If I Were King

mong the rose bushes, no sight resembling humanity visible save the face of Pan looking down mockingly upon the crimson

ckleshells upon the sleeves of their gabardines-all converging through the dark walks of the garden to a common centre, and that centre the grassy space before the king's watch tower. T

ll here?"

to him answered with

tig

gather the royal ro

a faint click at the

ed his comp

ined, standing masked and attentive, their eyes fixed upon the tower door. It opened and Noel le Jolys emerged, followed by, t

star-gaz

im glibly as a showman patt

han a tapster the score on his shutter. He can spell you the high luck a

palmer's weed, and Thibaut advanced slowly until he was within touch of his prey, when he suddenly flung out his great hand and caught his enemy by the throat, gripping him into silence while his right ha

our destiny. Do not spe

ger close to the captive's neck

, whom you thought to be dead,

loom and gathered around Thibaut and the king

tongue and you are simple carrion. You must come to th

flesh; his eager hands clawed piteously at Thibaut's grasping arm, until his very agony of terror aroused the contempt of h

't hurt you if you do as he bids you. I

of terrors, apparently sobbing plaintivel

ying," h

n watching keenly the actions

o be laughi

ed him with a prolonged and hearty peal of laughter, which staggered the giant like a

cried in a vo

ttish Guard, strong hands made sure of the baffled conspirators, and to their astonishment Louis