Thoroughly softened then by his meal as far as temper was concerned, the King now began to find out that he was exceedingly stiff, and questioned Saint Simon a good deal about his sensations, to learn that he too was in the same condition. "Ah, well," he said, "riding will soon take that off. Here, let's go and have a look at the horses." Sir John accompanied his guest into the great stable-yard, followed by Saint Simon and the two young esquires. The chargers had been carefully tended by Sir John's men, who did not fail to point out that they were not taking their corn happily; and it was perfectly evident to everyone that their hard day's work, following so closely upon much riding down to the port and the stormy crossing, had made them in a very unsatisfactory condition. "Humph!" grunted the King. "They don't look as I should like." "Splendid beasts," said Sir John; "but they want eight and forty hours' rest. You will not think of continuing your journey to-day?" "Indeed but I shall," said the King,--"er--that is--how do you think they look, Saint Simon?" "Bough," said the young man laconically. The King grunted and frowned. "I fear you think that you will not be welcome, my lord," said Sir John, "and I beg that you will dismiss all such thoughts. Make up your mind, pray, to stay for the next eight and forty hours. I beg you will. Then we shall see how the poor beasts are. Besides, we have to think of our young friend." The result was that the King consented to stop for the aforesaid forty-eight hours, at the end of which time, feeling himself very comfortable and enjoying his host's company, he needed very little pressure to prolong his stay, especially as Leoni announced that, though Denis was mending fast, riding might have a bad effect and delay his recovery. The King's Esquires--by George Manville Fenn CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. THE DOCTOR IS BUSY. But the King could not conceal his anxiety to be once more in the saddle _en route_ for Windsor; and although Sir John Carrbroke urged him to remain so far as the dictates of hospitality required, yet he forbore when he saw the impatience of his guest to be once more on his way, and at dinner the night before the departure he spoke only of the journey to be undertaken on the following day. "You will find the roads safe enough from here onward, sir," he said courteously, and the King bowed gravely. "I trust so," he said; "I trust so. England had been represented to me as a land where everyone was safe." Sir John leaned forward. "I doubt not," he said, "that when you represent to his Majesty the peril you encountered the south will be cleared of that roving band." The King laughed. "Well, we did something towards ridding the country of the robbers, eh, Leoni? I--" He stopped speaking, for at that minute there was the sound of a horse cantering into the courtyard, and a minute later Sir John's own serving-man entered the apartment.