"Beast" I hissed, and I whipped out my short sword.
"Not here," he said, with a malicious laugh. "You forget your manners: familiarity"—he glanced towards the couch—"has bred—"
"Coward!" I cried. "I will kill you at her feet."
"Come, then," he answered, and stepped away from the door, drawing his sword, "since you will have it here. But if I kill you, as I intend—"
He smiled detestably, and motioned towards the couch, then turned to the door again as if to lock it. I stepped between, my sword at guard. At that the door opened. A woman came in quickly, and closed it behind her. She passed me, and faced Doltaire.
It was Madame Cournal. She was most pale, and there was a peculiar wildness in her eyes.
"You have deposed Francois Bigot," she said.
"Stand back, madame; I have business with this fellow," said
Doltaire, waving his hand.
"My business comes first," she replied. "You—you dare to depose
Francois Bigot!"
"It needs no daring," he said nonchalantly.