. Such he is, and such he stands before you. And now,
sir, that I have answered your question, will you favor me with a reply
to mine: what are you called?"

"I am the Count Emile de Gabriac," said the Frenchman, smiling; "I will
spare you the pedigree and the birthplace."

"Wisely done, I've no doubt, sir," said Curtis, "if, as I surmise, you
are the relative of that French lady whom I met at Castle Carew."

"You speak of my cousin, sir,--Madame de Carew."

"I do not recognize her as such, sir, nor does the law of this country."

"How do you mean, sir,--not married? Is it such you would imply?" cried
De Gabriac, fiercely.

"Never imagine that your foreign airs can terrify me, young gentleman,"
said Curtis, insolently. "I 've seen you in your own country, and
know well the braggadocio style you can assume. If you ask me for
information, do so with the manner that beseems inquiry. If you are for
a quarrel, it's not Joe Curtis will balk your good intentions."

"Poor old fool," said De Gabriac, contemptuously. "If you had a grandson
or a nephew to answer for your insolence--"

"But I have neither, I want neither; I am ready, willing, and able to
defend my own honor; and this is exactly what I suspect you are unable
to say."

"But you do not suppose that I can cross a weapon with the like of you!"
said De Gabriac, with an insolent laugh.

"You would n't be a Frenchman if you had n't a subterfuge to escape a
meeting!" cried Curtis, with a most taunting impertinence of manner.

"This is pushing insolence too far, old man," said De Gabriac, barely
able to restrain himself.

"And yet not far enough, it would seem, to prompt you to an act of
manhood. Now hear me, Monsieur Count. I am no admirer of your country,
nor its ways; but this I will say, that a French gentleman, so far as I
have seen of them, was always ready to resent an insult; and whenever
a slight was passed by unnoticed, the presumption ever was that he who
endured it was not a gentleman. Is it to some such explanation you wish
to conduct me in the present case?"

A contemptuous exclamation and a glance of ineffable disdain was all the
reply the Count vouchsafed to this outrageous appeal; and probably by
no means could he so effectually have raised the old man's anger. Any
allusion to his age, to the infirmities that pertained to it, he bore
always with the greatest impatience; but to suppose that his time of
life placed him beyond self-vindication wa