CHAPTER NINE.
THE SCENT OF DANGER.
It was hard to imagine that there was danger in the air, for in thatcomfortably furnished panelled room everything was suggestive of plentyand peace, and, noticing as he went on with his meal how impressed histwo followers seemed to be, the King paused, spoon in hand, and criedwith a laugh:
"Come, boys, where are your appetites? Are we to be scared with a scrapof paper, a Latin exercise, perhaps, written by our hostess's son?"
As he spoke there was a faint rasping sound as of wood passing overwood, making Denis turn sharply and put out his hand towards his sword,for it seemed to him that there was a tremulous motion in one of thepanels of the wall behind where the King was seated.
"What's that?" cried the latter sharply, as with a bound the lad sprangpast him to stand between him and the side of the room.
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, followedby the maids bearing fresh dishes, to look wonderingly from one to theother.
"Ah, mistress!" cried the King. "Is there a door there? Does one ofthose panels open?"
"Oh yes, my lord," she replied. "It is a hatch to pass dishes throughinto a smaller dining chamber." And she smilingly stepped to the wall,turned a carved rose at one corner of the panel, and pressed itsidewise, showing a square opening through which a similarly furnishedroom could be seen.
"Send away those women," said the King sternly.
The hostess started, spoke to the two girls, who stepped back with thedishes, 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."
"But the panel moved," cried Denis, "and I heard a sound."
"Impossible, sir," said the woman.
"Then what does this mean?" said the King, taking up the scrap of paper.
The woman took it, looked at it blankly, and passed it back.
"I don't know," she said. "It is a foreign tongue."
"Humph!" ejaculated the King. "This is strange, madam. That paper laybeneath my plate, and some one must have been watching us at our meal."
"No, my lord," said the woman; "it is impossible. Nobody could havebeen there. If anyone has dared--" She said no more, but angrily thrustthe panel back into its place and turned the oaken rose, which gave asnap as of a bolt shooting into its socket, and then, raising her handto the diagonal corner, she turned a fellow ornament in the oakencarving, to produce another sound as of a second bolt being shot.
"There," she cried, "it is quite fast now. One minute, and I willreturn."
She hurried out of the room, and the next minute they heard the soundsof knuckles rapping the panel on the other side and directly after theloud closing and locking of a door.
A few moments later, as the party stood there waiting, the woman wasback at their side, to lay a large key upon the table, looking flushedand angry.
"I am very sorry, my lord and gentlemen," she cried, "and angry too"--afact which was plainly enough marked in her countenance. "But this is apublic inn, and some insolent idler, moved by curiosity, has dared towatch. I never imagined anyone would venture; and now I beg you willresume your meal."
"But there is the paper," said the King.
"Yes, yes," she said, "the paper. I do not understand."
"Ah, well," said the King, "we will not spoil our dinner; but I do notlike to have hungry dogs watching while I make my meal. Sit down,gentlemen, and let us finish."
Setting the example, he recommenced, but thrust the half-finished bowlaway with an impatient "Bah! The soup is cold. Here, hostess! Callthose women back. And I want some wine. What have you in the house?"
"Some of the best vintages of France, my lord," said the woman eagerly,and drawing a deep breath of relief in the feeling that the trouble wasat an end, though there was a twitching now and then at the corners ofher eyes suggesting that she was not quite at ease.
The fresh dishes were placed upon the table as soon as the soup wasremoved, and soon after the hostess herself bore in a couple ofrush-covered flasks of wine.
"Burgundy--Malvoisey," she said, indicating each in turn.
"The Burgundy," said the King, and as the glasses were filled, and theywere once more quite alone, he made as if to tear up the paper, butaltering his mind folded it quickly, and thrust it in the pouch hecarried at his belt.
"Come, gentlemen," he said: "that scrap of paper shall not spoil apleasant meal. It is a mere molehill in our path. Here's success toour expedition.--Hah! better vine than my own."
A few minutes later the hostess returned, and smiled once more uponfinding that her guests were hard at work evidently in the fullenjoyment of their meal.
"Ah, madam!" cried the King, raising his glass and drinking again. "Youkeep good wine. I would not have wished for better; but tell me, whatother guests have you in the house?"
"None, my lord," said the woman frankly. "There have been some of thecountry people at the market, but they have gone. There was an ordinarytraveller too, earlier in the day. He came from somewhere in the south,I believe, but he has gone. You are the only guests I have, and Ihumbly hope that the meats are to your liking."
"Excellent, madam, excellent," said the King, looking at her fixedly."Then we are quite alone?"
The woman met his eye without wincing, and bowed gravely.
"Yes, my lord; quite alone."
"Then we will have no one here while we stay, madam. I like to beundisturbed. Understand me, please. I take the whole place, and youcan charge me what you please."
The woman made a grave courtesy, and retired to see to the next courseshe had prepared, wiping her brow as soon as she was outside.
"Some great French noble," she muttered, "travelling to London, to theCourt perhaps. I wonder who he is. Yes," she said to herselfexcitedly, "and I wonder too who dared to enter that next room. It musthave been that evil-looking traveller, that starveling. I believe hewas a thief. It could not have been--Oh no, I know them all by sight."
The King's Esquires; Or, The Jewel of France Page 9