“You do, certainly; but you are at a convenient nearness. What you know will be of no use to you. Let us sit down.”
“I prefer to stand. The honor you do me is too delicate.”
“O, you may have no fear.”
“I have none—so long as my back isn't turned toward you.”
Beauvais passed over this. “You are a very good blade; you handle a sword well. That is a compliment, considering that I am held as the first blade in the kingdom. It was only to-day I learned that formerly you had been a cavalryman in America. You have the making of a soldier.”
Maurice bowed, his hand resting near one of the bayonets.
“You are also a soldier of fortune-like myself. You made a good stroke with the archbishop. You hoodwinked us all.”
Maurice did not reply.
“Very well; we shall not dwell on it. You are discreet.”
Maurice saw that Beauvais was speaking in good faith.