"Can you?" said Denis, whose thoughts suddenly turned to his mission there. "Oh yes; I am allowed to go where I like, as the King's youngest esquire." And then half pettishly: "They consider me only a boy. But come along." Carrbroke was quite right, for the rain began streaming down; and a few minutes afterwards the two lads were in the royal apartments, which were quite deserted, and Carrbroke was proudly showing the different pictures, King Henry's armour, and choice collections of weapons of war. At last he stopped in front of a beautiful Italian cabinet which differed from ordinary pieces of furniture, being made to stand four-square in the centre of the apartment, each side being richly ornamented with carving and delicate inlaid work which covered the doors and drawers. "I wish I had the keys of that," said Carrbroke. "Why? What's inside?" "I hardly know; but my father told me once to take notice of it, for he believed that it was full of gems and curious jewels that had been presented to the King. I never saw it open yet, but there must be many curiosities there, swords and petronels, as well as jewels." "Indeed!" said Denis, colouring slightly. "Oh yes; some of those curious gems that they say have magic properties--charms, don't they call them? Magic crystals that confer singular powers upon those who own them, bring good luck, and influence the fate of people. I say, do you believe in such things as that?" "Ye-es, I think I do," said Denis, and the colour on his cheeks grew a little deeper, and then deeper still, and he winced a little as if he felt that Carrbroke's searching eyes were reading his inmost thoughts; and then he started and felt worse, for it seemed to him that his companion suspected his reasons for being there, so that he was ready to utter a sigh of relief when Carrbroke said: "Well, you needn't look like that. You needn't be ashamed to believe in such things. I do, for there's a lot one doesn't understand. I was told once that different precious stones have very curious qualities; some will protect anyone from magic, some from enemies. There was a ring I once heard of which if a person wore would guard him from poison. It was an Italian ring, I suppose, for I believe that they try to poison people there." "Yes, I have heard so," said Denis drily, as he stood with his eyes fixed upon the cabinet, wondering whether the treasure Leoni sought could be there. "But it seems nonsense. I don't see how a diamond or a ruby could do such things." "No," said Carrbroke; "no more do I, unless you swallowed it to keep the poison from doing harm. Perhaps it's all nonsense. But the King believes it, I suppose." "Why do you say so?" asked Denis. "Because he's got a lot of such things in here. I say, don't you feel as if you'd like to smuggle some of them?" "What!" cried Denis, flushing scarlet and gazing wildly in his companion's eyes.