"I do not intend to answer the question. My name is a matter which concerns myself only."
"You insolent young knave," the man said angrily, "I will crop your ears for you."
Philip rose from the table; and the other was, for a moment, surprised at the height and proportions of one whom he had taken for a mere lad.
"I desire to have no words with you," Philip said. "Eat your dinner in peace, and let me eat mine; for if it comes to cutting off ears, you may find that you had better have left the matter alone."
The gentleman put his hand to the hilt of his sword, and was in the act of drawing it when Philip, making a step forward, struck him full in the face with all his strength, knocking him backwards to the ground. His companion leapt from his seat, drawing a pistol from his belt as he did so; when Pierre sent a plate skimming across the room with great force. It struck the man in the mouth, cutting his lips and knocking out some of his front teeth. The pistol exploded harmlessly in the air, while the sudden shock and pain staggered and silenced him; and before he could recover sufficiently to draw his sword or to shout, Philip and Pierre leaped through the open casement, and ran down the street.
[Chapter 16]: A Huguenot Prayer Meeting.
"That was a good shot, Pierre," Philip said, as they ran; "and has probably saved my life."
"I am accustomed to throw straight, sir. My dinner has frequently depended on my knocking down a bird with a stone, and it was not often that I had to go without it.