"You will remark, Señor, that I have more confidence in you than you deign to show towards me."
"Because, Seigneur?—"
"Because I am without arms."
The young man shrugged his shoulders.
"You act as you think fit," said he, coldly; "perhaps you are wrong, perhaps you are right—who can say?"
"I do not fear being assassinated."
"If that insult is addressed to me, it fails. If I am taking precautions against you, it does not follow that I am capable of assassinating you, as you insinuate."
The partisan shook his head with an air of doubt.
"People furnish themselves with arms," continued the young man, with a cutting accent, "to defend themselves against the attacks of wild beasts, without having on that account the desire of fighting them."
"Well, well, Señor Frenchman," said Don Pablo, in a melancholy tone, "come without any more words; I have but a few minutes to give you—take advantage of them."