cally no! Neither of you will go alone. You hear, boys? I will
not send you on this quest."

Francis turned to Leoni as he spoke, and the doctor bowed his head in
acquiescence.

"Yours are the words of wisdom, Sire," he said. "The work is not for
such as these--these two gallant followers of their King."

"Who then is to follow out the task?" said Francis. "For I like it
well, and it must and shall be done. You hear me, Leoni? I have spoken
now, and I will not rest, since you have roused me to this task, until
this jewel glistens once more in its rightful place above my kingly
crown."

"Spoken like the King of France!" cried the doctor, drawing himself up.
"And now, Sire, it will be done."

"By whom?" cried Francis sternly.

"By your servant, Sire, who has dwelt upon this for years, thought out
and nurtured the plans until the fruit is ripe. By the man who
possesses the energy, the guile, and the determination to serve his
master in this great duty to his King."

"And who is that man?" cried Francis, rising to his feet and standing
proudly before his three courtiers kneeling before him; for as he
uttered his next words Leoni sank in turn upon one knee and bent his
head, to say in a low deep tone, almost a whisper, but which seemed to
fill the silence of the place:

"I, Sire--your faithful servant. I am that man."

The silence for the next few moments was profound, while a cloud that
had eclipsed the sun for some time past floated slowly from before the
glowing orb, which poured its full beams through the gorgeous panes of
the stained-glass windows of the chamber, and flooded the standing
monarch with its glowing light as he made reply. His words were quick,
sharp, and decisive, and fell upon the listeners like a thunderbolt,
stunning them for a moment with the astonishment they felt; but they
were only these:

"Neither are you the man to carry out this quest. I will go myself."

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE DOCTOR'S EYES.

For some moments the trio remained kneeling and staring up at the King
in absolute wonderment; for in a few brief words he had swept away, as
by the touch of a magician's wand, the gathering feeling of jealous
annoyance which was forming in each breast. Leoni was the first to find
the use of his tongue; but it was in a hesitating way quite foreign to
his usual speech that he faltered out:

"You go, Sire?"

"Yes, I said so," said the King sharply.

"But it is impossible, Sir