“What daring is there in it? I answered the fellow—the one that is yet unwounded—told him my thoughts of him and offered him such reparation as he could take; when he turned upon me and hinted that such insolence as his was possible by your protection and permission. He is yonder; let him come and answer for himself;” and Gerard pointed to where Antoine and d’Estelle were standing at a distance.
“Enough of this insolence,” exclaimed the Governor.
“So I told him,” replied Gerard coolly; “scarce believing it possible such things could be done with your sanction.”
De Proballe had been fretting at this interlude in which he was not taking the important part he desired.
“You need a curb to your tongue, Gerard,” he said.
“Does M. de Proballe desire an opportunity of applying it?”
“What a fire-eater it is!” cried de Proballe, hiding his vexation under a laugh, “and what a wit! Where did you learn to be so free with your tongue?”
“Not in Morvaix of a truth, where every one must order his speech to suit the ears of his Governor, it seems.”
“Gerard!” whispered Gabrielle, with growing alarm at his reckless answers.
“Yet there are things in Morvaix that we can teach persons of even your high character!” exclaimed the Governor sharply.