nswered with a cool effrontery past crediting
in one who but a moment ago had looked so pitiful. "What do you seek at
Canaples?"

"Many things, Marquis. You among others."

"You have come to murder me," he cried, and again alarm overspread his
countenance.

"Hoity, toity, Marquis! We do not all follow the same trade. Who talks
of murder? Faugh!"

Again he took a step towards me, but again the nozzle of my pistol drove
him back. To have pistoled him there and then as he deserved would have
brought the household about my ears, and that would have defeated my
object. To have fallen upon him and slain him with silent steel would
have equally embarrassed me, as you shall understand anon.

"You and I had a rendezvous at St. Sulpice des Reaux," I said calmly,
"to which you came with a band of hired assassins. For this you deserve
to be shot like the dog you are. But I have it in my heart to be
generous to you," I added in a tone of irony. "Come, take up your
sword."

"To what purpose?"

"Do you question me? Take up your sword, man, and do my bidding; thus
shall you have a slender chance of life. Refuse and I pistol you without
compunction. So now put on that wig and mask."

When he obeyed me in this--"Now listen, St. Auban," I said. "You and
I are going together to that willow copse whither three months ago you
lured Yvonne de Canaples for the purpose of abducting her. On that spot
you and I shall presently face each other sword in hand, with none other
to witness our meeting save God, in whose hands the issue lies. That is
your chance; at the first sign that you meditate playing me any tricks,
that chance is lost to you." And I tapped my pistol significantly. "Now
climb out through that window."

When he had done so, I bade him stand six paces away whilst I followed,
and to discourage any foolish indiscretion on his part I again showed
him my pistol.

He answered me with an impatient gesture, and by the light that fell on
his face I saw him sneer.

"Come on, you fool," he snarled, "and have done threatening. I'll talk
to you in the copse. And tread softly lest you arouse the sentry on the
other side."

Rejoiced to see the man so wide awake in him, I followed him closely
across the terrace, and through the rose garden to the bank of the
river. This we followed until we came at last to the belt of willows,
where, having found a suitable patch of even and springy turf, I drew my
sword and invited him to make rea