"I supposed it would come soon or late," said Schmidt. "We shall hear from them to-morrow."
"René struggled in Schmidt's arms, wild with rage"
"Mon Dieu, but I am glad. It is a weight off my mind. I shall kill him."
Schmidt was hardly as sure. Neither man spoke again until they reached home.
"Come to my room, René," said the German after supper. "I want to settle that ground-rent business."
As they sat down, he was struck with the young man's look of elation. "Oh, my pipe first. Where is it? Ah, here it is. What do you mean to do?"
"Do? I do not mean to let him think it was only the sudden anger of a French gentleman at a Jacobin's vile speech. He must know why I struck."