The King's Esquires Part 27

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

"Yes," cried Carrbroke, "that's something like what I feel. I say, he's your 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," he continued hastily, and flus.h.i.+ng 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?" continued Carrbroke.

"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 they call magic--that there is something curious in it? You see, it turns so, and seems so strong."

"Yes, that is strange," said Denis. "It is no matter how you parry; the point always seems as if it could enter your breast if it liked. I always 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 other men. 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 on me, as he always does, it makes me s.h.i.+ver; although he is always very kind, there is something about him I can't understand, and if he were my enemy I should be ready to give everything up and go away. There, what a bad job! I was just going to say, let's go for a long ride, or else make some of the King's rowers take us up the river, and then float down, and it's going to rain, and I don't want to get wet. It spoils one'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 ladies at this time of day. I can show you everything that there is to see."

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

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

Carrbroke was quite right, for the rain began streaming down; and a few minutes afterwards the two lads were in the royal apartments, which were quite deserted, and Carrbroke was proudly showing the different pictures, King Henry's armour, and choice collections of weapons of war.

At last he stopped in front of a beautiful Italian cabinet which differed from ordinary pieces of furniture, being made to stand four-square in the centre of the apartment, each side being richly ornamented with carving and delicate inlaid work which covered the doors and 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 he believed that it was full of gems and curious jewels that had been presented to the King. I never saw it open yet, but there must be many curiosities there, swords and petronels, as well as jewels."

"Indeed!" said Denis, colouring slightly.

"Oh yes; some of those curious gems that they say have magic properties--charms, don't they call them? Magic crystals that confer singular powers upon those who own them, bring good luck, and influence the 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 a little deeper, and then deeper still, and he winced a little as if he felt that Carrbroke's searching eyes were reading his inmost thoughts; and then he started and felt worse, for it seemed to him that his companion suspected his reasons for being there, so that he was ready to utter a sigh of relief when Carrbroke said:

"Well, you needn't look like that. You needn't be ashamed to believe in such things. I do, for there's a lot one doesn't understand. I was told once that different precious stones have very curious qualities; some will protect anyone from magic, some from enemies. There was a ring 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 to poison people there."

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

"No," said Carrbroke; "no more do I, unless you swallowed it to keep the poison from doing harm. Perhaps it's all nonsense. But the King believes 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 feel as if you'd like to smuggle some of them?"

"What!" cried Denis, flus.h.i.+ng scarlet and gazing wildly in his companion's eyes.

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

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

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

"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 with arras and--oh yes, there is: I know. I say, you haven't got any secret pa.s.sages at Fontainebleau?"

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

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 matters about you knowing it, as you are not going to live here. It's something I found out myself. I was on duty here--as page in attendance on the King--one evening, just at dusk, and the candles weren't lit. There had been a grand banquet the night before, with music and dancing, and I'd been up all night, and just as it began to grow dark I turned so sleepy I couldn't keep my eyes open. I tried ever so hard, but it was of no use, and I sank down in a chair close up to the hangings in a dark corner, and was asleep in a moment. I don't think it could have been long before I woke up again with a start. I suppose some noise must have woke me, and I sat there staring and wondering where I was, for I felt quite stupid, when all at once the arras that covered the wall just opposite to me seemed to open, and something dark came out, to stand still for a few moments as if listening. Then there was a rustling of hangings, and the dark figure came straight towards me, making me turn cold; for I felt then that I had been asleep, and I thought it was some one come to punish me. But the figure did not come close up to where I sat, but suddenly turned off towards a light which appeared at the end of the corridor and came nearer, while directly after I made out that some 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 pa.s.sage."

"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."