o my will and pleasure with the best
grace she can muster--for I shall not allow any sulking or tears.
Doubtless she clings so obstinately to that confounded brute in the
belief that she can induce him to marry her in the end. She means to be
Mme. la Baronne de Sigognac--the aspiring little actress! That must
be the reason of all this mighty display of mock modesty, and of her
venturing to repulse the attentions of a duke, as scornfully, by Jove!
as if he were a stable-boy. But she shall rue it--the impertinent little
minx! and I'll have no mercy shown to the audacious scoundrel who dared
to disable this right arm of mine. Halloa there! send Merindol up to me
instantly, do you hear?"

Picard flew to summon him, and in a few moments the discomfited bully
made his appearance; pale from abject terror, with teeth chattering and
limbs trembling, as he was ushered into the dread presence of his angry
lord. In spite of his efforts to assume the sang-froid he was so far
from feeling, he staggered like a drunken man, though he had not drank
enough wine that day to drown a fly, and did not dare to lift his eyes
to his master's face.

"Well, you cowardly beast," said Vallombreuse angrily, how long, pray,
are you going to stand there speechless, like a stupid fool, with that
hang-dog air, as if you already had the rope that you so richly deserve
round your wicked neck? "I only awaited your lordship's orders,"
stammered Merindol, trying to appear at ease, and failing lamentably.
"My lord duke knows that I am entirely devoted to his service--even to
being hanged, if it seems good to your lordship."

"Enough of that cant!" interrupted the duke impatiently. "Didn't I
charge you to have that cursed de Sigognac, otherwise Captain Fracasse,
cleared out of my way? You have not done it--my orders have not been
obeyed. It is worth while, upon my word, to keep confounded hired
rascals to do such work for me, at this rate! All that you are good for
is to stuff yourself in the kitchen, you dastardly beast, and to guzzle
my good wine from morning until night. But I've had enough of this, by
Jove! and if there is not a change, and that without any further loss
of time, to the hangman you shall go--do you hear? just as sure as you
stand there, gaping like a drivelling idiot."

"My lord duke," said Merindol in a trembling voice, "is unjust to his
faithful servant, who desires nothing but to do his lord's bidding. But
this Baron de Sigognac is n