"Why not,—since you pardoned three hundred peasants?"
"The peasants are only ignorant men. Lantenac knows what he is about."
"But Lantenac is your kinsman."
"And France nearer than he."
"Lantenac is an old man."
"To me Lantenac is a stranger; he has no age. He is ready to summon the English, he represents invasion, he is the country's enemy, and the duel between us can only be ended by his death or mine."
"Remember these words, Gauvain."
"I have said them."
For a while both men remained silent, gazing at each other; then Gauvain continued,—
"This will be a bloody year,—this '93."