Denis obeyed, while the King's left hand began to play with his dagger, as he darted a suspicious look at the closed door, and then at the side dresser upon which he had thrown his sword. "What do you make of that, Saint Simon?" he said, in a low, deep voice. "Sir, I do not know Latin as I should," was the reply. "Shame on you!" growled the King. "You, Denis, you were last at school. What do you make it to be?" "In plain homely language, sir: Beware of danger." "Yes, imminent danger," cried the King. "Poison! And I have eaten nearly half my soup!" "No, no, sir," cried Denis. "I'll vouch for this. A woman with a motherly face like that could be trusted, I will vow." "I don't know," said the King. "You are only a boy. Now I have grown old enough to think that it requires a very clever man to know exactly what there is behind a woman's pleasant smiling face. This one looks plump and comfortable and honest; but there's no knowing. Now, if we had Leoni here he'd fix her with that quiet eye of his, and search her through and through with the other. He'd know. And I am beginning to find out that I have done a very stupid thing in not bringing his Ugliness with us. By my sword, I wish we had brought him! I wished it last night too, over and over again, when I felt so--ah, hum--when I couldn't sleep for the creaking and groaning of that wretched vessel." As he pulled himself up short he looked searchingly from one to the other of the two young men, giving each a suspicious glance, suspecting as he did that he would find a mocking smile upon their lips; but he was pleasantly disappointed, for Saint Simon looked stolidly stupid, and Denis eager and expectant of the next words he should let fall. "Well," said the King, "we haven't got him here, and we must think for ourselves; but that must be right. The soup is too good for that," and he began to partake again. "Here, Denis, lad, on second thoughts it must mean that we are being recognised. The islanders know who I am, and that pleasant-faced woman wishes to give us warning. Saint Simon, my lad, fetch our sword and hang it by the belt upon the corner of the chair. Do the same by your own. I am not going to leave this soup, and if we are to fight for what is evidently intended for an excellent dinner, why, fight we will." Saint Simon obeyed, and then at a sign from the King re-took his place and went on eating with such appetite as he could command. "Shall I stand on guard by the door, sir, till you have dined?" said Denis. "No, boy. Eat your soup and what else comes. We shall all three fight the better for a meal." CHAPTER NINE. THE SCENT OF DANGER. It was hard to imagine that there was danger in the air, for in that comfortably furnished panelled room everything was suggestive of plenty and peace, and, noticing as he went on with his meal how impressed his two followers seemed to be, the King paused, spoon in hand, and cried with a laugh: