d to the kindly old face of
Des Cadoux, and he recalled how this gentleman had sought to stay the
flogging of him. An instant it hovered on the Marquis, who--haggard of
face and with his arm in a sling--was observing him with an expression
in which scorn and wonder were striving for the mastery; it seemed to
shun the gaze of the pale-faced Vicomte, whose tutor he had been in the
old days of his secretaryship, and full and stern it returned at last to
settle upon the Marquis.

"Citizen Bellecour," he said, and his voice, like his face, seemed to
have changed since last the Marquis had heard it, and to have grown more
deep and metallic, "you may marvel, now that you behold the Commissioner
who sent a company of soldiers to rescue you and your Chateau from the
hands of the mob last night, what purpose I sought to serve by extending
to you a protection which none of your order merits, and you least of
any, in my eyes."

"The times may have wrought sad and overwhelming changes," answered the
Marquis, with cold contempt, "but it has not yet so utterly abased us
that we bring ourselves to speculate upon the purposes of the rabble."

A faint crimson flush crept into Caron's sallow cheeks.

"Indeed, I see how little you have changed!" he answered bitterly. "You
are of those that will not learn, Citizen. The fault lies here," he
added, tapping his head, "and it will remain until we remove the ones
with the other. But now for the business that brings me," he proceeded,
more briskly. "Four years ago, Citizen Bellecour, you laid your whip
across my face in the woods out yonder, and when I spoke of seeking
satisfaction action you threatened me with your grooms. I will not speak
of your other brutalities on that same day. I will confine myself to
that first affront."

"Be brief, sir," cried the Marquis offensively. "Since you have the
force to compel us to listen to you, let me beg that you will at least
display the generosity of detaining us no longer than you need."

"I will be as brief as it lies within the possibility of words,"
answered Caron coldly. "I am come, Citizen Bellecour, to demand of you
to-day the satisfaction which four years ago you refused me."

"Of me?" cried the Marquis.

"Through the person of your son, the Vicomte, as I asked for it four
years ago," said Caron. "You are am old man, Citizen, and I do not fight
old men."

"I am yet young enough to cut you into ribbons, you dog, if I were
minded to disho