“Curse you,” said the Duke, “do you think I’m going to be saddled with you wherever I go as long as you choose?”

“A mistake.  No.  All I requi—­All I beg—­is this one evening.  ’Tis all shall be necessary.  After, I shall not need monsieur.

“Take heed to yourself—­after!” vouchsafed the Englishman between his teeth.

“Conquered!” cried M. Beaucaire, and clapped his hands gleefully.  “Conquered for the night!  Aha, it ts riz’nable!  I shall meet what you send—­after.  One cannot hope too much of your patience.  It is but natural you should attemp’ a little avengement for the rascal trap I was such a wicked fellow as to set for you.  I shall meet some strange frien’s of yours after to-night; not so?  I must try to be not too much frighten’.”  He looked at the Duke curiously.  “You want to know why I create this tragedy, why I am so unkind as to entrap monsieur?”

His Grace of Winterset replied with a chill glance; a pulse in the nobleman’s cheek beat less relentlessly; his eye raged not so bitterly; the steady purple of his own color was returning; his voice was less hoarse; he was regaining his habit. “’Tis ever the manner of the vulgar,” he observed, “to wish to be seen with people of fashion.”

“Oh, no, no, no!” The Frenchman laughed. “’Tis not that.  Am I not already one of these ‘men of fashion’?  I lack only the reputation of birth.  Monsieur is goin’ supply that.  Ha, ha!  I shall be noble from to-night.  ‘Victor,’ the artis’, is condemn’ to death; his throat shall be cut with his own razor.  ‘M.  Beaucaire—­’” Here the young man sprang to his feet, caught up the black wig, clapped into it a dice-box from the table, and hurled it violently through the open door. “’M.  Beaucaire’ shall be choke’ with his own dice-box.  Who is the Phoenix to remain?  What advantage have I not over other men of rank who are merely born to it?  I may choose my own.  No!  Choose for me, monsieur.  Shall I be chevalier, comte, vicomte, marquis, what?  None.  Out of compliment to monsieur can I wish to be anything he is not?  No, no!  I shall be M. le Duc, M. le Duc de—­de Chateaurien.  Ha, ha!  You see?  You are my confrere.”

M. Beaucaire trod a dainty step or two, waving his hand politely to the Duke, as though in invitation to join the celebration of his rank.  The Englishman watched, his eye still and harsh, already gathering in craftiness.  Beaucaire stopped suddenly.  “But how I forget my age!  I am twenty-three,” he said, with a sigh.  “I rejoice too much to be of the quality.  It has been too great for me, and I had always belief’ myself free of such ambition.  I thought it was enough to behol’ the opera without wishing to sing; but no, England have teach’ me I have those vulgar desire’.  Monsieur, I am goin’ tell you a secret:  the ladies of your country are very diff’runt than ours.  One may adore the demoiselle, one must worship the lady of England.  Our ladies have the—­it is the beauty of youth; yours remain