“How soon shall we settle this?” snapped Chabrillane, livid with very real fury.
“Whenever you please, monsieur. It is for you to say when it will suit your convenience to kill me. I think that was the intention you announced, was it not?” Andre-Louis was suavity itself.
“To-morrow morning, in the Bois. Perhaps you will bring a friend.”
“Certainly, monsieur. To-morrow morning, then. I hope we shall have fine weather. I detest the rain.”
Chabrillane looked at him almost with amazement. Andre-Louis smiled pleasantly.
“Don’t let me detain you now, monsieur. We quite understand each other. I shall be in the Bois at nine o’clock to-morrow morning.”
“That is too late for me, monsieur.”
“Any other hour would be too early for me. I do not like to have my habits disturbed. Nine o’clock or not at all, as you please.”
“But I must be at the Assembly at nine, for the morning session.”
“I am afraid, monsieur, you will have to kill me first, and I have a prejudice against being killed before nine o’clock.”