So that I do this, the manner of it is my
own affair, and who presumes to criticize my methods censoriously
impugns my honour and affronts me. And who affronts me, monsieur,
be he whosoever he may be, renders me satisfaction. I beg that you
will bear that circumstance in mind."
His moustaches bristled as he spoke, and altogether his air was very
fierce and truculent. For a moment I trembled for him. But the
Count evidently thought better of it than to provoke a quarrel,
particularly one in which he would be manifestly in the wrong,
King's Commissioner though he might be. There was an exchange of
questionable compliments betwixt the officer and the Count,
whereafter, to avoid further unpleasantness, Castelroux conducted
me to a private room, where we took our meal in gloomy silence.
It was not until an hour later, when we were again in the saddle
and upon the last stage of our journey, that I offered Castelroux
an explanation of my seemingly mad attack upon Chatellerault.
"You have done a very rash and unwise thing, monsieur," he had
commented regretfully, and it was in answer to this that I poured
out the whole story. I had determined upon this course while we
were supping, for Castelroux was now my only hope, and as we rode
beneath the stars of that September night I made known to him my
true identity.
I told him that Chatellerault knew me, and I informed him that a
wager lay between us - withholding the particulars of its nature
--which had brought me into Languedoc and into the position wherein
he had found and arrested me.
Pages:
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158