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in his face echoed in the eyes of his fellows。
〃Oh； monseigneur！〃 Francois sprang back； and tossed his arms to
heaven。
〃But it did not happen；〃 said M。 Beaucaire。
〃It could not！〃 exclaimed Francois。
〃No。 And you did very well； my children … 〃 the young man smiled
benevolently … 〃very well。 And now；〃 he continued； turning to Lady
Mary and speaking in English； 〃let me be asking of our gallants yonder
what make' them to be in cabal with highwaymen。 One should come to a
polite understanding with them； you think？ Not so？〃
He bowed； offering his hand to conduct her to the coach； where
Molyneux and his companions； having drawn Sir Hugh from under his
horse； were engaged in reviving and reassuring Lady Rellerton； who had
fainted。 But Lady Mary stayed Beaucaire with a gesture； and the two
stood where they were。
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Monsieur Beaucaire
〃Monseigneur！〃 she said； with a note of raillery in her voice； but
raillery so tender that he started with happiness。 His movement brought
him a hot spasm of pain； and he clapped his hand to a red stain on his
waistcoat。
〃You are hurt！〃
〃It is nothing；〃 smiled M。 Beaucaire。 Then； that she might not see the
stain spreading； he held his handkerchief over the spot。 〃I am a little …
but jus' a trifling … bruise'； 'tis all。〃
〃You shall ride in the coach；〃 she whispered。 〃Will you be pleased；
M。 de Chateaurien？〃
〃Ah； my beautiful！〃 She seemed to wave before him like a shining
mist。 〃I wish that ride might las' for al … ways！ Can you say that；
mademoiselle？〃
〃Monseigneur；〃 she cried in a passion of admiration； 〃I would what
you would have be； should be。 What do you not deserve？ You are the
bravest man in the world！〃
〃Ha； ha！ I am jus' a poor Frenchman。〃
〃Would that a few Englishmen had shown themselves as 'poor' tonight。
The vile cowards； not to help you！〃 With that； suddenly possessed by her
anger； she swept away from him to the coach。
Sir Hugh； groaning loudly； was being assisted into the vehicle。
〃My little poltroons；〃 she said； 〃what are you doing with your fellow…
craven； Sir Hugh Guilford； there？〃
〃Madam；〃 replied Molyneux humbly； 〃Sir Hugh's leg is broken。
Lady Rellerton graciously permits him to be taken in。〃
〃I do not permit it！ M。 de Chateaurien rides with us。〃
〃But … 〃
〃Sir！ Leave the wretch to groan by the roadside；〃 she cried fiercely；
〃which plight I would were that of all of you！ But there will be a pretty
story for the gossips to…morrow！ And I could almost find pity for you
when I think of the wits when you return to town。 Fine gentlemen you；
hardy bravos； by heaven！ to leave one man to meet a troop of horse
single…handed； while you huddle in shelter until you are overthrown and
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Monsieur Beaucaire
disarmed by servants！ Oh； the wits！ Heaven save you from the wits！〃
〃madam。〃
〃Address me no more！ M。 de Chateaurien； Lady Rellerton and I will
greatly esteem the honor of your company。 Will you come？〃
She stepped quickly into the coach； and was gathering her skirts to
make room for the Frenchman； when a heavy voice spoke from the
shadows of the tree by the wayside。 〃Lady Mary Carlisle will； no doubt；
listen to a word of counsel on this point。〃
The Duke of Winterset rode out into the moonlight； composedly
untieing a mask from about his head。 He had not shared the flight of his
followers； but had retired into the shade of the oak； whence he now made
his presence known with the utmost coolness。
〃Gracious heavens； 'tis Winterset！〃 exclaimed Lady Rellerton。
〃Turned highwayman and cut…throat；〃 cried Lady Mary。
〃No； no；〃 laughed M。 Beaucaire； somewhat unsteadily； as he stood；
swaying a little； with one hand on the coach…door； the other pressed hard
on his side； 〃he only oversee'； he is jus' a little bashful； sometime'。 He is
a great man； but he don' want all the glory！〃
〃Barber；〃 replied the Duke； 〃I must tell you that I gladly descend to
bandy words with you； your monstrous impudence is a claim to rank I
cannot ignore。 But a lackey who has himself followed by six other
lackeys … 〃
〃Ha； ha！ Has not M。 le Duc been busy all this evening to justify me？
And I think mine mus' be the bes' six。 Ha； ha！ You think？〃
〃M。 de Chateaurien；〃 said Lady Mary； 〃we are waiting for you。〃
〃Pardon；〃 he replied。 〃He has something to say； maybe it is bes' if
you hear it now。〃
〃I wish to hear nothing from him … ever！〃
〃My faith； madam；〃 cried the Duke； 〃this saucy fellow has paid you
the last insult！ He is so sure of you he does not fear you will believe the
truth。 When all is told； if you do not agree he deserved the lashing we
planned to … 〃 〃I'll hear no more！〃
〃You will bitterly repent it； madam。 For your own sake I entreat … 〃
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Monsieur Beaucaire
〃And I also；〃 broke in M。 Beaucaire。 〃Permit me； mademoiselle； let
him speak。〃
〃Then let him be brief；〃 said Lady Mary； 〃for I am earnest to be quit of
him。 His explanation or an attack on my friend and on my carriage should
be made to my brother。〃
〃Alas that he was not here；〃 said the Duke； 〃to aid me！ Madam； was
your carriage threatened？ I have endeavored only to expunge a debt I
owed to Bath and to avenge an insult offered to yourself through … 〃
〃Sir； sir； my patience will bear little more！〃
〃A thousan' apology；〃 said M。 Beaucaire。 〃You will listen； I only beg；
Lady Mary？〃
She made an angry gesture of assent。
〃Madam； I will be brief as I may。 Two months ago there came to
Bath a French gambler calling himself Beaucaire； a desperate fellow with
the cards or dice； and all the men of fashion went to play at his lodging；
where he won considerable sums。 He was small； wore a black wig and
mustachio。 He had the insolence to show himself everywhere until the
Master of Ceremonies rebuffed him in the pump…room； as you know； and
after that he forbore his visits to the rooms。 Mr。 Nash explained （and was
confirmed； madam； by indubitable information） that this Beaucaire was a
man of unspeakable； vile； low birth； being； in fact； no other than a lackey
of the French king's ambassador； Victor by name； de Mirepoix's barber。
Although his condition was known； the hideous impudence of the fellow
did not desert him； and he remained in Bath； where none would speak to
him。〃
〃Is your farrago nigh done； sir？〃
〃A few moments； madam。 One evening； three weeks gone； I
observed a very elegant equipage draw up to my door； and the Duke of
Chateaurien was announced。 The young man's manners were worthy …
according to the French acceptance … and 'twere idle to deny him the most
monstrous assurance。 He declared himself a noble traveling for pleasure。
He had taken lodgings in Bath for a season； he said； and called at once to
pay his respects to me。 His tone was so candid … in truth； I am the simplest
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of men； very easily gulled … and his stroke so bold； that I did not for one
moment suspect him； and； to my poignant regret … though in the humblest
spirit I have shown myself eager to atone … that very evening I had the
shame of presenting him to yourself。〃
〃The shame； sir！〃
〃Have patience； pray； madam。 Ay； the shame！ You know what
figure he hath cut in Bath since that evening。 All ran merrily with him
until several days ago C