He stared at me in amazement, his face purple, his eyes starting from his head. I saw by his attire that he was a bourgeois of the better class. He was very fat, which accounted for the fact that the girl had outstripped him, and was perhaps sixty years of age. I looked him in the eyes with a smile, and the thought came to me that those were not the eyes of an honest man.
“And who the devil are you?” he cried, when he had recovered his breath sufficiently to speak.
“My name is of no moment, Monsieur,” I answered. “It is enough that I do not wish you to pass, but to return by the way you came.”
He stared at me for a moment, his amazement visibly increasing. I merely smiled the more, for the situation amused me greatly.
“If this is a jest,” he said, at last, holding in his anger, “it is a sorry one and one that will cost you dear.”
“It is no jest,” I declared. “On the contrary, I was never more in earnest. The way is barred for the present. Return, I beg of you, or I shall be obliged to enforce my request, though I am far from wishing to harm you,” and I made a significant gesture with my sword.
“So you are the lover!” he sneered. “I suspected there was a lover,” and he looked me up and down. “I shall not forget your appearance, Monsieur, though I do not know your name. I warn you again that you are playing a dangerous game.”
“Dangerous or not,” I retorted, losing patience, “I play it to suit myself. Be off!”
“She is my niece,” he protested. “I am her legal guardian. You are setting the law at defiance.”
“Be off!” I cried again, for I feared every moment that a section of the watch would chance into the street. He doubtless had the same thought, for he looked about him with expectant eyes, but saw the street deserted. He glanced at me again, and I prodded him gently with my sword. He started as he felt the point and walked slowly away, muttering horrible curses and shaking his fists in the air in an ecstasy of rage. I had never before seen a man so wholly lose grip of his temper, and more than half expected him to fall in a fit.