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The King's Esquires: The Jewel of France, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 17. A Few Bars' Rest |
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_ CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. A FEW BARS' REST A short time later, the dull aching pain seemed to have passed completely out of the injured shoulder, and after a few words evincing his gratitude, which Leoni received with a rather cynical smile, they passed together, led by their new young friend, into the long low dining-hall of the house, where the King, in company with Saint Simon, both apparently none the worse for the previous night's experience, was impatiently waiting, and conversing with his host, a tall grey-bearded man of sixty, whose aspect told at once that he was father to the youth who ushered in the injured lad. "Let me introduce my son, my lord," said Sir John. "Ned, my boy, this is Comte de la Seine, a French nobleman about to visit your royal master's Court. My lord, my fighting days have long been over, and I only serve my King now with my counsel; but he has honoured me by accepting the service of my only son for his father's sake, and has made him, young as he is, one of the King's esquires." "And a brave one too, I'll warrant," said Francis, holding out his hand, quite forgetful of his new character as a travelling nobleman, for his host's heir to kiss. He winced slightly, his face twitched, and an ejaculation nearly passed his lips, while the sinister look on Master Leoni's countenance deepened as he half closed his eyes, at heart enjoying the scene; for the youth advanced with the frank, manly courtesy of a young Englishman, and instead of bending over and kissing, courtier-like, the extended hand, he took it and shook it with a hearty grip. "I am glad to know my father's guest, my lord," he said. "It was not from want of respect that I was not here before. I have been with your esquire.--He was badly hurt yesterday, father; he mustn't go on. You must keep him here for days, till we have set him right." "Gladly, my boy," cried Sir John, "if his lordship will honour my poor home with his presence." "Oh no, no," said the King shortly. "Why, Denis, boy, you are not so bad as that. Here, Master Leoni, what have you to say?" "That he must rest two or three days at least, sir. His arm is badly wrenched, and he is not fit to sit a horse." "But he sat one bravely enough last night," cried the King.--"But, Sir John, are all your roads like this? If the people we passed last night could have had their way you would have no guests to throw themselves upon your kindness, for we should have been lying somewhere in the forest to feed the English crows. But there, we have kept you waiting long enough," and he made a gesture towards the well-spread board. Sir John raised his eyebrows slightly, for his visitor's imperious, authoritative way impressed him unfavourably. But no suspicion of his status occurred to him then, and directly after he was busily employed doing the honours of his table, the good things spread thereon soon having a mollifying influence upon his guest, whose autocratic ways became less prominent under the influence of a most enjoyable meal. Thoroughly softened then by his meal as far as temper was concerned, the King now began to find out that he was exceedingly stiff, and questioned Saint Simon a good deal about his sensations, to learn that he too was in the same condition. "Ah, well," he said, "riding will soon take that off. Here, let's go and have a look at the horses." Sir John accompanied his guest into the great stable-yard, followed by Saint Simon and the two young esquires. The chargers had been carefully tended by Sir John's men, who did not fail to point out that they were not taking their corn happily; and it was perfectly evident to everyone that their hard day's work, following so closely upon much riding down to the port and the stormy crossing, had made them in a very unsatisfactory condition. "Humph!" grunted the King. "They don't look as I should like." "Splendid beasts," said Sir John; "but they want eight and forty hours' rest. You will not think of continuing your journey to-day?" "Indeed but I shall," said the King,--"er--that is--how do you think they look, Saint Simon?" "Bough," said the young man laconically. The King grunted and frowned. "I fear you think that you will not be welcome, my lord," said Sir John, "and I beg that you will dismiss all such thoughts. Make up your mind, pray, to stay for the next eight and forty hours. I beg you will. Then we shall see how the poor beasts are. Besides, we have to think of our young friend." The result was that the King consented to stop for the aforesaid forty-eight hours, at the end of which time, feeling himself very comfortable and enjoying his host's company, he needed very little pressure to prolong his stay, especially as Leoni announced that, though Denis was mending fast, riding might have a bad effect and delay his recovery. The King's Esquires--by George Manville Fenn _ |
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