lashed when the count's weapon was wrenched
from his hand and sent flying for a distance of twenty paces.

"That is enough," Colonel de Serres said, stepping forward; "you have
done what you thought to be your duty, Monsieur le Comte, but it needs
very different blades from those of yourself and your companions to
stand before Colonel Campbell. He had you at his mercy, and had a right
to take your life if he chose; but as he refrained from doing that
when you had your sword in your hand, he certainly will not do so now.
Messieurs, we wish you good morning."

"And you may mention," Hector added, "to this person of high rank,
that I shall be happy to accommodate as many of the gentlemen of his
following as choose to take the matter up."

"He will send no more to you, Campbell," Chavigny said as they moved
off, leaving the count, whose valet now ran up, to obtain a vehicle and
carry his dead and wounded comrades away.

"No, I fancy not; he will try other means now. The war has only begun.
Men like Lei, Brillet, and the Campions are not the sort of men who
would act as bravos, even for the Duke of Beaufort, and I do not think
that he would even venture to propose it to them. It will be meaner
instruments that he will employ next time. However, I shall of course
go straight to the cardinal and acquaint him with what has happened.
I doubt not but that he will lay the matter before the queen, and then
that Beaufort will hear of it; but, passionate and revengeful as he is,
I think that he will not be turned from his purpose, even if he knows
that he may be forced to retire to his estates, or even leave the
country till the matter blows over."

CHAPTER XXI: THE DUKE'S REVENGE

The cardinal listened gravely to Hector's account of the duel, and of
the circumstances that gave rise to it.

"I will go at once to the Louvre and appeal to her majesty," he said;
"you know how warmly she spoke to you on the day when you saved my life.
Still, I fear that the sternest reproof, or even an order to retire to
his estates, would not turn him from his purpose."

"I am sure of it, your eminence; still, as I have proved victor in the
first battle in the campaign I will bide a second."

"Mind that you do not get stabbed in the back, colonel."

"I will beware of that, sir; whenever I walk the streets in future Paolo
shall keep a pace behind me, and I warrant that he will protect me from
any attempt of that sort."

"At any rate rema