The King's Esquires Part 28

"Yes, and I found it; and that's what I'm going to show you. We are not likely to be disturbed now."

Before many minutes had elapsed the two youths were standing in front of a huge needlework picture representing a cla.s.sic scene, covered with warriors 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 s.h.i.+eld with the boss on it that stands 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 left to see if they were observed. "We are quite alone. Now you touch that boss."

"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 lifting of a latch.

"Now push," continued Carrbroke.

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

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

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

"Not quite right; not into another room, but into a dark pa.s.sage made in the wall. I went in one day when the King was out hunting and I felt grumpy because I had been left behind, and I thought I should like to see what there was there."

"Yes, and you went?" said Denis eagerly. "Yes, all along a dark pa.s.sage for ever so far. Then I came to another door, which opened easily, and there was a flight of stairs; at the bottom of that there was another door and another long pa.s.sage, twice as long as the first, and then another 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't satisfied, for it was all new to me, and I felt curious to see where the dark 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 pavilion on 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 meddled with the King's secrets might come in for the loss of his head, and I didn't want to lose mine. I came back as fast as I could. There, you can have a look through into the dark pa.s.sage if you like. Kneel down and lift up the hangings. There, what can you see?" continued the lad, as Denis obeyed, finding the abundant folds give way easily, so that he could peer right beyond.

"Nothing at all; it is quite dark."

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

"Am I to follow?" said Denis wonderingly; but he had hardly finished speaking 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. But there, you won't go and tell King Hal that I told you his secrets, will you?"

"Not very likely, is it?" said Denis, smiling, but troubled the while by an uncomfortable sensation which made him feel as if he regretted his knowledge, though at the same time he knew that he had acquired information that might be of extreme value if their masquerading were discovered, 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 suns.h.i.+ne. I feel as if I had got dark pa.s.sage on the brain."

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

SO DOES DENIS.

It was the very next day that Denis, after his attendance upon Francis, who had gone to join Henry, was alone in the King's apartments, standing in the deep recess of a cas.e.m.e.nt window, which he had flung open, and was leaning out gazing at the landscape stretching far and wide before him, and giving him a silvery glimpse here and there of the bright glittering river.

He was so lost in admiration of the scene that he did not hear the door open, and was only made conscious of some one being in the room behind him by hearing a low muttering voice say:

"A blind search! A blind search! What shall I do next to bring it to an end?"

Denis made a sharp movement, catching the sleeve of his doublet against the copper fastening which held open the cas.e.m.e.nt; and as he turned a nervous hand suddenly seized him by the shoulder in a painful grasp, for it was as if fingers of steel were pressing into his flesh.

"You, Master Leoni!" he cried, as the clutch was relaxed as quickly as it came. "Yes, my boy," said the doctor; and the lad s.h.i.+vered slightly as the fierce fire in one of Leoni's eyes died into a pleasant smile, though the cold fixed stare in the other remained the same as of old.

"I thought I was alone."

"Well, boy; do you like your life here in the castle?"

"Oh yes," cried Denis; "but when are we to have, Carrbroke and I, another fencing lesson?"

"At any time when the King does not require my services," said Leoni, smiling. "Why, you will soon be a better swordsman than I."

"Oh, sir!" cried Denis deprecatingly.

"Well, say as good, my dear boy, when you know all that I can teach you."

"And you will teach me all, sir?"

"Of course, of course," said the doctor, laying his hand caressingly on the boy's shoulder. "You are a pupil of whom I feel proud. But tell me," he continued, as he pa.s.sed his hand softly along the muscles of the lad's arm, "what about the stiffness and pain?"