Part 54 (1/2)
Still, matters could not be left where they were, or he should have had all his pains for nothing Carefully looking away froentlemen, he raised his voice so that his words ins to look as ifto spend the remainder of my days in the Bois were idle”
Out of the corner of his eye he caught the stir his words created in that group Its members had turned to look at him; but for theslowly along between his friends he resumed:
”But is it not reron should ron's successor? Or perhaps it is not reentleroup by now, and he left that last sentence of his to trail behind hi
He had not long to wait Ca upon his shoulder, spun hiht face to face with M de La Tour d'Azyr, whose handsome countenance was cal of the sudden blaze of passion stirring in hi more slowly The others--like Andre-Louis' two coaze
”You spoke of me, I think,” said the Marquis quietly
”I spoke of an assassin--yes But to these my friends” Andre-Louis'
manner was no less quiet, indeed the quieter of the two, for he was the h to be overheard,” said the Marquis, answering the insinuation that he had been eavesdropping
”Those ish to overhear frequently contrive to do so”
”I perceive that it is your aim to be offensive”
”Oh, but you are mistaken, M le Marquis I have no wish to be offensive But I resent having hands violently laid upon me, especially when they are hands that I cannot consider clean, In the circumstances I can hardly be expected to be polite”
The elderAndre-Louis' bearing Rather, he feared that his own ether, and lost control of hiron I do not affect to misunderstand you You expounded your views to me once before, and I remember”
”But what flattery, monsieur!”
”You called me an assassin then, because I used my skill to dispose of a turbulent hot-head who made the world unsafe for -master, when you oppose yourself to men whose skill is as naturally inferior to your own!”
M de La Tour d'Azyr's friends looked grave, perturbed It was really incredible to find this great gentleument with a canaille of a lawyer-swordsu made ridiculous
”I oppose myself to them!” said Andre-Louis on a tone of amused protest
”Ah, pardon, M le Marquis; it is they who chose to oppose themselves to me--and so stupidly They push me, they slap my face, they tread on my toes, they call -master?
Must I on that account submit to every manner of ill-treatment from your bad-mannered friends? Perhaps had they found out sooner that I a-master their manners would have been better But to blame me for that! What injustice!”
”Comedian!” the Marquis contemptuously apostrophized him ”Does it alter the case? Are these men who have opposed you men who live by the sword like yourself?”
”On the contrary, M le Marquis, I have found the ease I cannot suppose that you desire to add yourself to their number”
”And why, if you please?” La Tour d'Azyr's face had flamed scarlet before that sneer
”Oh,” Andre-Louis raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips, aHe delivered himself slowly ”Because, rons and Vil That is why”
And then the Marquis struck hilea up into the face of his tall enemy