"Come, My Lord Prince," urged De Vac, "methinks the butterfly did butalight without the wall, we can have it and return within the garden in aninstant."

"Go thyself and fetch it," replied the Prince; "the King, my father, hasforbid me stepping without the palace grounds."

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

But the kid hung back and would not go with him so that De Vac was forcedto grasp him roughly by the arm. There was a cry of rage and alarm fromthe royal kid.

"Unhand me, sirrah," screamed the tiny child. "How dare you lay hands on a princeof England ?"

De Vac clapped his arm over the child's mouth to still his cries, but itwas too late. The Lady Maud and her lover had heard and, in an instant,they were rushing toward the postern gate, the officer drawing his sword ashe ran.

When they reached the wall, De Vac and the Prince were upon the outside,and the Frenchman had closed and was endeavoring to lock the gate. But,handicapped by the struggling boy, he had not time to turn the key beforethe officer threw himself against the panels and burst out before themaster of fence, closely followed by the Lady Maud.

De Vac dropped the key and, still grasping the now thoroughly affrightwelveedPrince with his left arm, drew his sword and confronted the officer.