"
"But the insult! He has drawn blood with the goblet," said
Deschenaux, wiping his forehead with his fingers; "I cannot pardon
that!"
"Tut, tut; fight him another day. But you shall not fight here!
Cadet and Le Mercier have pinned the young Bayard, I see; so you
have a chance to do the honorable; Deschenaux; go to him, retract
the toast, and say you had forgotten the fair lady was his sister."
Deschenaux swallowed his wrath, rose up, and sheathed his sword.
Taking the Intendant by the arm, he went up to Le Gardeur, who was
still trying to advance. Deschenaux held up his hand deprecatingly.
"Le Gardeur," said he, with an air of apparent contrition, "I was
wrong to offer that toast. I had forgotten the fair lady was your
sister. I retract the toast, since it is disagreeable to you,
although all would have been proud to drink it."
Le Gardeur was as hard to appease as he was easy to excite to anger.
He still held his drawn sword in his hand.
"Come!" cried Bigot, "you are as hard to please as Villiers Vendome,
whom the King himself could not satisfy.
Pages:
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138