"You will neither set the dogs on me nor tell me I lie," Germain said quietly, and stepped past him into the hall.
"What do you say?" the butler shouted, foaming at the mouth and trying to seize Germain, who foiled him by drawing his sword. "Jacques! Jovite! Constant! 'Lexandre! here; put a canaille pig out who defies me!"
The door of an adjoining chamber opened, showing a table covered with glasses and bottles of choice wines, and three or four footmen in disordered liveries rushed out with some of the bottles and glasses in their hands. At the sight of Germain's face one after another stood stock still and fell upon his knees.
The butler swore savagely. He saw what had happened.
"Who is this man?" asked Germain severely of the footmen.
"Cliquet, the butler, Monsieur," stammered Constant, the oldest. "He was not here when your lordship was."
"Take him out of the gates," replied the new master, "and send for my intendant."
Not long after Master Populus entered his presence, bowing and scraping, with a dozen smiles at once on his face.
"So you are the intendant?" said Germain.
"I have the honour, Monsieur le Chevalier—the greatest honour in seven parishes, Monsieur."