nstant I thought that he was going to
quarrel with me. Then he asked me why.

I was not sorry to have this opportunity of at once increasing his
uneasiness, and requiting his arrogance. "Because," I said, "this
young man appears to me to be very much out of the common. Hitherto,
whatever he has said he would do, he has done. You remember Crillon?
Well, I trace a likeness. St. Mesmin has much of his headlong temper
and savage determination. If you will take my advice, you will proceed
with caution."

M. de Saintonge, receiving an answer so little to his mind, was almost
bursting with rage. "Proceed with caution!" he cried. "You talk as if
the thing could be entertained, or as if I had cause to fear the
coxcomb! On the contrary, I intend to teach him a lesson a little
confinement will cool his temper. You must give me a letter, my
friend, and we will clap him in the Bastille for a month or two."

"Impossible," I said firmly. "Quite impossible, M. le Marquis."

M. de Saintonge looked at me, frowning. "How?" he said arrogantly.
"Have my services earned no better answer than that?"

"You forget," I replied. "Let me remind you that less than a month ago
you asked me not to interfere with St. Mesmin; and at your instance I
refused to accede to M. de Clan's request that I would confine him.
You were then all for non-interference, M. de Saintonge, and I cannot
blow hot and cold. Besides, to be plain with you," I continued, "even
if that were not the case, this young fellow is in a manner under my
protection; which renders it impossible for me to move against him. If
you like, however, I will speak to him."

"Speak to him!" M. de Saintonge cried. He was breathless with rage.
He could say no more. It may be imagined how unpalatable my answer was
to him.

But I was not disposed to endure his presumption and ill-temper beyond
a certain point; and feeling no sympathy with him in a difficulty which
he had brought upon himself by his spitefulness, I answered him
roundly. "Yes," I said, "I will speak to him, if you please. But not
otherwise. I can assure you, I should not do it for everyone."

But M. de Saintonge's chagrin and rage at finding himself thus
rebuffed, in a quarter where his haughty temper had led him to expect
an easy compliance, would not allow him to stoop to my offer. He flung
away with expressions of the utmost resentment, and even in the hearing
of my servants uttered so many foolish and