"Off with your hat, or Mortdieu,
I'll have you flung out of doors by my grooms."
This show of vehemence, as sudden as it was unexpected, drew from Eug?ne a
meek obedience that I had not looked for. Nevertheless, the young man's
lip curled as he uncovered.
"How fatherly is your greeting!" he sneered. The Chevalier's eyes flashed
a glance that lacked no venom at his son.
"What manner of greeting did you look for?" he returned hotly. "Did you
expect me to set a ring upon your finger, and have the fattened calf killed
in honour of your return? Sangdieu, sir! Have you come hither to show me
how a father should welcome the profligate son who has dishonoured his
name? Why are you here, unbidden? Answer me, sir!"
A deep flush overspread Eug?ne's cheeks.
"I had thought when I crossed the threshold that this was the Ch?teau de
Canaples, or else that my name was Canaples--I know not which. Clearly I
was mistaken, for here is a lady who has no word either of greeting or
intercession for me, and who, therefore, cannot be my sister, and yonder a
man whom I should never look to find in my father's house.
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