"Are there any MEN here?" he asked, eying the crowd about him with
ineffable hauteur.
A young fellow stepped forward. "At your command, Marquis! You
served me once--I shall be happy to serve you now!"
Quickly Fontenelle shook hands with this timely friend. He
recognised in him a young Italian officer, named Ruspardi, an
acquaintance of some years back, to whom he had chanced to be useful
in a pressing moment of need.
"Thanks! Arrange everything for me, will you, Ruspardi? And as
quickly as possible!"
"It is nearly midnight now," said Ruspardi in a low tone, "Shall we
say five or six in the morning?"
"Yes--anything you like--but quickly!"
Then raising his head haughtily, he addressed Miraudin in distinct
tones.
"Monsieur Miraudin, you have greatly insulted and falsely slandered
a lady whom I have the honour to know. I have struck you for your
lie; and consider you worthy of no further treatment save a
horsewhipping in public. Gentlemen do not as a rule condescend to
meet their paid servants--actors and the like,--in single combat--
but I will do you that honour!"
And with these words he bowed haughtily to all present, and left the
scene of noisy disorder.
Out in the streets the moonlight lay in broad silver bands, like
white glistening ribbon spread in shining strips across the
blackness, and there was a moisture in the air which,--dropped as it
were fresh, from the surrounding hills,--cooled Fontenelle's flushed
face and burning brows.
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