Stanley J. Weyman

“ I ask!’ he replied, facing me squarely, and slapping his fist into his open hand to drive home his words the better. ‘I ask you whether you are playing the traitor to the Cardinal? Or to these two women? It is a simple question.’
I fairly choked. ‘You impudent scoundrel!’ I said.
‘Steady, steady!’ he replied. ‘Pitch sticks where it belongs. But that is enough. I see which it is, M. le Capitaine; this way a moment, by your leave.’
And in a very cavalier fashion he took his officer by the arm, and drew him into a side-walk, leaving me to stand in the sun, bursting with anger and spleen. ”

“ The fire crackled bravely; an old hound, blind and past work, lay warming its hide on the hearth. I could think of nothing more, and I stood and stood and watched the man set out the table and spread the cloth. ”

“ I took a sudden resolution. ‘Have you ever heard, Mademoiselle,’ I said gravely, plucking off while I spoke the dead leaves from a plant beside me, ‘of a gentleman by name De Berault? Known in Paris, I have heard, by the sobriquet of the Black Death?’
‘The duellist?’ she answered, in wonder. ‘Yes, I have heard of him. He killed a young gentleman of this province at Nancy two years back. It was a sad story,’ she continued, shuddering, ‘of a dreadful man. God keep our friends from such!’
‘Amen!’ I said quietly. But, in spite of myself, I could not meet her eyes. ”

“ I made ready slowly, and would gladly, to gain time, have found some fault with the place. But the sun was sufficiently high to give no advantage to either. The ground was good, the spot well chosen. I could find no excuse to put off the man, and I was about to salute him and fall to work when a thought crossed my mind.
The captain and the lieutenant were waiting. . . . the captain had removed his doublet, and stood leaning against the sun-dial
‘One moment!’ I said. ”

“ And remove this medley? But M. le Capitaine—’
‘The captain is in the village,’ I replied sternly. ‘And do you move! move, man, and the thing will be done while you are talking about it. Set the door into the garden open—so!’
‘Certainly, it is a fine morning. And the tobacco of M. le Lieutenant— But M. le Capitaine did not—’
‘Give orders? Well, I give them,’ I answered. ‘First of all, remove these beds. And bustle, man, bustle, or I will find something to quicken you.’
In a moment— ‘And M. le Capitaine’s riding-boots?’
‘Place them in the passage,’ I replied. ”

“ He opened his mouth to swear, but for the moment he thought better of it. ‘Who—who put my boots in the passage?’ he asked, his voice thick with rage. He did not bow to the ladies, or take any notice of their presence.
‘One of the men, I suppose,’ I said indifferently. ‘Is anything missing?’
He glared at me. Then his cloak, spread outside, caught his eye. He strode through the door, saw his holsters lying on the grass, and other things strewn about. He came back. ‘Whose monkey game is this?’ he snarled, and his face was very ugly. ‘Who is at the bottom of this? ”

“ Faugh! The place reeks of leather. Now, a clean hearth. And set the table before the open door, so that we may see the garden. So. And tell the cook that we dine at eleven, and that Madame and Mademoiselle will descend.’
‘Ohe! But M. le Capitaine ordered the dinner for half-past eleven.’
‘It must be advanced, then ”