“With all my heart, then, if you will have it so.  I wish to tell you, Colonel Annesley, that you have taken a most unwarrantable liberty in mixing yourself up with my affairs.”

“I am not aware that I have done so.”

“You shall not trifle with me, sir.  Your conduct is inexcusable, ungentlemanlike.”

“Take care, my lord,” I broke in hotly.

“People who forget themselves so far as you have done must accept the responsibility of their own actions; and I tell you, here and now, that I shall call you to strict account for yours.”

The man was trying me hard, but still I strove to keep my temper.

“I don’t care that for your opinion, and I do not allow that you are a judge of what is gentlemanlike.  No one would do so who had read the public prints lately.”

“How dare you, sir, refer to my conduct, or presume to criticize or question it?” he burst out.

“Ta, ta, ta!  It is a real pleasure to me to tell you what I think of you, Lord Blackadder; and as I am ready to give you every satisfaction, I shall not stint myself.”

“I insist upon satisfaction.”

“By all means.  It can be easily arranged.  We are within a short step of either France or Italy, and in both countries the old-fashioned plan of settling affairs of honour is still in force.  We shall find friendly seconds in the nearest garrison town, and I shall be glad to cross the frontier with you whenever you please.”

“You talk like the hectoring, swashbuckling bully that you are,” he cried angrily, but looking rather uncomfortable....  “I will swear the peace against you.”

“Do so by all means.  It would be like you.  A man who would descend to espionage, who could so cruelly misuse a lady, is capable of anything; of making assertions he cannot substantiate, of threatening things he dare not do.”

“I have the clearest proof of what I say.  You have chosen to come into my life—­”

“I should be extremely sorry to do so.”

“Will you deny that you have sided with my enemies, that you have joined and abetted them in a base plot to defraud and rob me of my—­my—­property, of that which I most highly value and cherish of all my possessions?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about, Lord Blackadder, but whatever your grievance I tell you candidly that I do not like your tone or your manner, and I shall hold no further converse with you.”

I turned my back on him and walked away.

“Stay, stay.  You must and shall hear me out.  I’ve not done with you.”  He came hurrying after me, following close and raising his voice higher and higher.  “Your very presence here is an offence.  You have no right to be here at all.”

“Do you think that you own all Switzerland, my noble earl?” I answered over my shoulder as I walked on.  “It is not your ground to warn me off.”

“I tell you you shall not remain here to annoy me and work against me.  I forbid it, and I will put a stop to it.  I give you plain warning.”