“I hope he would, Leoni,” said the King, laughing to himself, and he looked sharply upward as the halberdiers’ footsteps echoed from the grey stone walls of the arched entrance to the courtyard. “A noble-looking castle. May I ask, monsieur the captain, what building that is to our left—the chapel of the palace?”
“Yes, sir, and the great hall,” replied the Captain of the Guard.
Then uttering a sharp order, the advance-guard bore off to the left.
“His Majesty awaits you, sir, in the ante-chamber. We turn in here for your reception in the hall.”
“Hah!” said Francis, and he looked at Denis as he spoke. “Well, boy,” he said, in a low tone, “are you wondering what Henry of England will think when he sees the Comte?”
“No, sir,” replied the boy sharply.
“What then?”
“Will the Comte excuse me saying?” said the boy, turning furiously red.
“No, he will not,” said the King sharply. “Out with it at once! What were you thinking?”
The boy hesitated, but the King’s eyes were fixed upon him fiercely, and with a desperate effort he blurted out: