I
care," answers Leander, with a disdainful shrug of the shoulders; "what
the devil have I to do with such absurd stuff and nonsense?"

"Blood and bones! thunder and Mars! You see, sir, you shall see, and
that very quickly, what you have to do with it, unless you take yourself
off in the twinkling of an eye. I will give you one minute's grace, for
your extreme youth touches me, so take to your heels and fly while there
is yet time. Observe me well! I am the terror of the whole world--my
path is marked with graves--my own shadow scarcely dares to follow me
into the perils I delight in. If I enter a besieged city, it is by
the breach--when I quit it I pass under a triumphal arch; if I cross a
river, it is one of blood, and the bridge is made of the bodies of my
adversaries. I can toss a knight and his horse, both, weighted with
armour, high into the air. I can snap elephants' bones, as you
would pipe-stems. When great Mars himself chances to meet me on the
battle-field he turns and flees, dreading the weight of my arm. My
prowess is so well known, and the terror I inspire so great, that no one
dares to meet me face to face, and I never see anything but the backs of
my retreating foes."

"Is it so? well, you shall meet ME face to face. Take THAT, and see how
you like it!" says Leander laughing merrily, and giving him a sounding
slap on one cheek which almost knocks the poor devil over, and is
instantly followed by an equally hearty one on the other, to restore his
equilibrium.

During this scene Isabelle and Zerbine come out upon the balcony. The
mischievous soubrette goes into convulsions of laughter, whilst her
mistress nods encouragingly to Leander. Meantime Pandolphe, accompanied
by the notary, turns the corner of one of the streets and enters the
square just in time to see Leander's extraordinary exploit, whereat
he is horrified and amazed. The valiant captain bellows like a bull,
shrieks out the most frightful threats and curses, vowing all sorts of
vengeance, and making prodigious efforts to draw his big sword, so that
he may forthwith set about cutting up his unmannerly assailant into
mince-meat. He tugs and strains until he is red in the face, but his
"man-killer" cannot be induced to quit the scabbard and Leander, growing
impatient, follows up his first attack with a vigorous, well directed
kick, which sends the unlucky bully flying to the other side of the
stage, where he falls all in a heap and rolls in the