"I am an exterminator of aristocrats. Dolt that I was to spare that jesting dog, Dutriel."
"Then it was in this spirit that you murdered the Sieur de Mazancy at the head of his regiment."
"Excuse me, mon soldat, but you are very ignorant. He died by the same decree of the National Assembly which doomed all his class to the lantern, the sabre, or the guillotine."
"And his daughter——" my voice trembled.
He ground his teeth,—then gave a sardonic smile, and replied,—"I converted Eulalie into the wife of a plain but honest French citizen. Into what have you converted her?"
"Assassin and spy!" I exclaimed, with fury.
"Ouf—you are anything but polite."
"Poltroon! to murder a woman in the night," I continued, with growing bitterness.
He uttered a shout of laughter, and rasped his spurred heels to and fro against the cask on which he was seated. Then, with provoking nonchalance, he proceeded to light a cigar.
"Do you smoke?" said he;—"oh, you don't—well, you will permit me; these are very choice Havannahs. You have no objections?—bon! such an obliging fellow you are! It seems we come to Martinique to talk as well as to fight."