I do so now, and at your service do I lay that life which you
preserved, and which is therefore as much yours as mine."
Strive as I might I could not rid my tone of an ironical inflection. I was
goaded to it by her attitude, by the scornful turn of her lip and the
disdainful glance of her grey eyes--she had her father's eyes, saving that
her gaze was as steadfast as his was furtive.
"What is this?" quoth Canaples. "You owe your life to my daughter? Pray
tell me of it."
"With all my heart," I made haste to answer before Mademoiselle could
speak. "A week ago, I disagreed upon a question of great delicacy with a
certain gentleman who shall be nameless. The obvious result attended our
disagreement, and we fought 'neath the eyes of a vast company of
spectators. Right was on my side, and the gentleman hurt himself upon my
sword. Well, sir, the crowd snarled at me as though it were my fault that
this had so befallen, and I flouted the crowd in answer. They were a
hundred opposed to one, and so confident did this circumstance render them
of their superiority, that for once those whelps displayed sufficient
valour to attack me.
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