little bower which was their trysting place.

As the lovers talked, all self-engrossed, the little Prince played happily

about among the trees and flowers, and none saw the stern, determined face

which peered through the foliage at a little distance from the playing boy.

Richard was devoting his royal energies to chasing an elusive butterfly

which fate led nearer and nearer to the cold, hard watcher in the bushes.

Closer and closer came the little Prince, and in another moment, he had

burst through the flowering shrubs, and stood facing the implacable master

of fence.

"Your Highness," said De Vac, bowing to the little fellow, "let old DeVac

help you catch the pretty insect."

Richard, having often seen De Vac, did not fear him, and so together they

started in pursuit of the butterfly which by now had passed out of sight.

De Vac turned their steps toward the little postern gate, but when he would

have passed through with the tiny Prince, the latter rebelled.

"Come, My Lord Prince," urged De Vac, "methinks the butterfly did but

alight without the wall, we can have it and return within the garden in an

instant."

"Go thyself and fetch it," replied the Prince; "the King, my father, has

forbid me stepping without the palace grounds."

"Come," commanded De Vac, more sternly, "no harm can come to you."

But the child hung back and would not go with him so that De Vac was forced

to grasp him roughly by the arm. There was a cry of rage and alarm from

the royal child.

"Unhand me, sirrah," screamed the boy. "How dare you lay hands on a prince

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