“I shall ensure that you will remember all the days of your life what you tried to do; the insult that you put upon this lady,� I said quietly, although I was blazing inside.
“Would you kill me?� he cried, and I believe I detected a note of alarm in his voice for the first time, as I stepped nearer to him.
“No,� said I, “that would be too quick and easy an end to your punishment. I will put my mark upon you, her brand as a blackguard. Everybody who sees you will ask you about it and you can explain it as you will. Two persons at least will know what the mark signifies, my lady and myself.�
He stared at me absolutely uncomprehending, but before he could make a move I caught him around the breast, pinioned both his arms to his side with one arm and then I deliberately shortened my sword, holding it by the blade, and cut two long, deeply scored, rough gashes crosswise in his right cheek. He struggled and shrieked horribly as I did so and my lady screamed as well, but I held him close until I finished. He was a handsome man, but those two scars, roughly crisscrossed, would never be eradicated, for I had cut deep with deliberate purpose.
“Now,� said I to my little mistress, “before I release him one more question. Did he—did he kiss you?�
“No,� answered Mistress Wilberforce faintly.
“Good,� I continued grimly, “had he done so I had marked the other cheek.�
After that assurance of hers I released him and he staggered back, trembling and shaking, spitting blood, his cheek bleeding, a horrible looking object.
“That will be a lesson to your grace,� said I grimly, “not to insult an honest woman. I have no doubt there are many who would rejoice to see you now and to know why I have put my mark upon you.�
“I will have the law on you. I will have your life,� he sputtered out.