favor to explain this enigma to me?"

"Because, as I have already told you, I have hired all the houses
looking on the square."

"We are very well aware of that, since nothing but the square itself has
been left for us."

"You are mistaken, monsieur; the square belongs to me, as well as the
houses in it."

"Forgive me, monsieur, but you are mistaken there. In _our_ country,
we say, the highway belongs to the king, therefore this square is his
majesty's; and, consequently, as we are the king's ambassadors, the
square belongs to us."

"I have already asked you who you are, monsieur," exclaimed Buckingham,
exasperated at the coolness of his interlocutor.

"My name is Manicamp," replied the young man, in a voice whose tones
were as harmonious and sweet as the notes of an Aeolian harp.

Buckingham shrugged his shoulders contemptuously, and said, "When I
hired these houses which surround the Hotel de Ville, the square was
unoccupied; these barracks obstruct my sight; I hereby order them to be
removed."

A hoarse and angry murmur ran through the crowd of listeners at these
words. De Guiche arrived at this moment; he pushed through the crowd
which separated him from Buckingham, and, followed by Raoul, arrived on
the scene of action from one side, just as De Wardes came up from the
other. "Pardon me, my lord; but if you have any complaint to make, have
the goodness to address it to me, inasmuch as it was I who supplied the
plans for the construction of these tents."

"Moreover, I would beg you to observe, monsieur, that the term 'barrack'
is a highly objectionable one!" added Manicamp, graciously.

"You were saying, monsieur--" continued De Guiche.

"I was saying, monsieur le comte," resumed Buckingham, in a tone of
anger more marked than ever, although in some measure moderated by the
presence of an equal, "I was saying that it is impossible these tents
can remain where they are."

"_Impossible!_" exclaimed De Guiche, "and why?"

"Because I object to them."

A movement of impatience escaped De Guiche, but a warning glance from
Raoul restrained him.

"You should the less object to them, monsieur, on account of the abuse
of priority you have permitted yourself to exercise."

"_Abuse!_"

"Most assuredly. You commission a messenger, who hires in your name the
whole of the town of Le Havre, without considering the members of the
French court, who would be sure to arrive here to meet Madame.
Your Grace will adm