silence, with a scorn which knew no bounds, and did
not so much as honour him by raising my sword, though I watched him
heedfully.

'What are you doing here? he continued, with an attempt at bluster.

Still I would not answer him, or move, but stood looking down at him.
After a moment of this, he grew restive, his temper being churlish and
impatient at the best. Besides, I think he retained just so much of a
gentleman's feelings as enabled him to understand my contempt and smart
under it. He moved a step upward, his brow dark with passion.

'You beggarly son of a scarecrow!' he broke out on a sudden, adding a
string of foul imprecations, 'will you speak, or are you going to wait
to be spitted where you stand? If we once begin, my bantam, we shall not
stop until we have done your business! If you have anything to say, say
it, and--' But I omit the rest of his speech, which was foul beyond the
ordinary.

Still I did not move or speak, but looked at him unwavering, though it
pained me to think the women heard. He made a last attempt.' Come, old
friend,' he said, swallowing his anger again, or pretending to do so,
and speaking with a vile bonhomie which I knew to be treacherous, 'if
we come to blows we shall give you no quarter. But one chance you shall
have, for the sake of old days when we followed Conde. Go! Take the
chance, and go. We will let you pass, and that broken door shall be the
worst of it. That is more,' he added with a curse, 'than I would do for
any other man in your place, M. de Marsac.'

A sudden movement and a low exclamation in the room behind me showed
that his words were heard there; and these sounds being followed
immediately by a noise as of riving wood, mingled with the quick
breathing of someone hard at work, I judged that the women were striving
with the door--enlarging the opening it might be. I dared not look
round, however, to see what progress they made, nor did I answer
Fresnoy, save by the same silent contempt, but stood watching the men
before me with the eye of a fencer about to engage. And I know nothing
more keen, more vigilant, more steadfast than that.

It was well I did, for without signal or warning the group wavered a
moment, as though retreating, and the next instant precipitated itself
upon me. Fortunately, only two could engage me at once, and Fresnoy, I
noticed, was not of the two who dashed forward up the steps. One of the
strangers forced himself to the front, and, taki