COWARD

In society he was called “Handsome Signoles.”  His name was Vicomte Gontran-Joseph de Signoles.

An orphan, and possessed of an ample fortune, he cut quite a dash, as it is called.  He had an attractive appearance and manner, could talk well, had a certain inborn elegance, an air of pride and nobility, a good mustache, and a tender eye, that always finds favor with women.

He was in great request at receptions, waltzed to perfection, and was regarded by his own sex with that smiling hostility accorded to the popular society man.  He had been suspected of more than one love affair, calculated to enhance the reputation of a bachelor.  He lived a happy, peaceful life—­a life of physical and mental well-being.  He had won considerable fame as a swordsman, and still more as a marksman.

“When the time comes for me to fight a duel,” he said, “I shall choose pistols.  With such a weapon I am sure to kill my man.”

One evening, having accompanied two women friends of his with their husbands to the theatre, he invited them to take some ice cream at Tortoni’s after the performance.  They had been seated a few minutes in the restaurant when Signoles noticed that a man was staring persistently at one of the ladies.  She seemed annoyed, and lowered her eyes.  At last she said to her husband: 

“There’s a man over there looking at me.  I don’t know him; do you?”

The husband, who had noticed nothing, glanced across at the offender, and said: 

“No; not in the least.”

His wife continued, half smiling, half angry: 

“It’s very tiresome!  He quite spoils my ice cream.”

The husband shrugged his shoulders.

“Nonsense!  Don’t take any notice of him.  If we were to bother our heads about all the ill-mannered people we should have no time for anything else.”

But the vicomte abruptly left his seat.  He could not allow this insolent fellow to spoil an ice for a guest of his.  It was for him to take cognizance of the offence, since it was through him that his friends had come to the restaurant.  He went across to the man and said: 

“Sir, you are staring at those ladies in a manner I cannot permit.  I must ask you to desist from your rudeness.”

The other replied: 

“Let me alone, will you!”

“Take care, sir,” said the vicomte between his teeth, “or you will force me to extreme measures.”

The man replied with a single word—­a foul word, which could be heard from one end of the restaurant to the other, and which startled every one there.  All those whose backs were toward the two disputants turned round; all the others raised their heads; three waiters spun round on their heels like tops; the two lady cashiers jumped, as if shot, then turned their bodies simultaneously, like two automata worked by the same spring.