s, before further expostulation was possible, the young
man made his perilous leap, clutched the parapet with his left arm,
hung suspended for one breathless moment, then flung his right leg, a
most shapely member, over the balustrade, and next instant was
kneeling at her feet, offering the gosamer token. In the instant of
crisis the young lady had given utterance to a little shriek which she
instantly suppressed, glancing nervously over her shoulder. One of her
women ran towards the door, but the girl peremptorily ordered her to
return.

"The Scot will not eat you," she cried impatiently, "even if he _is_
a savage."

"Madam, your handkerchief," explained the savage, still offering it.

"I shall not accept it," she exclaimed, her eyes blazing with
resentment at his presumption.

The king sprang to his feet and swept off his plumed hat with the air
of an Italian.

"Ten thousand thanks, madam, for your cherished gift." Saying which he
thrust the slight web back into his doublet again.

"'Tis not a gift; render it to me at once, sir," she demanded with
feminine inconsistency. She extended her hand, but the king, instead
of returning the article in dispute, grasped her fingers unawares and
raised them to his lips. She drew away her hand with an expression of
the utmost contempt, but nevertheless stood her ground, in spite of
the evident anxiety to be elsewhere of the bevy behind her.

"Sir, you are unmannerly. No one has ever ventured to treat me thus."

"Then I am delighted to be the first to introduce to you so amiable a
custom. Unmannerly? Not so. We savages learn our manners from the
charming land of France; and I have been told that in one or two
instances, this country has known not only the fingers, but the lips
to be kissed."

"I implore you, sir, to desist and take your departure the way you
came; further, I warn you that danger threatens."

"I need no such warning, my lady. The danger has already encompassed
me, and my heart shall never free itself from its presence, while
remembrance of the lightning of those eyes abides with me."

The girl laughed with a trace of nervousness, and the rich colour
mounted to her cheek.

"Sir, you are learning your lesson well in France."

"My lady, the lowest hind in my country could not do otherwise under
such tutelage."

"You should turn your gifts to the service of your master. Go, woo for
him poor Mary of Vendome, and see if you can cure her who is dying of