"I want to see how our horses are getting on."

It was so likely a mission that the princ.i.p.al of the two guards volunteered the information at once that some of the grooms would be sure to be there at that time for a final look round before closing for the night.

"You know your way, sir?" added the man respectfully.

"Oh yes, thank you," said Denis carelessly; "I know my way." And he walked on, panting heavily now, in spite of his slow pace. "This is the hardest work of all," he muttered, "for I want to run--I want to run.

But oh, how I do hate it all! They must be stealing the jewel now, for I can call it nothing else but a theft. How glad I am that they have sent me away, and I am not obliged to degrade myself with such a task.

But yet I am helping, and seem as bad as they--but no, not _as_ bad.

Leoni says it is right, and--yes, it was stolen from us, and it is but to restore it to France--to France."

"Now for it," he muttered, as he neared the entrance to the great stables, where to his delight he could see by the light within that the door was open and a shadow pa.s.sing the lit-up entry showed him that at all events part of his task would be easy. "Now no more thinking. I am but doing my duty, and it is time to act."

Increasing his pace now, he stepped boldly into a broad shelter from which a long, dimly seen vista of horse-stalls opened out to right and left, and he was confronted at once by two of a group of men, three of whom bore lanterns, and who were coming towards him as if about to leave the place.

"Here," he cried authoritatively, as he recognised one of the grooms as being he who had their steeds in charge, "I want our horses saddled at once."

"To-night, sir?" said the man, glancing at the lad's courtly costume in search of his boots and spurs, and seeking in vain, his eyes being only met by glistening silk and rosetted shoon.

"Yes," replied Denis haughtily; "to-night"; and then half laughingly, "It is fresh and cool and pleasant, is it not?"

"Yes, sir," said the man, "but--"

"The rooms are hot and stifling to-night, and the Comte my master wishes to ride forth. You will be well rewarded for the extra trouble and--ah, here," he continued, thrusting his hand into Leoni's pouch, "I forgot; you will of course sit up till we return. Here is something to pay for wine."

He held out a couple of gold pieces, which, as they were taken, acted like magic, and a busy little scene of emulation ensued, every man being eager to a.s.sist in bridling and saddling the beautiful chargers that had been standing haltered in their stalls.

It was hard work for Denis, whose pulses were throbbing with impatience; but he carried out his part well, patting and stroking first one and then another of the n.o.ble beasts, and talking to them the while.

"It seems rather hard," he said, speaking in the same haughty tone to the man he had before addressed; "but a good canter round the park will do them good, and their work is very easy nowadays."

The groom agreed to everything he said, for the glint of the gold placed in his hand was still before his eyes; and in a very short s.p.a.ce of time, long as it seemed to the impatient lad, the last strap and buckle were fastened, and with a man giving final touches to glistening coat and mane, the horses were about to be led forth.

"We are to take them round to the great entrance, sir?" said the chief groom.

"Oh no," replied Denis carelessly. "Just lead them into the entry; the Comte and his gentlemen are going to join me here. It is just for a quiet night ride, and--ah," he added, with a faint gasp of relief, "here they come!" For heavy footsteps approaching hastily could be heard outside--footsteps of only one, but which the lad in his wild excitement easily magnified into those of all his friends, as he walked far more swiftly than he intended to meet the three fugitives, ready to mount and in full career leave the hospitable place behind.

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?"

"I don't know, Sir Robert. We were told to get them ready," said the man humbly.

"Ah, but this must be inquired into. There's something wrong here, I feel sure."

"Take no notice of this man," cried Denis, forgetting in his excitement that he must speak in English, however bad, if he wished the grooms to understand, and addressing them excitedly in French.

"Bah!" cried Sir Robert, in his most bullying tones. "Take no notice of the fellow's jabber. I order you not to let these horses go without the permission of the chamberlain or the King's Master of the Horse."

"But they are the gentlemen's own horses, Sir Robert," said the man quietly, "and not the King's."

"I don't care," cried the officer. "The rules are, as I know well, that no horses shall leave here without special orders after dark."

Denis grasped every word that was said, and stood literally trembling with excitement, antic.i.p.ating as he did that at any moment his friends might arrive, when there would be a discovery of the attempted flight, and all would be over.

In his desperation, just as his heart seemed sinking to the lowest ebb, Leoni's words recurred to him. He had used the gold, while now, as the doctor had told him, he had his sword; and at this thought he drew in his breath through his teeth with a sharp low hiss.

"You hear!" cried Sir Robert sharply. "These horses are not to leave the stable till I return with some one in authority who shall decide what is to be done. You understand me? On your lives, obey!"

He swung round to stride out of the building, and then started with surprise, for the young esquire's rapier flashed out sharply in the dull light of the lanterns, as he drew and cried sternly:

"On your life, sir, stand back, and cease to interfere! I have the highest of commands for what I do."

"What!" cried Sir Robert. "Why, I have been waiting for this, to pay you back the smart you gave me--insolent French puppy that you are!

Give up your sword, sir. Do you know that it is a crime to draw in the precincts of the castle? This you have done, and it is my duty as one of his Majesty's officers to arrest you on the spot. Give up your sword, sir, at once. You are my prisoner."

"Take my sword," cried Denis sharply, "and make me your prisoner, insolent boor, if you dare or can."

"On your head be it then," cried Sir Robert, loosening his cloak, twisting it quickly round his left arm, and drawing his sword, while the chief groom, startled by the danger in which the young esquire stood, whispered quickly to a couple of his underlings to hurry for the guard.

"Stop!" cried Sir Robert fiercely. "Let no man stir if he value his skin. I know what you would do, and that I'll do myself when I have corrected this springald here.--Now, boy," he roared, "your sword!"

"Now, Master Leoni," whispered the boy between his teeth, as he rapidly placed himself on guard and made a feint at the burly captain's chest.

"Take it, insolent bully!" he said sharply; and the officer in his astonishment at the suddenness of the attack, fell back a pace; but recovering himself on the instant, he crossed swords with his young adversary. Then, to the excitement and delight of the grooms, who raised their lanterns to the full extent of their arms that the combatants might see, the triangular-bladed weapons began to give forth that peculiar harsh gritting sound of two steel edges rasping together.

The encounter was but short, for, relying upon the superior strength of his arm, and determined to punish his slight young adversary in revenge for the past, the captain pressed hard upon him, lunging rapidly with all the vigour he could command, his intention being to drive his antagonist backward against one or other of the walls and pin him there.

But he had reckoned without his host, for though Denis was no long-practised swordsman, Leoni's lessons had not been without their effect, and as thrust after thrust was lightly turned aside, the young esquire firmly stood his ground, merely stepping sideways and letting his adversary's baffled blade glide by his slight form, while refraining from thrusting again and again when the burly captain had laid himself so open that he was quite at the lad's mercy.

"Oh," growled the captain at the end of a couple of minutes' encounter, and he drew back to rest. "That is your play, is it? You refuse to be disarmed when I have mercifully shown myself disposed to let you off without a scratch."

"Your tongue is sharper than your sword, sir," said the boy scornfully; "and it is worse. It is poisoned, for every word you have spoken is a lie."

"What!" cried the captain, enraged by the low murmur uttered by the grooms as if endorsing the young esquire's words. "More insolent than ever! Give up your sword, or, by Heaven, I'll send you back to the castle upon a litter."