"'I know not,' urged poor D'Herblay, who was anxious to ride on; 'but your presence chills my heart—I have a dark and solemn presentiment.'
"For a third time the other laughed ferociously, while his eyes sparkled through the holes in his mask, and he menaced D'Herblay with his sword, saying—
"'Fight—fight!'
"'To-morrow—I tell you, to-morrow.'
"'Never—be it now or never!'
"'I am too full of happiness to fight.'
"'Happiness!'
"'She whom I love—she whom I am to wed, expects me at Remiremont.'
"'She whom you love, and whom you hope to wed, shall never see you, but as a breathless corpse, fool!'
"'If I am slain, who will bear my last words to Annette?'