"There are no duties that bid me rise," I answered sourly.
He frowned at that, then, divesting himself of his cloak, he gave it to
Michelot, who, at a sign from me, withdrew. No sooner was the door closed
than the boy's whole manner changed. The simmering passion of which I had
detected signs welled up and seemed to choke him as he poured forth the
story that he had come to tell.
"I have been insulted," he gasped. "Grossly insulted by a vile creature of
Monsieur d'Orleans's household. An hour ago in the ante-chamber at the
Palais Royal I was spoken of in my hearing as the besotted nephew of the
Italian adventurer."
I sat up in bed tingling with excitement at the developments which already
I saw arising from his last night's imprudence.
"Calmly, Andrea," I begged of him, "tell me calmly."
"Mortdieu! How can I be calm? Ough! The thought of it chokes me. I was
a fool last night--a sot. For that, perchance, men have some right to
censure me. But, Sangdieu! that a ruffler of the stamp of Eug?ne de
Canaples should speak of it--should call me the nephew of an Italian
adventurer, should draw down upon me the cynical smile of a crowd of
courtly apes--pah! I am sick at the memory of it!"
"Did you answer him?"
"Pardieu! I should be worthy of the title he bestowed upon me had I not
done so.
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