“A mere nothing—I killed a man,” I answered coolly. “Or, at least, I left him started on the road to—Paradise.”
The little flaxen-haired doll uttered a cry of horror, and covered her face with her small white hands. My inquisitor, however, sat rigid and unaffected. My answer had confirmed her suspicions.
“Why did you kill him?”
“Ma foi!” I replied, encouraging her thoughts, “because he sought to kill me.”
“Ah! And why did he seek to kill you?”
“Because I disturbed him at dinner.”
“Have a care how you trifle, sir!” she retorted, her eyes kindling again.
“Upon my honour, 't was no more than that. I pulled the cloth from the table whilst he ate. He was a quick-tempered gentleman, and my playfulness offended him. That is all.”
Doubt appeared in her eyes, and it may have entered her mind that perchance her judgment had been over-hasty.
“Do you mean, sir, that you provoked a duel?”