to
my eyes! Now then, speak again. In what habit shall I go?"

There was silence in the chamber, broken the next moment by the
impatient trampling of the monarch's feet as he paced up and down, while
for a time nobody ventured to speak. And then in his excitement lest he
should be supplanted, it was Denis who sprang into the gap.

"I have a plan, Sire," he cried. "Go as a powerful French noble,
travelling to see the Courts of Europe, and--and--"

"Yes, go on, boy. That notion likes me well."

"Your Majesty might take me as your esquire, or page," added the boy,
trembling lest he should have brought his master's wrath down burning
upon his head.

"Hah!" shouted the King, and for a moment the boy's heart sank, for the
King's hand came down upon his shoulder in a painful grip; but the next
moment the sinking heart rose with a bound, his eyes flashed with
excitement, and for the life of him he could not keep from darting
triumphant glances at his fellow-courtiers. "There, Master Leoni!
There, Saint Simon! Who dares tell me we haven't got a young Solomon of
wisdom in our Court? Hear him! That's the very idea I had in my own
breast, only I couldn't think it then. Yes, Denis, that's the plan, and
we will go at once."

"But your Majesty will want other followers," cried Saint Simon
excitedly. "I could--"

"Select a score of quarrelsome, fiery young blades like yourself, to
pick quarrels with the English courtiers and spoil our plans? No, sir;
that will never do."

"Oh!" groaned the young man, so despairingly that the King laughed
merrily.

"Well, you're not a bad fellow, Saint Simon, and I might get into some
trouble and want the help of your sword as well as my own. Denis, boy,
shall we take him with us?"

The lad flushed deeply at the "shall we?"

It was his moment of triumph. He was called upon to say yes or no, and
he turned his eyes, which flashed with pride, upon his elder companion,
who gazed at him imploringly, and generosity prevailed.

"Oh yes, Sire," he cried. "He will be a splendid follower to have with
us at such a time."

"Then he shall come," cried the King; and Saint Simon sprang forward to
kiss his sovereign's hand, while as he rose he turned his eyes upon
Denis, and the boy react in them, as it were, the extinction of rivalry,
for they seemed to say, I shall never forget this.

"Then that's about all," cried the King, with a sigh of mingled relief
and content.

"Sire, may yo