“Of game?”
“No; of women.”
“What do you mean, Bussy?” cried the duke angrily.
“I mean, monseigneur, that he carries away women for you on his great black horse, and that as they are ignorant of the honor reserved for them, he puts his hand on their mouths to prevent their crying out.”
The duke frowned, and ground his teeth with anger, grew pale, and galloped on so fast, that Bussy and his, companions were left in the rear.
“Ah! ah! it seems that the joke is a good one,” said Antragues.
“And so much the better, that everyone does not seem to find it a joke,” said Bussy.
A moment after, they heard the duke’s voice calling Bussy. He went, and found the duke laughing.
“Oh!” said he, “it appears that what I said was droll.”
“I am not laughing at what you said.”