“Felicitations, M. Moreau,” said the great man.  “You acquitted yourself very well.  They will want your blood, no doubt.  But be discreet, monsieur, if I may presume to advise you, and do not allow yourself to be misled by any false sense of quixotry.  Ignore their challenges.  I do so myself.  I place each challenger upon my list.  There are some fifty there already, and there they will remain.  Refuse them what they are pleased to call satisfaction, and all will be well.”  Andre-Louis smiled and sighed.

“It requires courage,” said the hypocrite.

“Of course it does.  But you would appear to have plenty.”

“Hardly enough, perhaps.  But I shall do my best.”

They had come through the vestibule, and although this was lined with eager Blacks waiting for the young man who had insulted them so flagrantly from the rostrum, Andre-Louis’ body-guard had prevented any of them from reaching him.

Emerging now into the open, under the great awning at the head of the Carriere, erected to enable carriages to reach the door under cover, those in front of him dispersed a little, and there was a moment as he reached the limit of the awning when his front was entirely uncovered.  Outside the rain was falling heavily, churning the ground into thick mud, and for a moment Andre-Louis, with Le Chapelier ever at his side, stood hesitating to step out into the deluge.

The watchful Chabrillane had seen his chance, and by a detour that took him momentarily out into the rain, he came face to face with the too-daring young Breton.  Rudely, violently, he thrust Andre-Louis back, as if to make room for himself under the shelter.

Not for a second was Andre-Louis under any delusion as to the man’s deliberate purpose, nor were those who stood near him, who made a belated and ineffectual attempt to close about him.  He was grievously disappointed.  It was not Chabrillane he had been expecting.  His disappointment was reflected on his countenance, to be mistaken for something very different by the arrogant Chevalier.

But if Chabrillane was the man appointed to deal with him, he would make the best of it.

“I think you are pushing against me, monsieur,” he said, very civilly, and with elbow and shoulder he thrust M. de Chabrillane back into the rain.

“I desire to take shelter, monsieur,” the Chevalier hectored.

“You may do so without standing on my feet.  I have a prejudice against any one standing on my feet.  My feet are very tender.  Perhaps you did not know it, monsieur.  Please say no more.”

“Why, I wasn’t speaking, you lout!” exclaimed the Chevalier, slightly discomposed.

“Were you not?  I thought perhaps you were about to apologize.”

“Apologize?” Chabrillane laughed.  “To you!  Do you know that you are amusing?” He stepped under the awning for the second time, and again in view of all thrust Andre-Louis rudely back.