"I do not know. Ask him." "I dare not." "It will be soon," exclaimed Denis, "for I believe that my lord will not remain in England long." The King took dinner that night at the hostelry by the side of the ferry and ford they had crossed that day, having previously despatched Denis with the letter which was to bring him face to face with the King of England, the lad shortly returning, having intrusted the missive to a captain of the Royal Guards, by whom it was to be handed to the chamberlain on duty. But the meal was not concluded when Francis was asked to receive a messenger from the castle. "Bid him enter," said the King, and he rose and stood by the wide hearth, as the emissary of the English King entered and bowed low. "His Majesty," he said, "wishes to welcome the noble Count de la Seine, and tells me to assure you, sir, that had he known of your coming he would gladly have provided an escort from the coast. He begs that you will honour him this evening with your presence at his Court." "Tell his Majesty," said Francis gravely, "that I am very sensible of his kindness, and that it is my most urgent wish to wait upon him." The royal messenger was bowed out, and Francis turned sharply to Leoni. "Well, Leoni, we are outside the lion's den at present. Are we to go in?--Don't!" cried the King angrily. "My lord!" "Don't stare at me like that. I know what you are thinking--that I am afraid." "Heaven forbid that I should think such a thing of--" The King made a gesture, and in a hoarse whisper: "You were going to say `King.' One might think from your visage that in walking into his palace I was stepping into a lion's den.--What now, boy? What were you thinking?" he cried, turning sharply to Denis, who had been listening impatiently to his companion's words. "Only, sir, that if it be a lion's den the Comte de la Seine has his sword." "To be sure," said the King. "And three followers who carry theirs, and--" The boy stopped short, for as he uttered his boastful words he was interrupted by a hoarse, mocking laugh which came through the partly open door, rousing the boy's ire so that he clapped his hand to his weapon, the others turning also in the direction from which the sound had come. "What!" came in a loud, bullying tone. "The room engaged? Nonsense! Who are they! What are they doing here?" "French gentlemen, Sir Robert." "French dancing masters, I suppose, come to teach the Court lads minuets; and are they to keep English gentlemen waiting outside because, forsooth, they have engaged the public room? Come in, boys. Here, landlord; a stoup of wine. I'm thirsty. Frenchmen! Why, we can make them dance!" There was a thump struck upon the panel of the door, which flew open, and a big, soldierly-looking man in horseman's boots covered with dust swaggered in, followed by a couple more, who looked, like their leader, hot and dusty, and, judging by their accoutrements, appeared to have just dismounted.