“Enough, gentlemen!” said Quelus. “Retire, M. d’Epernon! we will fight three against three. These gentlemen shall see if we are men to profit by a misfortune which we deplore as much as themselves. Come, gentlemen,” added the young mall, throwing his hat behind him, and raising his left hand, while he whirled his sword with the right, “God is our judge if we are assassins!”
“Ah! I hated you before,” cried Schomberg, “and now I execrate you!”
“On your guard, gentlemen!” cried Antragues.
“With doublets or without?” said Schomberg.
“Without doublets, without shirts; our breasts bare, our hearts uncovered!”
The young men threw off their doublets and shirts.
“I have lost my dagger,” said Quelus; “it must have fallen on the road.”
“Or else you left it at M. de Monsoreau’s, in the Place de la Bastile,” said Antragues.
Quelus gave a cry of rage, and drew his sword.
“But he has no dagger, M. Antragues,” cried Chicot, who had just arrived.