Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/87

Rh De Guiche could not resist, an invincible attraction drew him toward the princess. De Wardes smiled as he saw him withdraw.

"You are mistaken, monsieur," said Raoul, suddenly stepping across the barrier against which the previous moment the two friends had been leaning, "the pedagogue is here, and has overheard you."

De Wardes, at the sound of Raoul's voice, which he recognized without having occasion to look at him, half drew his sword.

"Put up your sword," said Eaoul; "you know perfectly well that, until our journey is at an end, every demonstration of that nature is useless. Why do you distill into the heart of the man you term your friend all the bitterness which infects your own? As regards myself, you wish to arouse a feeling of deep dislike against a man of honor — my father's friend, and my own; and as for the count, you wish him to love one who is destined for your master. Eeally, monsieur, I should regard you as a coward, and a traitor, too, if I did not, with greater justice, regard you as a madman."

"Monsieur," exclaimed De Wardes, exasperated, "I was deceived, I find, in terming you a pedagogue. The tone you assume, and the style which is peculiarly your own, is that of a Jesuit, and not of a gentleman. Discontinue, I beg, whenever I am present, this style I complain of, and the tone also. I hate Monsieur d'Artagnan because he was guilty of a cowardly act toward my father."

"You lie, monsieur!" said Raoul coolly.

"You give me the lie, monsieur?" exclaimed De Wardes.

"Why not, if what you assert be untrue?"

"You give me the lie, and do not draw your sword?"

"I have resolved, monsieur, not to kill you until madame shall have been delivered up into her husband's hands."

"Kill me? Believe me, monsieur, your schoolmaster's rod does not kill so easily."

"No," replied Raoul sternly; "but Monsieur d'Artagnan 's sword kills; and not only do I possess his sword, but he has himself taught me how to use it; and with that sword, when a befitting time arrives, I shall avenge his name — a name you have so dishonored."

"Take care, monsieur!" exclaimed De Wardes; "if you do not immediately give me satisfaction I will avail myself of every means to revenge myself."

"Indeed, monsieur," said Buckingham, suddenly appear-