Auban's
assertion that he had been drawn from a squalid Sicilian home. Such faces
are not bred in squalor.
In utter ignorance of the cabal against him, he greeted St. Auban--who was
well known to him--with a graceful bow, and also Vilmorin, who stood in the
doorway with Malpertuis, and who at the sight of Mancini grew visibly ill
at ease. In coming to Choisy, the Vicomte had clearly expected to do no
more than second St. Auban in the duel which he thought to see forced upon
Andrea. He now realised that if a fight there was, he might, by my
presence, be forced into it. Malpertuis looked fierce and tugged at his
moustachios, whilst his companions returned Andrea's salutation--St. Auban
gravely, and Vilmorin hesitatingly.
"Ha, Gaston," said the boy, advancing towards me, "our host tells me that
two ladies who have been shipwrecked here wish to do me the honour of
occupying my apartments for an hour or so. Ha, there they are," he added,
as the two girls came suddenly forward. Then bowing--"Mesdames, I am
enchanted to set the poor room at your disposal for as long as it may
please you to honour it.
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