'This is monstrous!' he exclaimed hotly. 'I, your kinsman! Herlaer, Maarege—some of your most devoted friends...!'
'No one is a friend,' retorted d'Inchy firmly, 'who is a law-breaker and a potential assassin!'
'Monseigneur!' protested de Landas.
'Well! What else were you all last night?'
'We had no intention of killing the rogue.'
'And attacked him, six to one!'
'His impudence deserved chastisement. We only desired to administer a lesson.'
'In what form, I pray you?' queried d'Inchy with a short ironical laugh.
'We had some sticks in reserve——"
'Sticks!' thundered d'Inchy, who at the words had jumped to his feet and in his wrath brought down his clenched fist with a crash upon the table. 'Sticks!! You had thought ... you would dare ... to raise your hands against ... against ... Oh, my God!' he exclaimed in horror as he sank down once more into his chair and, resting his elbows on the table, he buried his face in his hands. Evidently he was quite unnerved.