Beauvais laughed at this. “You are very good company. Let me advise you to remain neutral. I wish you no harm. But if you change your mind and stand in my path—”
“Well, and if I stood in your path?”
“Pouf! you would vanish. O, I should not stoop to murder; that is a vulgar word and practice. I should place a sword in your hand and give you the preference of a gentleman's death. I see nothing to prevent me from carrying out that this very night,” with a nod toward the rapiers which hung from the opposite wall.
“You might be surprised at the result,” said Maurice, stretching his legs. “But at present I have no desire to quarrel with you, or to put your skill to a test. Once Madame gives me back my word, why, I do not say.” He dipped his hand toward the ash-pan. “Human nature is full of freaks. A man will commit all sorts of crimes, yet stand by his word. Not that I have committed any crimes against the ten commandments.”
And so they fenced.
“You picked up a rose to-night,” said the Colonel.
“So I did.” Maurice blew a puff of smoke into the chimneyplace and watched it sail upward and vanish. “Moreover, I propose to keep it. Have you any objections?”
“Only this: her Highness intended the rose for me.”
“No, no, my friend,” easily. “She would not have laughed had you picked it up.”
“That is to say I lie?”