, and
vehement to repel insult; and when I thought of the sufferings I had
endured, the trials I had encountered, and the contumely which I had
borne on account of that man, my every vein seemed to overflow with
passion.

"Ha!" he replied, grinding his teeth with rage, and becoming crimson
from the rush of blood to his head, while he grasped my wrist hard
with his hand, and shook it furiously. "Ha! to the galleys
yourself--_Chienne! Ingrate! Perfide! Traitresse! c'est aux galeres
que j'ai cru te rencontrer--ou plutot a la_--"

What further atrocity the ruffian was about to utter, I know not, for
while his odious voice was yet hissing in my ear these atrocious
epithets, before the footman who was standing, as I have said, a few
yards off at the other side of the carriage, had time to interfere, I
heard the sound of a horse at full gallop, and, the next instant, he was
dragged forcibly away, and I saw him quivering in the furious grasp of
the Count de Chavannes, who had, it seems, been returning to join us,
when the assault was committed.

To gallop to my side, to spring to the ground, to collar the ruffian,
drag him from the carriage, and lash him with his whole strength with a
rough jockey whip till he fairly screamed for mercy, were but the work
of a moment.

And I could not but marvel afterwards to think how much power and
nervous energy his indignant spirit had lent to his slight frame and
slender limbs; for in size, he was by no means superior to G--, whom he
nevertheless handled almost as if he had been a child of five years old.

Want of breath at last, rather than want of will, compelled him to pause
in his exercise; and then turning towards us with an air as composed and
smiling as if he had been merely dancing a quadrille, he took off his
hat, saying:--

"I must implore your pardon, ladies, yours more especially, Mademoiselle
Valerie, for enacting such a scene in your presence. _Mais c'etait plus
fort que moi_!" he added, laughing. "I could not contain myself at
seeing a lady so infamously insulted."

Caroline and the Misses Selwyn were so much frightened by the whole
fracas, that they were really unable to answer, and I was for the moment
so much taken by surprise, that I could not find words to reply. At
this moment, covered with dust and blood, for the whip had cut his face
in several places, without his hat, and with all his gay attire
besmeared and rent, G--again came up towards the carriag