"Who are you, sir?" asked the fool.
The minstrel laughed, and answered in his natural voice.
"Don't you know me, mon ami?" he said, gaily. "What a jest this will be at court? How it will amuse the king—"
"Caillette!" exclaimed the plaisant, loudly. "Caillette!"
CHAPTER XXI
THE DESERTED HUT
"Himself!" laughed the minstrel. "Did I not tell you I should become a Spanish troubadour?" Then, reaching out his hand, he added seriously: "Right pleased am I to meet you. But how came you here?"
"I have fled from the keep of the old castle, where I lay charged with heresy," answered the jester, returning the hearty grip.
"The keep!" exclaimed Caillette in surprise. "You are fortunate not to have been brought to trial," he added, thoughtfully. "Few get through that seine, and his Holiness, the pope, I understand, has ordered the meshes made yet smaller."