a proceeding offered the least
satisfactory way out of a situation fraught with no small risk of
publicity. Marigny must have had some all-powerful motive in sending
for him; better learn that before his bitter and contemptuous words
sealed an adversary's lips.

"Won't you sit down?" came the urbane request.

"I prefer standing, if you don't mind," said Medenham curtly; then he
added, after a little pause:

"It may clear the atmosphere somewhat if I tell you that I threatened
you at Bristol merely because a certain issue had to be determined
within a few seconds. That consideration does not apply now. You are
at liberty to say what you like without fear of consequences."

The Frenchman elevated his eyebrows.

"Fear?" he said.

"Oh, don't bandy words with me. You know what I mean. I suppose a man
must possess courage of a sort even to become a blackmailer, which is
what you threaten to develop into. At any rate, I promise to keep my
hands off you, if that is what you want."

"Not exactly," was the quiet answer. "One may draw distinctions, even
in that regard, but I do wish for an opportunity to discuss our
quarrel without an appeal to brute force."

"In other words," said Medenham sternly, "you want to be free to say
something which under ordinary conditions would earn you a thrashing.
Well--say it!"

Marigny nodded, pulled a chair round so that he was straddled across
it, facing Medenham, with his arms resting on the back. He lit a
cigarette, and seemed to draw inspiration from the first dense cloud
of smoke, for his eyes dwelt on it rather than sought the Englishman's
frown.

"In a dispute of this kind," he said, "it is well to begin at the
beginning, otherwise one's motives are apt to be misunderstood. Even
you, I suppose, will admit that I was first in the field."

There was no answer. To his credit, Medenham thought, Marigny showed a
curious unwillingness to mention Cynthia's name, but, no matter what
he had in mind, Medenham certainly did not intend to render his task
easier.

"You see," went on Count Edouard, after a thoughtful puff or two, "I
am quite as well-born a man in my country as you are in yours. I have
not ascertained the date when the Fairholme Earldom was created, but
there has been a Comte Marigny on the Loire since 1434. Of course, you
understand that I do not mention this trivial fact in any ridiculous
spirit of boasting. I only put it forward as constituting a claim to a
certain eq