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So surprised was he that he checked in his stride。
〃Have they had enough？〃 he wondered； addressing the question to Le
Chapelier。
〃They have had enough of you； I should think；〃 was the answer。
〃They will prefer to turn their attention to some one less able to
take care of himself。〃
Now this was disappointing。 Andre…Louis had lent himself to this
business with a very definite object in view。 The slaying of
Chabrillane had； as far as it went； been satisfactory。 He had
regarded that as a sort of acceptable hors d'oeuvre。 But the
three who had followed were no affair of his at all。 He had met
them with a certain amount of repugnance； and dealt with each as
lightly as consideration of his own safety permitted。 Was the
baiting of him now to cease whilst the man at whom he aimed had
not presented himself？ In that case it would be necessary to force
the pace！
Out there under the awning a group of gentlemen stood in earnest
talk。 Scanning the group in a rapid glance； Andre…Louis perceived
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr amongst them。 He tightened his lips。 He must
afford no provocation。 It must be for them to fasten their quarrels
upon him。 Already the 〃Actes des Apotres〃 that morning had torn the
mask from his face； and proclaimed him the fencing…master of the Rue
du Hasard； successor to Bertrand des Amis。 Hazardous as it had been
hitherto for a man of his condition to engage in single combat it
was rendered doubly so by this exposure； offered to the public as
an aristocratic apologia。
Still； matters could not be left where they were； or he should have
had all his pains for nothing。 Carefully looking away from that
group of gentlemen； he raised his voice so that his words must
carry to their ears。
〃It begins to look as if my fears of having to spend the remainder
of my days in the Bois were idle。〃
Out of the corner of his eye he caught the stir his words created
in that group。 Its members had turned to look at him； but for the
moment that was all。 A little more was necessary。 Pacing slowly
along between his friends he resumed：
〃But is it not remarkable that the assassin of Lagror should make
no move against Lagron's successor？ Or perhaps it is not remarkable。
Perhaps there are good reasons。 Perhaps the gentleman is prudent。〃
He bad passed the group by now； and he left that last sentence of
his to trail behind him； and after it sent laughter； insolent and
provoking。
He had not long to wait。 Came a quick step behind him； and a hand
falling upon his shoulder； spun him violently round。 He was brought
face to face with M。 de La Tour d'Azyr； whose handsome countenance
was calm and composed； but whose eyes reflected something of the
sudden blaze of passion stirring in him。 Behind him several members
of the group were approaching more slowly。 The others … like
Andre…Louis' two companions … remained at gaze。
〃You spoke of me； I think；〃 said the Marquis quietly。 〃I spoke of
an assassin … yes。 But to these my friends。〃 Andre…Louis' manner
was no less quiet； indeed the quieter of the two； for he was the
more experienced actor。
〃You spoke loudly enough to be overheard；〃 said the Marquis；
answering the insinuation that he had been eavesdropping。
〃Those who wish to overhear frequently contrive to do so。〃
〃I perceive that it is your aim to be offensive。〃
〃Oh； but you are mistaken； M。 le Marquis。 I have no wish to be
offensive。 But I resent having hands violently laid upon me；
especially when they are hands that I cannot consider clean； In the
circumstances I can hardly be expected to be polite。〃
The elder man's eyelids flickered。 Almost he caught himself
admiring Andre…Louis' bearing。 Rather； he feared that his own must
suffer by comparison。 Because of this； he enraged altogether； and
lost control of himself。
〃You spoke of me as the assassin of Lagron。 I do not affect to
misunderstand you。 You expounded your views to me once before； and
I remember。〃
〃But what flattery； monsieur！〃
〃You called me an assassin then； because I used my skill to dispose
of a turbulent hot…head who made the world unsafe for me。 But how
much better are you； M。 the fencing…master； when you oppose yourself
to men whose skill is as naturally inferior to your own！〃
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr's friends looked grave； perturbed。 It was
really incredible to find this great gentleman so far forgetting
himself as to descend to argument with a canaille of a
lawyer…swordsman。 And what was worse； it was an argument in which
he was being made ridiculous。
〃I oppose myself to them！〃 said Andre…Louis on a tone of amused
protest。 〃Ah； pardon； M。 le Marquis； it is they who chose to oppose
themselves to me … and so stupidly。 They push me； they slap my
face； they tread on my toes； they call me by unpleasant names。 What
if I am a fencing…master？ Must I on that account submit to every
manner of ill…treatment from your bad…mannered friends？ Perhaps had
they found out sooner that I am a fencing…master their manners would
have been better。 But to blame me for that！ What injustice！〃
〃Comedian！〃 the Marquis contemptuously apostrophized him。 〃Does it
alter the case？ Are these men who have opposed you men who live by
the sword like yourself？〃
〃On the contrary； M。 le Marquis； I have found them men who died by
the sword with astonishing ease。 I cannot suppose that you desire
to add yourself to their number。〃
〃And why； if you please？〃 La Tour d'Azyr's face had flamed scarlet
before that sneer。
〃Oh；〃 Andre…Louis raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips； a man
considering。 He delivered himself slowly。 〃Because； monsieur； you
prefer the easy victim … the Lagrons and Vilmorins of this world；
mere sheep for your butchering。 That is why。〃
And then the Marquis struck him。
Andre…Louis stepped back。 His eyes gleamed a moment； the next they
were smiling up into the face of his tall enemy。
〃No better than the others； after all！ Well； well！ Remark； I beg
you； how history repeats itself … with certain differences。 Because
poor Vilmorin could not bear a vile lie with which you goaded him；
he struck you。 Because you cannot bear an equally vile truth which
I have uttered； you strike me。 But always is the vileness yours。
And now as then for the striker there is。。。 〃 He broke off。 〃But
why name it？ You will remember what there is。 Yourself you wrote
it that day with the point of your too…ready sword。 But there。
I will meet you if you desire it； monsieur。〃
〃What else do you suppose that I desire？ To talk？〃
Andre…Louis turned to his friends and sighed。 〃So that I am to go
another jaunt to the Bois。 Isaac； perhaps you will kindly have a
word with one of these friends of M。 le Marquis'； and arrange for
nine o'clock to…morrow； as usual。〃
〃Not to…morrow；〃 said the Marquis shortly to Le Chapeher。 〃I have
an engagement in the country； which I cannot postpone。〃
Le Chapelier looked at Andre…Louis。
〃Then for M。 le Marquis' convenience； we will say Sunday at the
same hour。〃
〃I do not fight on Sunday。 I am not a pagan to break the holy day。〃
〃But surely the good God would not have the presumption to damn a