ry to the majesty of the king of the gods than to play in a
comedy is to the dignity of a gentleman."

"Never mind," said the duke, as he rang a small hand bell sharply; "be
he what he may, I intend first to have the scamp well punished in his
character of play-actor; even though I should be obliged to chastise
the gentleman afterward, if there prove to be one hidden behind that
ridiculous mask--which idea I cannot credit."

"If there be one! There's no doubt of it, I tell you," rejoined his
friend, with an air of conviction. "The more I think of it, the
more positive I am of it. Why, his eyes shone like stars under his
overhanging false eye-brows, and in spite of his absurd pasteboard nose
he had a grand, majestic air about him that was very imposing, and would
be utterly impossible to a low-born man."

"Well, so much the better," said Vallombreuse; "for if you are right, I
can make his punishment twofold."

Meantime a servant, in rich livery, had entered, and after bowing low
stood as motionless as a statue, with one hand on the knob of the door,
awaiting his master's orders; which were presently given, as follows:
"Go and call up Basque, Azolan, Merindol, and Labriche, if they have
gone to bed; tell them to arm themselves with stout cudgels and go down
to the tennis-court, find a dark corner near by and wait there, until
the players come out, for a certain Captain Fracasse. They are to fall
upon him and beat him until they leave him for dead upon the pavement,
but to be careful not to kill him outright--it might be thought that I
was afraid of him if they did, you know," in an aside to Vidalinc.

"I will be responsible for the consequences; and with every blow they
are to cry, 'This is from the Duke of Vallombreuse,' so that he may
understand plainly what it means."

This order, though of so savage and fierce a nature, did not seem to
surprise the lackey, who, as he retired, assured his lordship, with an
unmoved countenance and another low bow, that his commands should be
immediately obeyed.

"I am sorry," said Vidalinc, after the servant had closed the door
behind him, "that you mean to treat this man so roughly, for after all
he showed a spirit superior to his position, and becoming a gentleman.
Suppose you let me go and pick a quarrel with him, and kill him for you
in a duel. All blood is red when it is shed, the lowly as well as the
lofty, though they do pretend that the blood of the nobles is blue. I
com