d duke, I believed that I had killed you!" he cried
in excited tones. "Is it really you--your very self--or your wraith that
stands before me?"

"It is really I--my very self--Hannibal de Vallombreuse, in the flesh,
and no wraith; as far from being dead as possible," answered the young
duke, with a radiant smile. "But put up that sword I pray you, my
dear baron! We have fought twice already, you know, and surely that is
enough. I do not come as an enemy, and if I have to reproach myself with
some little sins against you, you have certainly had your revenge for
them, so we are quits. To prove that my intentions are not hostile,
but of the most friendly nature if you will so allow, I have brought
credentials, in the shape of this commission, signed by the king, which
gives you command of a regiment. My good father and I have reminded his
majesty of the devotion of your illustrious ancestors to his royal ones,
and I have ventured to bring you this good news in person. And now, as
I am your guest, I pray you have something or other killed, I don't care
what, and put on the spit to roast as quickly as may be--for the love of
God give me something to eat--I am starving. The inns are so far apart
and so abominably bad down here that there might almost as well be none
at all, and my baggage-wagon, stocked with edibles, is stuck fast in a
quagmire a long way from this. So you see the necessities of the case."

"I am very much afraid, my lord duke, that the fare I can offer will
seem to you only another form of revenge on my part," said de Sigognac
with playful courtesy; "but do not, I beseech you, attribute to
resentment the meagre repast for which I shall be obliged to claim your
indulgence. You must know how gladly I would put before you a sumptuous
meal if I could; and what we can give you will at least, as my good
Pierre says, satisfy hunger, though it may not gratify the palate. And
let me now say that your frank and cordial words touch me deeply, and
find an echo in my inmost heart. I am both proud and happy to call you
my friend--henceforth you will not have one more loyal and devoted than
myself--and though you may not often have need of my services, they will
be, none the less, always at your disposition. Halloa! Pierre! do
you go, without a moment's delay, and hunt up some fowls, eggs, meat,
whatever you can find, and try to serve a substantial meal to this
gentleman, my friend, who is nearly dying with hunger, and is