His words, and even more the tone in which he spoke and the significant glance of his eyes, declared his meaning. The bargain that I knew of I need not betray nor denounce till he fulfilled it. When would he fulfil it? He would not empty his basket, but still have something to give when he dealt with the King of France. I wondered that he should speak to me so openly; he knew that I wondered, yet, though his smile was bitter, he smiled still. I bowed to him and answered: "I am no talker, Sir, of matters too great for me." "That's well. I know you for a gentleman of great discretion, and I desire to serve you. You have something to ask of me, Mr Dale?" "The smallest thing in the world for your Majesty, and the greatest for me." "A pattern then that I wish all requests might follow. Let me hear it." "It is no more than your Majesty's favour for my efforts to win the woman whom I love." He started a little, and for the first time in all the conversation ceased to fondle the little dog. "The woman whom you love? Well, sir, and does she love you?" "She has told me so, Sir." "Then at least she wished you to believe it. Do I know this lady?" "Very well, sir," I answered in a very significant tone. He was visibly perturbed. A man come to his years will see a ready rival in every youth, however little other attraction there may be. But perhaps I had treated him too freely already; and now he used me well. I would keep up the jest no longer. "Once, Sir," I said, "for a while I loved where the King loved, even as I drank of his cup." "I know, Mr Dale. But you say 'once.'" "It is gone by, Sir." "But, yesterday?" he exclaimed abruptly. "She is a great comedian, Sir; but I fear I seconded her efforts badly." He did not answer for a moment, but began again to play with the dog. Then raising his eyes to mine he said: "You were well enough; she played divinely, Mr Dale." "She played for life, Sir." "Ay, poor Nelly loves me," said he softly. "I had been cruel to her. But I won't weary you with my affairs. What would you?" "Mistress Gwyn, Sir, has been very kind to me." "So I believe," remarked the King. "But my heart, Sir, is now and has been for long irrevocably set on another." "On my faith, Mr Dale, and speaking as one man to another, I'm glad to hear it. Was it so at Canterbury?" "More than ever before, Sir. For she was there and----" "I know she was there." "Nay, Sir, I mean the other, her whom I love, her whom I now woo. I mean Mistress Barbara Quinton, Sir." The King looked down and frowned; he patted his dog, he looked up again, frowning still. Then a queer smile bent his lips and he said in a voice which was most grave, for all his smile, "You remember M. de Perrencourt?" "I remember M. de Perrencourt very well, Sir." "It was by his choice, not mine, Mr Dale, that you set out for Calais." "So I understood at the time, Sir."