her, mixed with curses; abominable
words before which she drew back cowering, yet less (I think) from
the lash of them than from shock and horror of his incredible
baseness. Passion twisted his mouth; his tongue stammered with the
gush of his abuse; but he was lying, and knew that he was lying, for
his eyes would meet neither hers nor mine. Only after drawing breath
did he for a moment look straight at her, and then it was to demand;
"And who, pray, has driven me to this? What has made Corsica so
bitter to me that in weariness I am here to resign it? You, my
sister--you, and what is known of you. . . . Why can I do nothing with
the patriots? Why were there no recruits? Why, when I negotiated,
did the Paolists listen as to a child and smile politely and show me
their doors? Again, because of you, O my sister!--because there is
not a household in Corsica but has heard whisperings of you, and of
Brussels, and of the house in Brussels where you were sought and
found. Blood of the Colonne!--and now the blood of the Colonne takes
an English lover to warm it! Blood of--"

With one hand I caught him by the throat, with the other by the
girdle, and flung him clean across the table into the corner,
oversetting the lantern, but not extinguishing the light, for the
Commandant caught it up deftly. As he set it back on the table I
heard him grunt, and--it seemed to me--with approval.

"I will allow no shooting, sir," said he, quickly, yet with easy
authority, noting my hand go down to my gun-stock.

"You misunderstand me," I answered, and indeed I was but shifting its
balance on my bandolier, which had slipped awry in the struggle.
"There are reasons why I cannot kill this man. But you will give me
leave to answer just two of his slanders upon this lady. It is false
that I came here to-night by her invitation or in her company, as it
is God's truth that for many months until we met in this room and in
your presence she has not set eyes on me. She could not have known
even that I lived since the hour when her brother there--yes,
Princess, your brother there--left me broken and maimed at the far
end of the island. For the rest, he utters slanders to which I have
no clue save that I know them to be slanders. But at a venture, if
you would know how they grew and who nurtured them, I think the
priest yonder can tell you."

The Commandant waved a hand politely. "You have spoken well, sir.
Believe me, on this point no