"St. Mesmin!"
"Oh," I said, "I see."
"Yes," the Marquis retorted pettishly, "but I don't. I don't
see. And I beg to remind you, M. de Rosny, that this lad is my
wife's second cousin through her step-father, and that I shall
resent any interference with him. I have spent enough and done
enough in the King's service to have my wishes respected in a
small matter such as this; and I shall regard any severity
exercised towards my kinsman as a direct offence to myself.
Whereas M. de Clan, who will doubtless be here in a few minutes,
is--"
"But stop," I said, interrupting him, "I heard you speaking of
this young fellow the other day. You did not tell me then that
he was your kinsman."
"Nevertheless he is; my wife's second cousin," he answered with
heat.
"And you wish him to--"
"Be let alone!" he replied interrupting me in his turn more
harshly than I approved. "I wish him to be let alone. If he
will fight St. Germain, and kill or be killed, is that the King's
affair that he need interfere? I ask for no interference," M.
Pages:
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123