“It is.”

The four men bowed low and Barrington did the same.

“My companion thought we were too late,” said the spokesman, “but I had a different opinion.  We are four gentlemen devoted to Mademoiselle St. Clair, and she has charged us with a commission.”

“You are very welcome unless you bring bad news,” said Barrington.

“For you it may be,” was the answer with a smile.  “Mademoiselle will not need you to escort her to Paris.”

Barrington had not sought such an honor.  Until the moment he had fastened her mask, touching her hair and touched by her personality, he would rather have been without the honor; now he was disappointed, angry.  She had found another escort and despised him.  She was as other women, unreliable, changeable, inconstant.

“You bring some proof that mademoiselle has entrusted you with this message.”

“This,” was the answer, and the man held up the little iron star.

“I am not greatly grieved to be relieved of such a responsibility, gentlemen,” said Barrington, with a short laugh.  “Perhaps you will tell mademoiselle so.”

“Pardon, but monsieur hardly understands.  For some purpose monsieur came to Beauvais with an attempt to deceive mademoiselle with this little iron trinket.  It is not possible to let such a thing pass, and it is most undesirable that monsieur should be allowed to have the opportunity of again practicing such deceit.  Mademoiselle listened to him, feigned to be satisfied with his explanation, in fact, met deceit with deceit.  My opinion was that half a dozen lackeys should be sent to chastise monsieur, but mademoiselle decided otherwise.  You were too good to die by a lackey’s hand, she declared, therefore, monsieur, we are here.”

“Four gentlemen for six lackeys!” laughed Barrington.  “It is a strange computation of values.”

“The methods are different,” was the answer.  “I think we do you too much honor, but mademoiselle has willed it.  We have already arranged our order of precedence, and monsieur has the pleasure of first crossing swords with me.  If his skill is greater than mine, then he will have the pleasure of meeting these other gentlemen.  You have my word for honorable treatment, but it is necessary that the fight is to the death.”

“And my servant here?”

The man shrugged his shoulders.  Seth was beneath his consideration.

“There would have been fewer words with the lackeys’ method, I presume,” said Barrington.  “I am not inclined to fight a duel.”

“Monsieur is a little afraid.”

“As you will.”

“Afraid as well as being a liar and deceiver of women?”

“As much one as the other,” Barrington answered carelessly.

“Then, monsieur, I am afraid we shall have to employ lackeys’ methods.”

“Now we come to level ground and understand each other,” said Barrington.  “There is no quarrel between us which a duel may settle.  You are four men bound together to take my life if you can, but you shall not have the chance of taking it with a semblance of honesty by calling it a duel.  You attack two travellers; if you can, rob them of what you will.”