mself as to cross swords with a person of no birth,
and an actor besides; all his pride revolted at the bare idea of such a
thing. An insult coming from a creature so low in the social scale could
not reach him. Does a gentleman declare war upon the mud that
bespatters him? However, it was not in his character to leave an offence
unpunished, no matter whence it proceeded, and stepping nearer to de
Sigognac he said, "You impertinent scoundrel, I will have every bone in
your body broken for you with cudgels, by my lackeys."

"You'd better take care what you do, my lord," answered the baron, in
the most tranquil tone and with the most careless air imaginable, "you'd
much better take care what you do! My bones are not so easily broken,
but cudgels may be. I do not put up with blows anywhere but on the
stage."

"However insolent you may choose to be, you graceless rascal, you cannot
provoke me to do you so much honour as to attack you myself; that is
too high an ambition for such as you to realize," said Vallombreuse,
scornfully.

"We will see about that, my lord duke," de Sigognac replied; "it may
happen that I, having less pride than yourself, will fight you, and
conquer you, with my own hands."

"I do not dispute with a masker," said the duke shortly, taking
Vidalinc's arm as if to depart.

"I will show you my face, duke, at a more fitting time and place,"
de Sigognac continued composedly, "and I think it will be still more
distasteful to you than my false nose. But enough for the present. I
hear the bell that summons me, and if I wait any longer here with you I
shall miss my entry at the proper moment."

He turned on his heel and leisurely walked off, with admirable
nonchalance, leaving the haughty duke very much disconcerted, and at a
disadvantage, as indeed de Sigognac had cleverly managed that he should
be throughout the brief interview.

The comedians were charmed with his courage and coolness, but, knowing
his real rank, were not so much astonished as the other spectators
of this extraordinary scene, who were both shocked and amazed at such
temerity.

Isabelle was so terrified and excited by this fierce altercation that
a deathly pallor had overspread her troubled face, and Zerbine, who had
flown to her assistance, had to fetch some of her own rouge and bestow
it plentifully upon the colourless lips and cheeks before she could obey
the tyrant's impatient call, again resounding through the green-room.

Wh