"
"I shall trouble you. If you did not know that he cheated, pay;
and if you did know, fight."
"I know?" St. Germain retorted fiercely. "You madman! Do you
mean to say that I knew that he cheated?"
"I mean what I say!" St. Mesmin returned stolidly. "You have
won my money. You must return it. If you will not return it,
you must fight."
I should have heard more, but at that moment the main door
opened, and two or three gentlemen who had been with the King
came out. Not wishing to be seen watching the brawl, I moved
away and descended the stairs; and Varenne overtaking me a moment
later, and entering on the Biron affair--of which I had just been
discussing the latest developments with the King--I forgot St.
Mesmin for the time, and only recalled him next morning when
Saintonge, being announced, came into my room in a state of great
excitement, and almost with his first sentence brought out his
name.
"Barradas has not killed him then?" I said, reproaching myself
in a degree for my forgetfulness.
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