"Stand out of the way, you . . ."
"Do not speak that word aloud, Monsieur," interrupted the Chevalier,
gloomily, "or I will force it down your throat, though we both tumble
over the cliff."
D'Herouville knew the Perigny blood well enough to believe that the
Chevalier was in earnest. "It would be your one opportunity," he said;
"for you do not suppose I shall do you the honor to cross swords with
you."
"Most certainly I do. You laughed that night, and no man shall laugh
at me and boast of it."
"I shall always laugh," and the count's laughter, loud and insulting,
drifted to where madame stood.
There was something so sinister in the echo that she became chilled.
She watched the two men, fascinated by she knew not what.
"You shall die for that laugh," said the Chevalier, paling.
"By the cliff, then, but never by the sword."
"By the sword. I shall challenge you at the first mess you attend. If
you refuse and state your reasons, I promise to knock you down. If you
persist in refusing, I shall slap your face wherever and whenever we
chance to meet. That is all I have to say to you; I trust that it is
explicit.
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