tle
to experience, I agree," said he. "But for the rest, Bardelys, for all
your fine talk of conquering women, believe me when I tell you that in
all your life you have never met a woman, for I deny the claim of these
Court creatures to that title. If you would know a woman, go to Lavedan,
Monsieur le Marquis. If you would have your army of amorous wiles suffer
a defeat at last, go employ it against the citadel of Roxalanne de
Lavedan's heart. If you would be humbled in your pride, betake yourself
to Lavedan."

"A challenge!" roared a dozen voices. "A challenge, Bardelys!"

"Mais voyons," I deprecated, with a laugh, "would you have me journey
into Languedoc and play at wooing this embodiment of all the marvels
of womanhood for the sake of making good my argument? Of your charity,
gentlemen, insist no further."

"The never-failing excuse of the boaster," sneered Chatellerault, "when
desired to make good his boast."

"Monsieur conceives that I have made a boast?" quoth I, keeping my
temper.

"Your words suggested one--else I do not know the meaning of words. They
suggested that where I have failed you could succeed, if you had a mind
to try. I have challenged you, Bardelys. I challenge you again. Go
about this wooing as you will; dazzle the lady with your wealth and your
magnificence, with your servants, your horses, your equipages; and all
the splendours you can command; yet I make bold to say that not a year
of your scented attentions and most insidious wiles will bear you fruit.
Are you sufficiently challenged?"

"But this is rank frenzy!" I protested. "Why should I undertake this
thing?"

"To prove me wrong," he taunted me. "To prove me clumsy. Come, Bardelys,
what of your spirit?"

"I confess I would do much to afford you the proof you ask. But to take
a wife! Pardi! That is much indeed!"

"Bah!" he sneered. "You do well to draw back You are wise to avoid
discomfiture. This lady is not for you. When she is won, it will be by
some bold and gallant gentleman, and by no mincing squire of dames,
no courtly coxcomb, no fop of the Luxembourg, be his experiences of
dalliance never so vast."

"Po' Cap de Dieu!" growled Cazalet, who was a Gascon captain in the
Guards, and who swore strange, southern oaths. "Up, Bardelys! Afoot!
Prove your boldness and your gallantry, or be forever shamed; a squire
of dames, a courtly coxcomb, a fop of the Luxembourg! Mordemondieu! I
have given a man a bellyful of steel for the h