e. You could not stoop to do such a thing as
this."

"Then what's the use of being a king," cried Francis, "if one cannot do
what one likes?"

Leoni slowly rose to his feet and shrugged his shoulders.

"That is a question I cannot answer, Sire. It forms part of the scheme
of life. I have lived fifty years in the world, thirty of which have
been spent in thinking and in study of my fellows. I never met one man
yet who could do exactly as he liked."

"Well, if you come to that," said the King, "I don't think that I ever
did; but I mean to do this all the same."

"But how could you, Sire? If the King of England chose to play you
false he might throw you into prison."

"What!" cried Francis hotly.

"And hold you to ransom, Sire."

"Ah! I didn't think of that; but if he did it would give young Denis a
chance to come and rescue me. You would, wouldn't you, boy?"

"Yes, Sire, or die in the attempt."

"Don't you be so fond of talking about dying," cried the King. "Who
wants to die? Here, with all France at my feet, one wants to live and
enjoy oneself. But let's see, Leoni; that wouldn't do at all. What's
to be done?"

"Your Majesty will have to stay at Fontainebleau and let your servant do
this duty, as he has said."

"No!" shouted the King. "I told you I would go myself."

"With a powerful following, Sire," cried Saint Simon, giving Leoni a
triumphant look. "Let me choose and lead your bodyguard."

Denis frowned and set his teeth hard in his annoyance at being passed in
the race by his companion; but he brightened directly on hearing the
King's next impatient words:

"Hang your bodyguard! Leoni is right."

"Yes, Sire," said that individual, just loud enough for the young man to
hear.

"This must be done with guile."

Denis's eyes flashed.

"Pardon, Sire," he cried eagerly. "You might go in disguise." And the
next moment the boy's heart swelled within his breast, for the King
slapped him heartily on the shoulder.

"Good!" he cried. "That's it! Do you hear, Leoni? That's the idea:
I'll go in disguise."

"Sire! It is impossible!" cried the doctor.

"Quite," said the King, laughing; "but I like doing impossible things.
Let me see, what's the proper way to go to work? I have it! As a
learned doctor like you. H'm, no. They'd want me to cure somebody, and
I should be killing him perhaps. Here, Saint Simon, how should I
disguise myself?"

"Well, Sire, if I were going to undertak