The King's Esquires Part 47

"Ah! What's that?" cried Saint Simon quickly, and Leoni smiled sardonically, making his companion wince at the peculiar look in his eyes.

"I was thinking, boy," he said, "of how you are going to spread the white napkins and the silver cups for our master's banquet, for he will be hungry, ravenous, after his long fast. You see, he may be displeased to find the banquet cold."

Saint Simon stared at him with open eyes and mouth.

"Why, you are laughing at me," he said.

"Well, why not?" replied Leoni. "Surely, after all my slavery of brain, when success s.h.i.+nes down upon me I have a right to smile."

"Success!" cried Saint Simon bitterly. "Why, you have failed."

"Hah!" said Leoni, with a peculiar smile; and then after a short pause, "Well, boy, what are we to do for food? This water is beautifully limpid and clear to quench our thirst, but it will not appease hunger."

"I'll go ash.o.r.e at the first hostelry we see, and buy what we want,"

replied Saint Simon.

"And expose us to fresh capture? No, boy; we have had enough of hostelries. Every one within reach of the river will be searched. We shall have to fast till we are far enough to venture ash.o.r.e."

"And the King?" said Saint Simon.

Leoni looked at him curiously, and slowly placed his hand within his breast to draw out the little golden flask, which he tapped with his finger-nails.

"Three parts gone," he said; "but enough left for the Comte's use. A few drops will quell his hunger; double the quant.i.ty will make him sleep in peace. When you can bear your fast no longer, you shall have a few drops in water if you are a good boy."

"Bah!" growled Saint Simon. "I can bear hunger like a man."

The day glided by in perfect peace, the two rowers resting from the past night's labours, and the King sleeping as quietly as a child; while from time to time as Saint Simon glanced at him sadly, thinking of how he and Leoni had been the cause of all the trouble to his friend, he could not help a growing feeling of admiration within his breast as he saw how able the doctor's ministrations were, as shown by the way in which he had treated his master's serious wound.

It was during one of these musing fits, when he was wondering, to use the homely phrase, how Denis was getting on, that Leoni, after a long silence, spoke out decisively.

"We will wait till it is dark," he said. "It will not be long now--and then row on through the night. It looks so clear that I expect we shall have the moon to help us on our way. To-morrow morning we shall be obliged to risk landing somewhere on the left bank, and then make our way due south, walking till the King is weary--of course after one of us has bought food of some kind, for he will never walk without. Hah!" he continued, as he bent over the sleeping King and carefully examined his face. "He is dreaming a good deal now."

"How do you know?" asked Saint Simon.

"By the motion of his eyes."

"Why, they are shut, sir."

"Yes, but look how they are turning about beneath his lids. He is going through some imaginary scene--hunting perhaps."

Singularly enough, as the doctor spoke in a whisper, Francis proved the correctness of Leoni's surmise, for he exclaimed:

"Yon bosky piece--quick! Lay on the hounds!"

Leoni drew back with a smile, and met Saint Simon's wondering eyes.

"Yes," he said; "he is getting to the end of his deep sleep. It will not be long before he wakes, and I should say just at dark. Ah, good!

It is lightening in the east. Yonder comes the moon. We will start at once; but I must cover him again. The mist is rising in the meadows, and it promises a damp night."

As he spoke he bent over the King to draw his cloak about shoulder and throat; but at the first touch of his hands the King started up and caught them fast.

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.

THE BALAS RUBY.

"Who's this?" cried Francis sharply, and in a much firmer voice. "Hah!

You, Leoni?"

"I, M. le Comte."

"Bah! The Comte! But what is it? Have I been asleep and dreaming?

Where are we? What are we doing here?"

"Making for Fontainebleau, sir."

"Yes, Fontainebleau!" cried the King eagerly. "But like this--in a boat?"

"Yes, sir--" began Leoni.

"Say Sire, man! I have done with this masquerading folly. Speak out plainly. That mummery is at an end. Why are we in this boat?"

"Escaping from King Henry's vengeance, Sire."

"Hah!" cried the King. "I do not understand. Yes, I remember now. It all comes back. There was some question of that--oh yes, I remember-- the fit of madness. But was I not wounded?"

"Yes, Sire; but your injury is healing fast."

"To be sure. I feel better, after long weeks of horrid dreams. Well, that is all over. It was while escaping. But tell me--I am growing confused again--what mean you? That we are escaping now?"

"Yes, Sire; soon to be in safety and on your way to your own great land."

"Ah!" cried the King, in a tone full of satisfaction. "That is good. I would that I had never left it upon this quest. But how dark it is getting!"

"Yes, Sire; but it will soon be lighter," said Leoni quietly.

"Make it lighter in my dark brain, man, if you have it in your power,"

cried the King impetuously; "for one moment I see clearly; the next, I am confused again. Yes--that is what I wanted to think of. Is Saint Simon there? But where is my young esquire? On your life, man, don't tell me he is dead!--Hah! Is that the truth?"

"No, Sire," said Leoni sadly. "I pray that he may be alive and well."

"May be alive! What do you mean, man?"

"That it was his and our duty, Sire, to save you from King Henry's anger. You were his prisoner, and at all costs had to be saved."

"Yes, yes; I had to escape. I have a dream-like memory of something of the kind, though it is all confused."