If I Were King

anoplied in steel and leather. He glanced about him as he entered, exchanged looks with René de Montigny and came down to the

common purpose, to feel the touch of her soft gown, to know that if he chose he could touch her hair with his outstretched hand. Those seconds of strange intimacy seemed to be worth all the rest of his life-and now they had come to an end. Now he had to show that he deserved them. "Good," he said, and leaving her side he softly descended the stairs, crept cat-foot across the tavern floor and insinuated himself dexterously into the society of his friends, who were by this time far too mad and merry to show any surprise at his sudden re-appearance, or to questi

friend," Montig

year," the soldier answered.

smiled wh

f it were not for t

stared at him he h

long which came winging its way over the walls at noon and mad

and sealed, and handed it to the seeming soldier. The dis

" he said to himself. Ren caught him

er people's lette

rugged his

r secret meaning, knew that the Duke of Burgundy would do all that he asked, give him a duchy, give him the girl he coveted, all that he might ask for or lust for if he would only play the traitor and deliver Louis into the Duke of Burgundy's h

safe rogues of your ki

than of the fool

id well enough for the job," and he jerked his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of his carousing comrades. Thibaut nodded approval. He thrust

igning intoxication barred his passage with an air of great h

t answered, trying to pass,

y. Come and cr

you've had more than e

to b

good humour cha

soldier, and don't know how to tr

gan to los

on a little push with his open hand that mad

o I know you are an honest soldier? H

cted the attention of the revellers. Montign

Fran?ois; he's n

what he is I want to know. Perhaps he's not an honest

h Villon, but the poet's naked

commanded angrily. Villon's friends snapped a

ured knave! Keep the door, friends, this rogue

entangling himself from the mass of his companions, made for the side door and slipped out of it unheeded in the confusion. It was his intention to alarm the watch and inter

aut, glaring at his enemies as a bull might glare at barking

devil a

d back defiantly and

, and my sword is as

on Thibaut's ears the g

pon he asked for..Villon snatched up a mug and flung the heel taps in the soldier's face, spotting his cheeks with dr

e hissed, "I'

wered gallantly, as he sto

like an equal contest between the two men seemed little less than ridiculous. What skill of Villon's could hope to avail against the mighty sweep of that huge soldier's weap

ne hand at Villon while with the other she struck with her open palm a ringing blow on the

of the Court of Miracles, and Villon himself, eager as he was for the combat, was keen enough to see how well this way might wor

e laughed, and the grim face

d on the leering, sullen faces about him, a wolfish girdle of ferocity, he caught back his agreement and held it for a moment. "O

he world of Thibaut, but he wanted to do it himself fo

or them," and turning to the girl, he i

t," Huguet

llon. "Now, friends, make

bench and kept him there with a dagger's point at his throat. The women huddled, screaming and excited, on the stairway a little below the place where Katherine crouched, holding her breath and peeping through the railings. The men stood behind tables and on ben

e whispered; but the king shook his h

er of these rascals kills the other, does the st

koning, Master Thibaut," he whispered. The giant stared at him. "You know me?" he gasped. "Your varlet

y veiled by Huguette, who drew the crimson curtains close together. The dim light from the fire only seemed to accentuate and intensify the darkness through which the two lanterns burned, pale planets of y

!" in the same breath, and

s light suddenly in the air or dexterously concealed it under the fold of his mantle. Every now and then the swords would meet with a clash, there would be a hurried exchange of thrust and blow, and then the adversaries would drift back again to grope and gleam

e before the preliminaries for the fantastic strife had been

t in the adventurous was being sated to the full this evening, and there was no happi

room would be steeped in the deepest silence, and now, as the revealed lantern glowed and the naked weapons met,

enest, there came a mighty crashing at the door and a vo

summons meant. "It is the watch,

nning to despair of crushing the man, heard and underst

e giant, flashed the lantern dazzlingly in his eyes, and as Thibaut, furious, made a wild lunge at him, Villon dextero

oor, the door was dashed open and the armed watch poured in with blazing torches, filling the room with light and armo

is lips and thrust it into the bosom of his jerkin. In another moment Katherine had disappeared and Villon found himself roughly held in the strong gras

ded. Villon answered him airily, smiling

nducted according to the honour

, who, assisted by one of the soldiers, had raised himse

his man?"

ot the better of the w

gny," he gasped. "I a

d the room at the sound of that dreaded name.

he spoke he swooned. Promptly the captain turned towards his prisoner. "Take that fellow outside and hang him," he commanded curtly. Villon glanced wildly about for a way to escape and saw none. His friends gave a groan of sympathy, but they could

oung gentleman is my affair." The soldier

, "who dare to interfere

ead and revealed the wrinkled, eager visage

ave the king!" and the astonished soldier bent the knee in homage. Villon, stari

id, and punctuated his comme