Manicamp, leaning on the arm of a gigantic trooper, as firm as the pillar of a cathedral, replied in his usual tranquil tone of voice,—“And you, monsieur?”
“I, monsieur, am the Duke of Buckingham; I have hired all the houses which surround the Hotel de Ville, where I have business to transact; and as these houses are let, they belong to me, and, as I hired them in order to preserve the right of free access to the Hotel de Ville, you are not justified in preventing me passing to it.”
“But who prevents you passing, monsieur?” inquired Manicamp.
“Your sentinels.”
“Because you wish to pass on horseback, and orders have been given to let only persons on foot pass.”
“No one has any right to give orders here, except myself,” said Buckingham.
“On what grounds?” inquired Manicamp, with his soft tone. “Will you do me the favor to explain this enigma to me?”
“Because, as I have already told you, I have hired all the houses looking on the square.”
“We are very well aware of that, since nothing but the square itself has been left for us.”
“You are mistaken, monsieur; the square belongs to me, as well as the houses in it.”