Page:Rowland--The Mountain of Fears.djvu/209

  catch. The man slipped into the pantry and I heard him skipping up the ladder to the deck.

"The Count looked at me. 'The canaille!'  he said. 'I knew that he was theoretically a scoundrel, but I did not suspect that he was the low-bred pig which he has proved himself. He once told me that his father was a lord; if so, his mother must have been a fishwife! . . . Ah!'

"I sprang to my feet, for there came from above the sounds of a most terrific struggle, the impact of wicked blows, hoarse bellows of rage; then there was a crash, followed by silence, save for labored breathings.

Sit down, Doctor, I beg of you!' exclaimed the Count, and there was a note of apology in his voice. 'It has seemed best to me to detain this fellow until we are able to obtain custody of the Countess. A deplorable state of affairs'—he spread both hands palm downward in front of him—'but what is one to do? Have I not offered this young man every [ 193 ]