The stranger was splashed to the
chin, and his face wore an expression of savage annoyance; but
this gave place the instant he saw us to one of intense surprise,
while the words he had had on his lips died away, and he stood
nonplussed. I turned to M. de Bareilles.
"Who is this?" I said harshly.
"One of my lieutenants," he answered in a stifled tone.
"M. le Capitaine Martin?"
"The same," he answered.
"Very well," I replied. "You have heard my terms."
He stood clutching the table, and in the bright light of the
candles that burned on it his face was horrible. Still he
managed to speak. "M. le Capitaine, call four men," he muttered.
"Monsieur?" the Captain answered.
"Call four men--four of your men," Bareilles repeated with an
effort.
The Captain turned and went downstairs in amazement, returning
immediately after with four troopers at his heels.
Bareilles' face was ghastly. "Take M. le Capitaine's sword," he
said to them.
The Captain's jaw fell, and, stepping back a pace, he looked from
one to another.
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