le Marquis de St. Auban that I am
come." And drawing forth a dainty kerchief, which filled the room with the
scent of ambregris, he tapped his lips with it affectedly.
"Do you come as friend or--in some other capacity?"
"I come as mediator."
"Mediator!" I echoed, and my brow grew dark. "Sdeath! Has St. Auban's
courage lasted just so long as the sting of my whip?"
He raised his eyebrows after a supercilious fashion that made me thirst to
strike the chair from under him.
"You misapprehend me; M. de St. Auban has no desire to avert the duel. On
the contrary, he will not rest until the affront you have put upon him be
washed out--"
"It will be, I'll answer for it."
"Your answer, sir, is characteristic of a fanfarron. He who promises most
does not always fulfil most."
I stared at him in amazement.
"Shall I promise you something, Vicomte? Mortdieu! If you seek to pick a
quarrel with me--"
"God forbid!" he ejaculated, turning colour. And his suddenly awakened
apprehensions swept aside the affectation that hitherto had marked his
speech and manner.
"Then, Monsieur, be brief and state the sum of this mediation.
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