Part 11 (2/2)
”I said,to lish ears”
”Very well, monsieur, if what you say is true,” exclaihly incensed, ”I at least find in you one ill not escape me Understand my words as you like”
”I take them in the hahty tone which characterized hiave a tone of defiance to everything he said; ”M de Bragelonne is ive me satisfaction for that insult”
De Wardes cast a look upon De Bragelonne, who, faithful to the character he had assumed, remained calm and unmoved, even after the duke's defiance
”It would seeelonne, who carries a sword by his side, does not consider himself insulted”
”At all events you insult sonan,” resumed De Wardes, who had observed that this was the only er
”That, then,” said Buckingham, ”is another matter”
”Precisely so,” said De Wardes; ”it is the province of M d'Artagnan's friends to defend him”
”I aained all his indifference of elonne were offended, I could not reasonably be expected to espouse his quarrel, since he is himself here; but when you say that it is a quarrel of M d'Artagnan-”
”You will of course leave me to deal with the matter,” said De Wardes
”Nay, on the contrary, for I drawit as he spoke; ”for if M d'Artagnan injured your father, he rendered, or at least did all that he could to render, a great service to nan,” continued Buckinghahted, as I owe hiations, to settle the ham drew his sword frouard
De Wardes advanced a step totowards the his own draord between the combatants, ”the affair is hardly worth the trouble of blood being shed almost in the presence of the princess M de Wardes speaks ill of M d'Artagnan, hom he is not even acquainted”
”What, ether, and resting the point of his sword on the toe of his boot, ”do you assert that I do not know M d'Artagnan?”
”Certainly not; you do not know him,” replied Raoul, coldly, ”and you are even not ahere he is to be found”
”Not knohere he is?”
”Such must be the case, since you fix your quarrel with hinan where he is to be found” De Wardes turned pale ”Well, nan is: he is now in Paris; when on duty he is to be met with at the Louvre,-when not on duty, in the Rue des Lonan can easily be discovered at either of those two places Having, therefore, as you assert, so e in seeking hi you that satisfaction you seem to ask of every one but of himself” De Wardes passed his hand across his forehead, which was covered with perspiration ”For shame, M de Wardes! so quarrelso after the publication of the edicts against duels Pray think of that; the king will be incensed at our disobedience, particularly at such a tiht”
”Excuses,” murmured De Wardes; ”mere pretexts”
”Really, M De Wardes,” resumed Raoul, ”such remarks are the idlest bluster You know very well that the Duke of Buckinghaht ten duels, and will probably fight eleven His nah As far as I aht at Lens, at Bleneau, at the Dunes in front of the artillery, a hundred paces in front of the line, while you-I say this parenthetically-were a hundred paces behind it True it is, that on that occasion there was far too great a concourse of persons present for your courage to be observed, and on that account perhaps you did not reveal it; while here, it would be a display, and would excite remark-you wish that others should talk about you, in what manner you do not care Do not depend upon ns, for I shall certainly not afford you that pleasure”
”Sensibly observed,” said Buckinghaiveness, M de Bragelonne, for having allowed myself to yield to a first impulse”
De Wardes, however, on the contrary, perfectly furious, bounded forward and raised his sword, threateningly, against Raoul, who had scarcely enough time to put himself in a posture of defense
”Take care, elonne, tranquilly, ”or you will put out one of ht, then?” said De Wardes
”Not at this moment; but this I promise to do; immediately on our arrival at Paris I will conduct you to M d'Artagnan, to whoainst hi's per will yield his consent, and when you shall have received the sword-thrust in due course, you will consider, in a calmer fraetfulness of injuries”
”Ah!” exclaimed De Wardes, furious at this imperturbable coolness, ”one can clearly see you are half a bastard, M de Bragelonne”
Raoul beca De Wardes involuntarily to fall back Buckingham, also, who had perceived their expression, threw himself between the two adversaries, whom he had expected to see precipitate themselves on each other De Wardes had reserved this injury for the last; he clasped his sword firht,his emotion, ”I am only acquainted with my father's naht and honorable a le moment that there is, as you insinuate, any stain upon norance, therefore, of my mother's name is a misfortune for me, and not a reproach You are deficient in loyalty of conduct; you are wanting in courtesy, in reproaching me with iven, and I consider ly It is quite understood, then, that after you shall have received satisfaction fronan, you will settle your quarrel with me”
”I admire your prudence, monsieur,” replied De Wardes with a bitter so you pronan, and now, after I shall have received his, you offer me one from yourself”
”Do not disturb yourself,” replied Raoul, with concentrated anger; ”in all affairs of that nature, M d'Artagnan is exceedingly skillful, and I will beg him as a favor to treat you as he did your father; in other words, to spare your life at least, so as to leave ht; for you have the heart of a viper, M de Wardes, and in very truth, too ainst you”
”I shall take ainst you,” said De Wardes, ”be assured of it”
”Allow ham, ”to translate your reelonne; M de Bragelonne, wear a cuirass”
De Wardes clenched his hands ”Ah!” said he, ”you two gentlemen intend to wait until you have taken that precaution before you ainst mine”
”Very well, monsieur,” said Raoul, ”since you positively will have it so, let us settle the affair now” And, drawing his sword, he advanced towards De Wardes
”What are you going to do?” said Buckingha”
De Wardes placed hiuard; their swords crossed De Wardes flew upon Raoul with such i of the steel blades Buckingha with his adversary Buckingham stepped aside, and watched the co a foil instead of a sword; having retreated a step, he parried three or four fierce thrusts which De Wardes ht the sword of the latter ithin his own, and sent it flying twenty paces the other side of the barrier Then as De Wardes stood disarmed and astounded at his defeat, Raoul sheathed his sword, seized him by the collar and the waist band, and hurled his adversary to the other end of the barrier, treain,”up his sword
”I have done nothing for the last hour,” said Raoul, rising fro towards the duke, he said, ”I entreat you to be silent about this affair; I aer carried et it, too”
”Dear viscount,” said the duke, pressing with his own the vigorous and valiant hand of his companion, ”allow me, on the contrary, to reerous,-he will kill you”
”My father,” replied Raoul, ”lived for twenty years under the menace of a much more forood friends, viscount”
”Yes,” sighed Raoul, ”such friends, indeed, that none are now left like the, at the very hahtedly received the proffered alliance ”In elonne, we die to save our friends”
”I knoell, duke,” replied Raoul
Chapter XIII An Account of what the Chevalier de Lorraine Thought of Madame