The man half rose in his chair, exclaiming:
"Why shouldn't I think it natural for an Englishman to laugh at the murder of an Austrian arch-duke——"
"Stop that discussion!" cried Wildresse, angrily jerking his heavy head from Halkett to the three men at the other table. "Let it rest where it is, I tell you! The English gentleman says he did not laugh at what you were saying. Nom de Dieu! Nobody well brought up laughs at murder!" And to Halkett and Warner: "Be amiable enough, gentlemen, to carry this misunderstanding no further. I've had sufficient trouble with the police in my time."
Warner laid one hand lightly on Halkett's arm.
"All right," he said to Wildresse; "no trouble shall originate with us." And, to Halkett, in a lowered voice: "Have you an idea that those men over there are trying to force a quarrel?"
"Of course."
"Have you ever seen them before?"
"Not one of them."
Warner's lips scarcely moved as he said:
"Is it the matter of the envelope?"