“That is better.  That is distinctly better.”  The Marquis took snuff delicately, dusting the fragments from the fine lace at his throat.  “You realize that with an imperfect understanding of these matters, not being yourself a landowner, you may have rushed to unjustifiable conclusions.  That is indeed the case.  May it be a warning to you, monsieur.  When I tell you that for months past I have been annoyed by similar depredations, you will perhaps understand that it had become necessary to employ a deterrent sufficiently strong to put an end to them.  Now that the risk is known, I do not think there will be any more prowling in my coverts.  And there is more in it than that, M. de Vilmorin.  It is not the poaching that annoys me so much as the contempt for my absolute and inviolable rights.  There is, monsieur, as you cannot fail to have observed, an evil spirit of insubordination in the air, and there is one only way in which to meet it.  To tolerate it, in however slight a degree, to show leniency, however leniently disposed, would entail having recourse to still harsher measures to-morrow.  You understand me, I am sure, and you will also, I am sure, appreciate the condescension of what amounts to an explanation from me where I cannot admit that any explanations were due.  If anything in what I have said is still obscure to you, I refer you to the game laws, which your lawyer friend there will expound for you at need.”

With that the gentleman swung round again to face the fire.  It appeared to convey the intimation that the interview was at an end.  And yet this was not by any means the intimation that it conveyed to the watchful, puzzled, vaguely uneasy Andre-Louis.  It was, thought he, a very curious, a very suspicious oration.  It affected to explain, with a politeness of terms and a calculated insolence of tone; whilst in fact it could only serve to stimulate and goad a man of M. de Vilmorin’s opinions.  And that is precisely what it did.  He rose.

“Are there in the world no laws but game laws?” he demanded, angrily.  “Have you never by any chance heard of the laws of humanity?”

The Marquis sighed wearily.  “What have I to do with the laws of humanity?” he wondered.

M. de Vilmorin looked at him a moment in speechless amazement.

“Nothing, M. le Marquis.  That is — alas! — too obvious.  I hope you will remember it in the hour when you may wish to appeal to those laws which you now deride.”

M. de La Tour d’Azyr threw back his head sharply, his high-bred face imperious.

“Now what precisely shall that mean?  It is not the first time to-day that you have made use of dark sayings that I could almost believe to veil the presumption of a threat.”

“Not a threat, M. le Marquis — a warning.  A warning that such deeds as these against God’s creatures...  Oh, you may sneer, monsieur, but they are God’s creatures, even as you or I — neither more nor less, deeply though the reflection may wound your pride, In His eyes... "