Barrat made an eager gesture of dissent.

"I would not do that," he cried. "If we are to make charges
against the jackal do not have the boy present; the boy must
not hear them. You know how Kalonay worships the child, and
it would enrage him more to be exposed before the Prince than
before all the rest of the world. He will be hard enough to
handle without that. Don't try him too far."

"You are absurd, Barrat," exclaimed the King. "The boy won't
understand what is said."

"No, but the Jackal will," Barrat returned. "You don't
understand him, Louis, he is like a woman; he has sentiment
and feelings, and when we all turn on him he will act like a
madman. Keep the boy out of his sight, I tell you. It's the
only thing he cares for in the world. He has been a better
father to him than you ever have been."

"That was quite natural; that was because it was his duty,"
said the King, calmly. "A Kalonay has always been the
protector and tutor of the heir-apparent. If this one chooses
to give his heart with his service, that is not my concern.
Why, confound them, they all think more of the child than they
do of me. That is why I need him by me now."

Barrat shook his head. "I tell you it will make trouble, he
persisted. "Kalonay will not stand it. He and the child are
more like comrades than a tutor and his pupil. Why, Kalonay