“Ah! the brave man par excellence—is he, then, afraid?”
“That cannot be,” said Quelus.
“You are right, monsieur,” said Livarot.
“And why will he not come?”
“Because he is dead.”
“Dead!” cried they all, but D’Epernon turned rather pale.
“And dead because he has been assassinated,” said Antragues. “Did you not know it, gentlemen?”
“No; how should we?”
“Besides, is it certain?”
Antragues drew his sword. “So certain that here is his blood,” said he.