“Goupil has confessed everything, Monsieur Minoret.”

There was a moment’s silence, but it was terrible, when all three persons examined one another.  Zelie saw a nervous quiver on the heavy face of her colossus.

“Though you are only insects,” said the young nobleman, “I will make you feel my vengeance.  It is not from you, Monsieur Minoret, a man sixty-eight years of age, but from your son that I shall seek satisfaction for the insults offered to Mademoiselle Mirouet.  The first time he sets his foot in Nemours we shall meet.  He must fight me; he will do so, or be dishonored and never dare to show his face again.  If he does not come to Nemours I shall go to Fontainebleau, for I will have satisfaction.  It shall never be said that you were tamely allowed to dishonor a defenceless young girl—­”

“But the calumnies of a Goupil—­are—­not—­” began Minoret.

“Do you wish me to bring him face to face with you?  Believe me, you had better hush up this affair; it lies between you and Goupil and me.  Leave it as it is; God will decide between us and when I meet your son.”

“But this sha’n’t go one!” cried Zelie.  “Do you suppose I’ll stand by and let Desire fight you,—­a sailor whose business it is to handle swords and guns?  If you’ve got any cause of complaint against Minoret, there’s Minoret; take Minoret, fight Minoret!  But do you think my boy, who, by your own account, knew nothing of all this, is going to bear the brunt of it?  No, my little gentleman! somebody’s teeth will pin your legs first!  Come, Minoret, don’t stand staring there like a big canary; you are in your own house, and you allow a man to keep his hat on before your wife!  I say he shall go.  Now, monsieur, be off! a man’s house is his castle.  I don’t know what you mean with your nonsense, but show me your heels, and if you dare touch Desire you’ll have to answer to me,—­you and your minx Ursula.”

She rang the bell violently and called to the servants.

“Remember what I have said to you,” repeated Savinien to Minoret, paying no attention to Zelie’s tirade.  Suspending the sword of Damocles over their heads, he left the room.

“Now, then, Minoret,” said Zelie, “you will explain to me what this all means.  A young man doesn’t rush into a house and make an uproar like that and demand the blood of a family for nothing.”

“It’s some mischief of that vile Goupil,” said the colossus.  “I promised to help him buy a practice if he would get me the Rouvre property cheap.  I gave him ten per cent on the cost, twenty thousand francs in a note, and I suppose he isn’t satisfied.”

“Yes, but why did he get up those serenades and the scandals against Ursula?”

“He wanted to marry her.”

“A girl without a penny! the sly thing!  Now Minoret, you are telling me lies, and you are too much of a fool, my son, to make me believe them.  There is something under all this, and you are going to tell me what it is.”