ext for fighting."

And the man went off with a resolute air, after respectfully begging the
marquis to be good enough to wait a few minutes. At the noise he made in
opening the door of his master's bedroom, though he endeavoured to do it
as softly as possible, Vallombreuse, who was only dozing, started up in
bed, broad awake, and looked round fiercely for something to throw at
his head.

"What the devil do you mean by this?" he cried savagely. "Haven't I
ordered you never to come in here until I called for you? You shall have
a hundred lashes for this, you scoundrel, I promise you; and you needn't
whine and beg for mercy either, for you'll get none from me. I'd like to
know how I am to go to sleep again now?"

"My lord may have his faithful servant lashed to death, if it so please
his lordship," answered the valet, with abject respect, "but though
I have dared to transgress my lord's orders, it is not without a good
reason. His lordship, the Marquis de Bruyeres, is below, asking to speak
with my lord, the duke, on important business, relating to an affair of
honour, and I know that my lord never denies himself to any gentleman on
such occasions, but always receives visits of that sort, at any time of
day or night."

"The Marquis de Bruyeres!" said the duke, surprised, "have I any
quarrel with him? I don't recollect a difference between us ever; and
besides, it's an age since I've seen him. Perhaps he imagines that I
want to steal his dear Zerbine's heart away from him; lovers are always
fancying that everybody else is enamoured of their own particular
favourites. Here, Picard, give me my dressing-gown, and draw those
curtains round the bed, so as to hide its disorder; make haste about it,
do you hear? we must not keep the worthy marquis waiting another
minute."

Picard bustled about, and brought to his master a magnificent
dressing-gown-made, after the Venetian fashion, of rich stuff, with
arabesques of black velvet on a gold ground--which he slipped on, and
tied round the waist with a superb cord and tassels; then, seating
himself in an easychair, told Picard to admit his early visitor.

"Good morning, my dear marquis," said the young duke smilingly, half
rising to salute his guest as he entered. "I am very glad to see you,
whatever your errand may be. Picard, a chair for his lordship! Excuse
me, I pray you, for receiving you so unceremoniously here in my bedroom,
which is still in disorder, and do not look upo