passed into a great inn-yard, where a couple of
hostlers hurried to meet them, and a buxom-looking landlady in widow's
coif came smiling to the door of the comfortable-looking inn.

"Hah!" said the King, dismounting. "This looks like France. Here we
can rest and dine. Denis, my boy, talk to the dame there, and tell her
to get us quickly a dinner of the best."

Denis turned, meeting the pleasant-faced landlady's eye as he dismounted
and threw his rein to one of the stablemen, noting, as he walked to
where the landlady stood waiting, that the man who had accosted them was
following into the inn-yard with three or four others of the same stamp;
and the sight of the fellow made the lad hesitate as he thought of the
possibility of the fellow's insolence raising the King's ire. But he
had his task to fulfil, and the next moment the landlady was receiving
him with bows and smiles, ready to show him into a comfortable
old-fashioned room, and make his task easy by suggesting instead of
taking orders, the only one he found it necessary to give being the
simple one:

"Everything, and of the best; but quickly, for we have ridden far."

This was in French, but to the lad's great delight the hostess spoke his
tongue, with a good accent, easily and well.

"Anyone would think you were French," he said, with a courtly bow.

"Oh no," she said, "I am English. I was in Rouen many years at school,
and we have French travellers here sometimes. But let me show you the
chambers for your lord and your young friend. He is a lord?" she said,
with a pleasant smile.

"He is what you English would call a lord," replied Denis. "The Comte
de la Seine."

"Ah," said the hostess, with a smile of satisfaction at the quality of
her guests, as she led the way to the best chambers of the fine old inn,
Denis selecting two, one within the other, which were exactly such as he
felt the King would like--that is to say, a fine old bedroom with a
double-bedded ante-chamber, which he immediately determined should be
for himself and Saint Simon.

Within an hour, partly refreshed, the King and his two followers entered
the room where their dinner was spread, unbuckled and laid by their
swords, and took their places at the well-furnished table, as a couple
of fresh-looking serving-maids, under the guidance of the hostess,
brought in the soup and plates, the mistress seeing to the helping and
then retiring, leaving the guests to their repast.

"Hah!