"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." "Yes, Sire; from your wound." "Hah!" cried the King. "But what is that to do with young Denis? Was he cut down too?" "No, Sire; quite uninjured when we saw him last." "When you saw him last? Then where is he now?" "A prisoner at the castle, Sire. The brave lad volunteered to take your place while we endeavoured to save our King." "To take my place! Do you mean to say, then, that he personated me?" "Yes, Sire; to lie as if wounded on your bed." "He did that?" cried the King; and Leoni slowly bent his head. "Then he has the making of a king within his breast. Brave boy!" cried Francis; and he was silent for a few moments, while bending over the side of the boat he scooped up the clear cold water in his hand and drank again and again. "Hah!" he cried. "That gives me power to think. Did I understand you aright that I am escaping and have left that boy to bear the brunt of my folly, to suffer for my madness imprisonment and maybe death?" The doctor bent his head. "Leoni," cried the King passionately, "is this acting like a king?" "Sire, it is not for you to ask, nor yet for you to judge of this. Your brave young esquire felt it to be his task, and he volunteered to play his part, as either of us would have done. It was to save your life, your servant's duty at a time like that." "And you tell me that it is my duty as a king to sacrifice that boy just entering the dawn of his young manhood so that I might live?" "Yes, Sire; for your subjects' sake." "I am the King, and judge of this. A thousand times no! It shall not be." "Sire, it must. What is one young life compared with yours?" "Everything," cried the King, "if I am to live in peace." "But, your Majesty, it is too late to think of that."