"No more than the natural contempt of a grown man for a big fool of a boy who tries to kick him."
Jeremy's mouth betrayed sarcasm.
"I believed he kicked—with success."
But he regretted the gibe when he saw the glint in De Rothan's eyes.
"Mr. Winter, I am too big a man to bear malice."
"Thank heaven for that!"
"I hold Mr. Benham as a hostage."
"And if the French come, sir?"
De Rothan shrugged his shoulders.
"A country squireling will not matter. He will be one of a mob of sheep."