. As to the child you mention, and its kidnapping by a
servant of mine and a woman--bah!--I know not of what you speak."

"Do you deny that you are Monsieur de Roquemaure?"

"I neither deny nor assert. Under that name you have chosen to waylay
and insult me. Under that name, since you will have it, I intend to
have reparation."

"Do you deny the assault at Aignay-le-Duc?"

"I deny nothing, assert nothing."

"So be it," St. Georges said. "I have made no mistake. You _are_ the
man. Your voice, your expression condemn you. Your face, though you
have shaved off your beard"--and he saw the other start as he
mentioned this--"condemns, convicts you. Deny, therefore, these two
things or draw your sword. We have wasted enough time."

"We have," the other answered, and as he spoke he dismounted from his
horse, St. Georges doing the same.

CHAPTER XVII.

"KILL HIM DEAD, RAOUL!"

The duel was not, however, to take place in the road, since at that
moment, and when both men were preparing to draw their swords, the inn
door opened and two persons came forth--one evidently the landlord,
the other a customer to whom he was saying "Good-night." Then, as he
was about to re-enter his house, he saw under the rays of the moon
the three others in the road--the two men close together and the woman
still mounted--and came forward toward them, peering inquiringly in
front of him.

"Do messieurs and madame require any refreshment?" he asked, noticing
that two of the company were well and handsomely dressed, while the
third looked like an officer. "My inn offers good accommodation for
man and beast. Will monsieur and madame not enter?"

"Curse you, no!" De Roquemaure said; "may we not tarry a moment on the
road without being pestered thus? Begone, fellow, and leave us!"

But St. Georges interposed, saying:

"On the contrary, if you have a good room where we can rest awhile and
this _noble lady_," and he saw the woman's eyes sparkle--perhaps with
hate!--as he spoke, "can be fittingly received, we will enter. My
horse has cast a shoe; have you a farrier near the house who can
reshoe it? It can be done while we drink a bottle."

"I am one myself," the innkeeper replied. "Monsieur may confide his
horse to me. It is but a few moments' job, and the fire in the forge
is still alive. As for the inn and the wine--_hein!_ both are good; I
have a large room, and a bottle of Brecquiny fit for a king."

"Lead us to it," said St. Geor