The words were on his lips to greet them and say, “All is ready; you can mount in here.” But they were frozen on his lips, for the light from within fell full upon a big burly form, that of an enemy who, like a flash, the lad felt, could only have come upon a mission of evil; and he stood as if turned to stone, as a familiar voice exclaimed:
“Hallo, my French friend! I saw you cross the Court and come in here, and so I watched. What’s your business, pray, at this time of the night? Have you come to steal his Majesty’s steeds?”
Chapter Thirty Three.
Leoni’s pupil.
“How dare you!” cried Denis.
“Oh, I’ll soon show you how I dare, my lad,” cried Sir Robert Garstang. “Here, you fellow, who gave you orders to get those horses ready?”
“This gentleman, sir,” said the groom.
“What, this Comte de la Seine’s page, or whatever he is? And what right has he to instruct you to get horses out at this time of night?”