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

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

  CARRBROKE TELLS SECRETS.

  The days passed quickly, with the Kings the best of friends, for Francisproved himself a boon companion, a good horseman, and quite after theKing's own heart.

  He made himself a favourite too, and the most courtly at the Court,ready if he had been present to have brought a sneering smile to thelips of Sir Robert Garstang, who, when the minstrels were busy in theirgallery, might have seen some justification of the bullying captain'ssneer respecting dancing masters, for Francis was ever ready and eagerto lead some Court lady through the mazes of the dance.

  For revels were plentiful at Windsor then, and Denis in thecompanionship of Carrbroke found the time pass pleasantly enough, on theterraces, in the park, and along the banks of the silver Thames; but hewas quite forgetful for the most part of the special mission upon whichhe had crossed the sea.

  For Ned Carrbroke had always something fresh to propose in the way ofhorsemanship, and often enough invited his French companion tosword-play, which was readily accepted; and to Carrbroke's wonder anddelight Leoni would come to look on, and at Denis's request advise themupon questions dealing with offence and defence, and proper conduct ofthe rapier both in French and Italian schools.

  "Why, he's splendid," cried Carrbroke one day, "only I don't like him.He puts me out of heart. I used to think that I was a good fencer, butwhen I cross swords with him I feel quite a baby. You are lucky to havesome one like that to give you lessons. Why, you must be splendidyourself."

  Denis laughed merrily.

  "Why," he said, "I always feel worse than you. Master Leoni, when Ifence with him and he gives me a lesson, makes me feel as if there weremagic in his blade which sends a strange aching pain all up the musclesof my arm."

  "Yes," cried Carrbroke, "that's something like what I feel. I say, he'syour friend, isn't he?"

  "Well, hardly a friend. I feel more afraid of him than anything."

  "Yes," said Carrbroke eagerly, "that's how I feel--well, not afraid," hecontinued hastily, and flushing up; "but you won't mind my speaking out?You and I seem to have so taken to one another."

  "Well, yes," said Denis, "we do seem to like one another a bit."

  "Then you won't mind my speaking out quite plainly?" continuedCarrbroke.

  "Not I. What is it?"

  "Only this. Do you think that there is something queer in his blade?"

  "Only that it is best Italian steel."

  "Yes, of course," said Carrbroke impatiently. "But I mean what theycall magic--that there is something curious in it? You see, it turnsso, and seems so strong."

  "Yes, that is strange," said Denis. "It is no matter how you parry; thepoint always seems as if it could enter your breast if it liked. Ialways feel that Master Leoni could kill anyone just as he pleased."

  "Of course you believe in magic?" said Carrbroke.

  "I don't know. I suppose I do," replied Denis.

  "I do," said Carrbroke; "and your friend seems so different from othermen. Look at his eye."

  "Oh, I never do if I can help it," said Denis. "You've noticed it,then?"

  "Noticed it?" cried Carrbroke. "Who could help it? When he fixes it onme, as he always does, it makes me shiver; although he is always verykind, there is something about him I can't understand, and if he were myenemy I should be ready to give everything up and go away. There, whata bad job! I was just going to say, let's go for a long ride, or elsemake some of the King's rowers take us up the river, and then floatdown, and it's going to rain, and I don't want to get wet. It spoilsone's doublet so. Here, I know; I'll take you all through the castle,if I can, into all the King's private rooms. They'll be with the ladiesat this time of day. I can show you everything that there is to see."

  "Can you?" said Denis, whose thoughts suddenly turned to his missionthere.

  "Oh yes; I am allowed to go where I like, as the King's youngestesquire." And then half pettishly: "They consider me only a boy. Butcome along."

  Carrbroke was quite right, for the rain began streaming down; and a fewminutes afterwards the two lads were in the royal apartments, which werequite deserted, and Carrbroke was proudly showing the differentpictures, King Henry's armour, and choice collections of weapons of war.At last he stopped in front of a beautiful Italian cabinet whichdiffered from ordinary pieces of furniture, being made to standfour-square in the centre of the apartment, each side being richlyornamented with carving and delicate inlaid work which covered the doorsand drawers.

  "I wish I had the keys of that," said Carrbroke.

  "Why? What's inside?"

  "I hardly know; but my father told me once to take notice of it, for hebelieved that it was full of gems and curious jewels that had beenpresented to the King. I never saw it open yet, but there must be manycuriosities there, swords and petronels, as well as jewels."

  "Indeed!" said Denis, colouring slightly.

  "Oh yes; some of those curious gems that they say have magicproperties--charms, don't they call them? Magic crystals that confersingular powers upon those who own them, bring good luck, and influencethe fate of people. I say, do you believe in such things as that?"

  "Ye-es, I think I do," said Denis, and the colour on his cheeks grew alittle deeper, and then deeper still, and he winced a little as if hefelt that Carrbroke's searching eyes were reading his inmost thoughts;and then he started and felt worse, for it seemed to him that hiscompanion suspected his reasons for being there, so that he was ready toutter a sigh of relief when Carrbroke said:

  "Well, you needn't look like that. You needn't be ashamed to believe insuch things. I do, for there's a lot one doesn't understand. I wastold once that different precious stones have very curious qualities;some will protect anyone from magic, some from enemies. There was aring I once heard of which if a person wore would guard him from poison.It was an Italian ring, I suppose, for I believe that they try topoison people there."

  "Yes, I have heard so," said Denis drily, as he stood with his eyesfixed upon the cabinet, wondering whether the treasure Leoni soughtcould be there. "But it seems nonsense. I don't see how a diamond or aruby could do such things."

  "No," said Carrbroke; "no more do I, unless you swallowed it to keep thepoison from doing harm. Perhaps it's all nonsense. But the Kingbelieves it, I suppose."

  "Why do you say so?" asked Denis.

  "Because he's got a lot of such things in here. I say, don't you feelas if you'd like to smuggle some of them?"

  "What!" cried Denis, flushing scarlet and gazing wildly in hiscompanion's eyes.

  "Don't look like that," cried Carrbroke, laughing. "I said smuggle; Ididn't say steal. I thought you might feel as if you'd like to have oneof these charms which hold such magic power."

  "I am not afraid of being poisoned," said Denis huskily. "Here, comeaway from this; show me something else."

  "Oh, haven't you seen enough? But I say, is this better or worse thanFontainebleau?"

  "Oh, I don't know," said Denis hastily, for he felt mentally disturbed."They are both beautiful places. Where does that corridor lead?"

  "All along one side of the King's apartments."

  "Well, let's go down there."

  "But there's nothing to show you but furniture and walls covered witharras and--oh yes, there is: I know. I say, you haven't got any secretpassages at Fontainebleau?"

  "We have all kinds of places hidden in the walls. Have you got anyhere?"

  Carrbroke nodded.

  "I say, we are friends, aren't we?"

  "Of course; the best of friends."

  "Then I'll show you something; only it's a secret. Not that it mattersabout you knowing it, as you are not going to live here. It's somethingI found out myself. I was on duty here--as page in attendance on theKing--one evening, just at dusk, and the candles weren't lit. There hadbeen a grand banquet the night before, with music and dancing, and I'dbeen up all night, and just as it began to grow dark I turned so sleepyI couldn'
t keep my eyes open. I tried ever so hard, but it was of nouse, and I sank down in a chair close up to the hangings in a darkcorner, and was asleep in a moment. I don't think it could have beenlong before I woke up again with a start. I suppose some noise musthave woke me, and I sat there staring and wondering where I was, for Ifelt quite stupid, when all at once the arras that covered the wall justopposite to me seemed to open, and something dark came out, to standstill for a few moments as if listening. Then there was a rustling ofhangings, and the dark figure came straight towards me, making me turncold; for I felt then that I had been asleep, and I thought it was someone come to punish me. But the figure did not come close up to where Isat, but suddenly turned off towards a light which appeared at the endof the corridor and came nearer, while directly after I made out thatsome of the servants were bringing in candles, and directly after,though I only saw his back, I knew it was the King."

  "Then he didn't see you?" said Denis.

  "No, fortunately for me."

  "Then he must have come out of some secret passage."

  "That was it, and of course you know what I did afterwards--not then,but the first day that I had the chance?"

  "Searched for the secret door, of course. I should."

  "Yes, and I found it; and that's what I'm going to show you. We are notlikely to be disturbed now."

  Before many minutes had elapsed the two youths were standing in front ofa huge needlework picture representing a classic scene, covered withwarriors and triumphal cars.

  "There, you wouldn't think there was a door behind there, would you?"

  "No, that I shouldn't," replied Denis.

  "But there is. You see that warrior's shield with the boss on it thatstands out as if it were real?"

  "Yes," said Denis; "it is very cleverly done."

  "Yes, but it is real," said Carrbroke, and he glanced to right and leftto see if they were observed. "We are quite alone. Now you touch thatboss."

  "Yes: it's hard and round," said Denis.

  "Now give it a twist."

  Denis did as he was told, and there was a faint click like the liftingof a latch.

  "Now push," continued Carrbroke.

  Denis again obeyed, and something gave way as if he had pushed a doorwhich opened from him.

  "Now then," said Carrbroke, "what do you think of that?"

  "That if I lifted the arras I could pass into another room."

  "Not quite right; not into another room, but into a dark passage made inthe wall. I went in one day when the King was out hunting and I feltgrumpy because I had been left behind, and I thought I should like tosee what there was there."

  "Yes, and you went?" said Denis eagerly. "Yes, all along a dark passagefor ever so far. Then I came to another door, which opened easily, andthere was a flight of stairs; at the bottom of that there was anotherdoor and another long passage, twice as long as the first, and thenanother door."

  "Did you open that?"

  "Yes; and where do you think I was?"

  "I don't know. In the cellars perhaps."

  "No; in a dark part of the terrace all amongst the trees. Then I wasn'tsatisfied, for it was all new to me, and I felt curious to see where thedark winding walk that was before me went to."

  "Yes," said Denis eagerly; "and where did it lead?"

  "Right away down and down to some stone steps close to a little pavilionon the banks of the river, where there was a boat fastened to a post.That was the King's private way, of course."

  "Yes," said Denis; "but what did he want it for?"

  "Oh, I don't know; and I didn't want to know, for anyone who meddledwith the King's secrets might come in for the loss of his head, and Ididn't want to lose mine. I came back as fast as I could. There, youcan have a look through into the dark passage if you like. Kneel downand lift up the hangings. There, what can you see?" continued the lad,as Denis obeyed, finding the abundant folds give way easily, so that hecould peer right beyond.

  "Nothing at all; it is quite dark."

  "Come away," said Carrbroke quickly. "That's right," he continued, andthen quickly taking Denis's place he quite disappeared.

  "Am I to follow?" said Denis wonderingly; but he had hardly finishedspeaking before Carrbroke reappeared, laughing.

  "Only shutting the door," he said. "Has anyone seen us?"

  "No," said Denis, after a glance in both directions.

  "That's right," said Carrbroke. "I say, though, it is interesting,isn't it? But now I've told you I can't help wondering why I did. Butthere, you won't go and tell King Hal that I told you his secrets, willyou?"

  "Not very likely, is it?" said Denis, smiling, but troubled the while byan uncomfortable sensation which made him feel as if he regretted hisknowledge, though at the same time he knew that he had acquiredinformation that might be of extreme value if their masquerading werediscovered, perhaps mean the saving of his King.

  His musings were suddenly broken off by the voice of companion.

  "There," he said, "let's go out of doors in the sunshine. I feel as ifI had got dark passage on the brain."