The King's Esquires; Or, The Jewel of France

  CHAPTER TWENTY.

  THE KING'S BULLIES.

  It was towards evening that the little cavalcade came within sight ofthe town where was situated the famous castle which was so much to theliking of Henry; and at this point there was a separation, for youngCarrbroke took leave.

  "We shall soon meet again," he said to Denis, as the two lads bade eachother farewell. "When does your master go to the Court?"

  Denis shook his head.

  "I do not know. Ask him."

  "I dare not."

  "It will be soon," exclaimed Denis, "for I believe that my lord will notremain in England long."

  The King took dinner that night at the hostelry by the side of the ferryand ford they had crossed that day, having previously despatched Deniswith the letter which was to bring him face to face with the King ofEngland, the lad shortly returning, having intrusted the missive to acaptain of the Royal Guards, by whom it was to be handed to thechamberlain on duty.

  But the meal was not concluded when Francis was asked to receive amessenger from the castle.

  "Bid him enter," said the King, and he rose and stood by the widehearth, as the emissary of the English King entered and bowed low.

  "His Majesty," he said, "wishes to welcome the noble Count de la Seine,and tells me to assure you, sir, that had he known of your coming hewould gladly have provided an escort from the coast. He begs that youwill honour him this evening with your presence at his Court."

  "Tell his Majesty," said Francis gravely, "that I am very sensible ofhis kindness, and that it is my most urgent wish to wait upon him."

  The royal messenger was bowed out, and Francis turned sharply to Leoni.

  "Well, Leoni, we are outside the lion's den at present. Are we to goin?--Don't!" cried the King angrily.

  "My lord!"

  "Don't stare at me like that. I know what you are thinking--that I amafraid."

  "Heaven forbid that I should think such a thing of--"

  The King made a gesture, and in a hoarse whisper:

  "You were going to say `King.' One might think from your visage that inwalking into his palace I was stepping into a lion's den.--What now,boy? What were you thinking?" he cried, turning sharply to Denis, whohad been listening impatiently to his companion's words.

  "Only, sir, that if it be a lion's den the Comte de la Seine has hissword."

  "To be sure," said the King.

  "And three followers who carry theirs, and--"

  The boy stopped short, for as he uttered his boastful words he wasinterrupted by a hoarse, mocking laugh which came through the partlyopen door, rousing the boy's ire so that he clapped his hand to hisweapon, the others turning also in the direction from which the soundhad come.

  "What!" came in a loud, bullying tone. "The room engaged? Nonsense!Who are they! What are they doing here?"

  "French gentlemen, Sir Robert."

  "French dancing masters, I suppose, come to teach the Court ladsminuets; and are they to keep English gentlemen waiting outside because,forsooth, they have engaged the public room? Come in, boys. Here,landlord; a stoup of wine. I'm thirsty. Frenchmen! Why, we can makethem dance!"

  There was a thump struck upon the panel of the door, which flew open,and a big, soldierly-looking man in horseman's boots covered with dustswaggered in, followed by a couple more, who looked, like their leader,hot and dusty, and, judging by their accoutrements, appeared to havejust dismounted.

  Francis started and frowned as he met the English officer's insultinggaze--insulting, for the stranger gave a contemptuous look around at theassembled party, swaggered forward, unbuckling his belt and throwing itand his sword upon the table with a bang, before dragging forward achair over the polished floor, raising it a little, and then bringing itheavily down, to throw himself into its seat and then cry:

  "Come, boys; the chairs are not all occupied. How long is that fellowgoing to be with the wine?"

  Francis turned pale; Leoni bit his lip, drew closer to him, andwhispered softly:

  "Pay no heed, M. le Comte;" while Denis and Saint Simon, after gazingfiercely at the new-comers, turned to look at the King as if to signifytheir readiness, and mutely ask his consent to drive these intrudersfrom the room.

  The result of this was that the painful silence was broken by theofficer addressed as Sir Robert bursting into another loud insultinglaugh. He looked at first one and then at the other of his companions,before doubling his great gloved fist and beginning to make his sworddance upon the table by thumping hard and shouting loudly:

  "Now, landlord! Wine--wine--wine!"

  "Pay no heed, sir," said Leoni softly. "They are trying to provoke aquarrel, and you cannot stoop."

  "What's that, Frenchman? Can't you speak English? None of yourmiserable monsieuring here! Do you know where you are? In the shadowof the Court of the great King Hal. Here, youngster, what are you doingwith that hilt? It isn't a fiddlestick. I didn't know dancing masterscarried swords.--Ah, here's the wine. Pour out landlord; and here," hecontinued, as the host nervously filled the cups he had brought. "Bah!Fool! Into the cups, not all over the table. Your wine is always bad,but sack is too good to polish English oak. Now, boys, here's to--Stop!Let's make this French springald drink King Harry's health. There,boy. Take up that cup."

  Leoni stretched out his hand to catch Denis by the arm, but he was toolate, for, with his eyes flashing, the boy stepped quickly forward tothe table, caught up the cup, and raised it towards his lips.

  "Montjoie Saint Denis! God save the King of France!" he cried, and wasabout to drain the cup, while Leoni uttered an impatient hiss, when thevessel was brutally struck from his hand by the English officer, thewine being scattered about the room, and bringing the King to his feet.

  "Insolent!" cried Sir Robert, with his face now crimson, as he toosprang to his feet, and catching up another of the filled cups. "But heshall drink it, boys, or I'll slit his miserable ears. Do youunderstand plain English, you minuet-dancing puppy?"

  "Yes," panted Denis, between his teeth, and never taking his eyes fromthe Englishman; "every word."

  "Ah! That's good. Then take this cup, and down upon your knees anddrink King Harry's health, or 'fore Heaven you shall go back to yourmiserable country marked by an English blade."

  There was a momentary pause in the room, every eye being centred uponthe boy, fascinated as all were and self-forgetful, as they watched forthe outcome of the incident.

  They were not kept waiting long, for the fierce look upon the boy'scountenance gave place to a pleasant smile which the Englishman did notread as meant mockingly. He stretched out and took the cup, and thebully returned the smile as he gave his companions a quick nod of thehead.

  "You see, boys," he cried, in his loud bullying voice, "this is the wayto teach French monkeys! Now, my mincing young skipjack, God save KingHarry!--Malediction!" he roared, as he snatched up his sword, for with aquick motion the boy had emptied the wine-cup full in his face.