nour myself by meeting you." And turning to Ombreval for
sympathy, he vented a low laugh of contemptuous wonder.

"Insolence!" sneered Ombreval sympathetically, whilst Mademoiselle stood
looking on with cheeks that were growing paler, for that this event
would end badly for either her father or her brother she never doubted.

"Citizen Bellecour," said Caron, still very coldly, "you have heard what
I propose, as have you also, Citizen-vicomte."

"For myself," began the youth "I am--"

"Silence, Armand!" his father commanded, laying a hand upon his
sleeve. "Understand me, citizen-deputy, or citizen-commissioner, or
citizen-blackguard or whatever you call your vile self, you are come on
a fruitless journey to Bellecour. Neither I nor my son is so lost to the
duty which we owe our rank as to so much as dream of acceding to your
preposterous request. I think, sir, that you had been better advised to
have left the mob to its work last night, if you but restrained it for
this purpose."

"Is that your last word?" asked La Boulaye, still calmly weathering that
storm of insults.

"My very last, sir."

"There are more ways than one of taking satisfaction for that affront,
Citizen Bellecour," rejoined La Boulaye, "and if the course which I
now pursue should prove more distasteful to you than that which I
last suggested, the blame of it must rest with you." He turned to the
bluecoat at the door. "Citizen-soldier, my whip."

There was a sudden movement among the aristocrats--a horrified
recoiling--and even Bellecour was shaken out of his splendid arrogance.

"Insolent cur!" exclaimed Ombreval with withering scorn; "to what
lengths is presumption driving you?"

"To the length of a horsewhip," answered La Boulaye pleasantly.

He received the whip from the hands of the soldier and he now advanced
towards Bellecour, unwinding the lash as he came. Ombreval barred his
way with an oath.

"By Heaven: you shall not!" he cried.

"Shall not?" echoed La Boulaye, his lips curling. "You had best stand
aside--you that are steeped in musk and fierceness." And before the
stern and threatening contempt of La Boulaye's glance the young nobleman
fell back. But his place was taken by the Vicomte de Bellecour, who
advanced to confront Caron.

"Monsieur la Boulaye," he announced, "I am ready and willing to meet
you." And considering the grim alternative with which the Republicans
had threatened him, the old Marquis had not the courage to i