cried Denis.

"Oh, I'll soon show you how I dare, my lad," cried Sir Robert Garstang.
"Here, you fellow, who gave you orders to get those horses ready?"

"This gentleman, sir," said the groom.

"What, this Comte de la Seine's page, or whatever he is? And what right
has he to instruct you to get horses out at this time of night?"

"I don't know, Sir Robert. We were told to get them ready," said the
man humbly.

"Ah, but this must be inquired into. There's something wrong here, I
feel sure."

"Take no notice of this man," cried Denis, forgetting in his excitement
that he must speak in English, however bad, if he wished the grooms to
understand, and addressing them excitedly in French.

"Bah!" cried Sir Robert, in his most bullying tones. "Take no notice of
the fellow's jabber. I order you not to let these horses go without the
permission of the chamberlain or the King's Master of the Horse."

"But they are the gentlemen's own horses, Sir Robert," said the man
quietly, "and not the King's."

"I don't care," cried the officer. "The rules are, as I know well, that
no horses shall leave here without special orders after dark."

Denis grasp