"You don't say so, sir," said the count, ironically.
"Sir, this is too much—I demand satisfaction for this—and that immediately. Do you hear, sir? let us go, and settle it at once."
"No, no, let us remain here, and settle this affair of honour. Stay, your two friends will be your witnesses, and I will send to some of my friends, to come and be mine."
Scarcely had the sharper uttered these words, than he got up, and rang violently.
His servant answered the bell.
"Go to the Procureur du Roi, and ask him to come here at once, on an affair of great importance; make haste, do you understand?"
"Pardon! sir, pardon! Do not ruin me," said the unhappy Olivier, in a tone of supplication. "I throw myself on your mercy."
"Étienne, mind you wait outside that door, and if, in ten minutes, you do not receive orders to the contrary you will do as I told you."
"Now then, sir," continued the count, turning to Olivier, "I will talk to you. These cards have been substituted by you in the place of those which I had provided. I insist upon your making these cards up in a packet, and sealing them with the ring on your finger, which bears your crest and coat of arms."
In vain Olivier looked from one to the other; neither Chauvignac nor Chaffard gave him any encouragement, but looked at him as much as to say, there was nothing for it but to do as he was desired.