“He is,” said Leoni, “from the effects of his wound.”
“Then will you speak for him? And you, gentlemen, will you all give me your word that you are not bearing off any paper or despatch belonging to his Majesty?”
“Certainly,” replied Leoni, “and my friends will too. We have neither paper nor despatch belonging to your King.”
The captain bowed, and left the room, to set a couple of his men as sentries at the chamber door; and as the occupants of the humble room stood listening to the King’s heavy breathing, for he had fallen into a deep sleep, they heard the tramp of footsteps outside, sounds which made Leoni glide on tiptoe to the window and cautiously look out.
“Prisoners indeed,” he said softly, with a bitter smile, as he returned; and as in the dim light of the two candles burning on the table Denis met the doctor’s eyes with a stern reproachful look, he shuddered slightly, for they looked to him more strange and fixed than ever, having so strange an effect upon him that he could not put his reproach into words.
“Well,” said Leoni lightly, “calmness is the best remedy for a trouble. Gentlemen, I will watch by our master’s side; you are young, and had better go back to your chambers and try to sleep. Of course it would be madness to attempt to escape.”