"Fifty, and you would not let us have three?" said Jean; "I do not ask for eight, to which number royal highnesses are entitled, but three."
"You shall not have one," returned the post master, springing in between the stables and the obstinate gentleman.
"Blunderhead, do you know who I am?" cried the other, pale with rage.
"Viscount," interposed Chon, "in heaven's name, no disorder."
"You are right, my dear; no more words; only deeds." He turned to the innkeeper, saying, "I shall shield you from responsibility by taking three horses myself."
"It must not be done, I tell 'ee."
"Do not help him harness," said the posting house keeper to the grooms.
"Jean," said Chon, "don't get into a scrape. On an errand one must put up with anything."
"Except delay," replied Viscount Jean with the utmost ease.