ing's old Huguenot comrades are again to be
seen around him?"

"And why not? Through everything, the King's heart has always been with
the protestants."

"Oho! So you are one of the psalm-singers, then?" His insulting tone and
jeering smile were intolerable.

"I have sung no psalms here, at least," I replied trembling with anger;
"or anything else, to annoy the ears of my neighbours."

"So you don't like my singing?" he cried, turning red again.

I had truly rather admired it, but I said, "I have heard better."

"Indeed? But how should you know. For your education in taste, I may
tell you that good judges have thought well of my singing."

"Ay, brag of it, as you do of your success with the ladies."

He stared at me in amazement, then cried. "Death of my life, young
fellow!--" But at that instant his servant brought in his supper, and he
went no further. My own meal was before me a minute later, and we both
devoted ourselves in angry silence to our food. I was still full of
resentment at his obtrusive scorn of myself and my religious party, and
I could see that he felt himself mightily outraged at my retorts. From
the rapid, heedless way in which he ate, I fancied his mind was busy
with all sorts of revenge upon me.

When he had finished, at the same time as I did, and our servants had
gone to eat their supper in the kitchen, he leaned against the wall, and
said, "I am going to sing, Monsieur, whether it pleases you or not." And
forthwith he began to do so.

My answer was to put on a look of pain, and walk hastily from the room,
as if the torture to my ears were too great for endurance.

I was not half-way across the court-yard before I heard him at my heels
though not singing.

"My friend," said he, as I turned around, "I don't know where you were
bred, but you should know this: it's not good manners to break from a
gentleman's company so unceremoniously."

It occurred to me that because I had taken his insults from the first,
through not knowing how much a sensible man should bear, he thought he
might safely hector me to the full satisfaction of his hurt vanity.

"So you do know something of good manners, after all?" I replied. "I
congratulate you."

His eyes flashed new wrath, but before he knew how to answer, and while
we were glaring at each other like two cocks, though at some distance
apart, out came Nicolas from the kitchen to ask if I wished my cloak
brought down, which he had taken up with th