For answer Denis drew his sword and pointed to the panel.
“Well? Why don’t you speak?”
“There is a door there, sir, and I saw it move.”
“There is no door here,” cried Saint Simon, as he felt about the panel, which was perfectly rigid; and just then the hostess entered, followed by the maids bearing fresh dishes, to look wonderingly from one to the other.
“Ah, mistress!” cried the King. “Is there a door there? Does one of those panels open?”
“Oh yes, my lord,” she replied. “It is a hatch to pass dishes through into a smaller dining chamber.” And she smilingly stepped to the wall, turned a carved rose at one corner of the panel, and pressed it sidewise, showing a square opening through which a similarly furnished room could be seen.
“Send away those women,” said the King sternly.
The hostess started, spoke to the two girls, who stepped back with the dishes, and she closed the door after them.
“One of my followers saw that panel move,” said the King sternly. “There is some one there.”
“Oh no, my lord,” she cried, “The room is empty. Look.”