But the sun was sufficiently high to
give no advantage to either. The ground was good, the spot well
chosen. I could find no excuse to put off the man, and I was
about to salute him and fall to work when a thought crossed my
mind.
'One moment!' I said. 'Supposing I kill you, M. le Capitaine,
what becomes of your errand here?'
'Don't trouble yourself;' he answered with a sneer he had misread
my slowness and hesitation. 'It will not happen, Monsieur. And
in any case the thought need not harass you. I have a
Lieutenant.'
'Yes, but what of my mission?' I replied bluntly. 'I have no
lieutenant.'
'You should have thought of that before you interfered with my
boots,' he retorted with contempt.
'True,' I said overlooking his manner. 'But better late than
never. I am not sure, now I think of it, that my duty to
Monseigneur will let me fight.'
'You will swallow the blow?' he cried, spitting on the ground
offensively. 'DIABLE!' And the Lieutenant, standing on one side
with his hands behind him and his shoulders squared, laughed
grimly.
'I have not made up my mind,' I answered irresolutely.
Pages:
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191