“I didn’t quite mean afraid,” said the tall officer, laughing, “I meant to say that no one here shall harm you, my young ambassador. But look here, how comes it that you, who are evidently a gentleman, are taking sides with that beggarly scum of tatterdemalions who have taken up arms against their sovereign?”
“Look here, sir,” said Fred, “is this meant for flattery or insult?”
“Neither one nor the other, young ferocity,” said the Cavalier, laughing. “But don’t look like that; you alarm me. Here, young Markham, you had better come and deal with this pernicious enemy; he is too much for me.”
But Scarlett did not move, and Fred drew a deep breath, as he prepared for the next verbal encounter, for the fair Cavalier was leaning carelessly out of the window, and looking down at him till, as if fascinated by his look, and after a long struggle to keep his gaze fixed on the stonework upon a level with his nose, Fred raised his eyes, and found that the Cavalier was regarding him with a pleasant, friendly smile.
“I did not mean to affront you,” he said; “I only thought it a pity that such a stout lad as you should be on the opposite side.”
“Thank you,” said Fred, haughtily.
“I suppose we are enemies, are we not!”
Fred nodded.
“And next time we meet you will be trying to send the point of your sword through me, or to ride me down, eh?”
“I suppose I shall try,” said Fred, smiling in spite of himself, and showing his white teeth.