The colonel looked at him anxiously. "I understand the cause of your grief," he said; "and it is the worse, because there is no remedy for it."
"Do you think so?"
"Caspita! I am certain of it."
"You may be mistaken, excellency."
"Nonsense! You who so graciously place yourself at the service of those who have an insult to avenge, are forced to renounce your own vengeance."
"Oh, oh, excellency, what is that you are saying?"
"I am speaking the truth. You hate the Frenchman whom you mentioned to me today, but you are afraid of him."
"Afraid!" he exclaimed angrily.
"I believe so," the colonel answered coolly.
"Oh! if I only made up my mind to it——"