"If I had a sword!" Tignonville hissed, his face livid with rage. "You call me coward, because I will not die to please you. But give me a sword, and I will show you if I am a coward!"
Tavannes stood still. "You are there, are you?" he said in an altered tone. "I----"
"Give me a sword," Tignonville repeated, holding out his open trembling hands. "A sword! A sword! 'Tis easy taunting an unarmed man, but----"
"You wish to fight?"
"I ask no more! No more! Give me a sword," he urged, his voice quivering with eagerness. "It is you who are the coward!"
Count Hannibal stared at him. "And what am I to get by fighting you?" he reasoned slowly. "You are in my power. I can do with you as I please. I can call from this window and denounce you, or I can summon my men----"
"Coward! Coward!"
"Ay? Well, I will tell you what I will do," with a subtle smile. "I will give you a sword, M. de Tignonville, and I will meet you foot to foot here, in this room, on a condition."
"What is it? What is it?" the young man cried with incredible eagerness. "Name your condition!"
"That if I get the better of you, you find me a minister."