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Updated: September 21, 2025
"Well, men have met their death between here and London often enough before now," I pursued meditatively, twisting my glass of wine in my fingers. "But with you for his guard, M. de Fontelles should be safe enough." "We're charged to guard him with our lives, and not leave him till he comes to the Ambassador's house."
The idea had been working in my brain, growing stronger and stronger till it reached conviction. I determined now to put it to the proof. "Tut," said I. "You make a pretty secret of it, and I don't blame you. But I can guess your riddle. Listen. If anything befell M. de Fontelles, which God forbid " "Amen, amen," they murmured with a chuckle.
"And she sends for you to advise her?" cried Fontelles. "That, my friend, is good; you can advise her only in one fashion." "I don't know that," said Carford, feeling his way. "It is because you don't know all. I have spoken gently to her, seeking to win her by persuasion. But to you I may speak plainly. I have direct orders from the King to bring her and to suffer no man to stop me.
"The gist of it," said I to myself, as I turned to the kitchen, "lies, if I am not mistaken, in the third member. For when I had said Je viens, tu viens, the Duke interrupted me, crying, 'Any more?" I had made for the kitchen since there was no other room open to me, and I found it tenanted by the French servants of M. de Fontelles.
Fontelles must have walked briskly, for I, although I did not loiter on the road, never came in sight of him, and the long avenue was empty when I passed the gates.
"I take it on false pretences," said I with a laugh, as I shook it. "For we came near to quarrelling, M. de Fontelles and I." "Ah, on what point?" "A nothing, sir." "Nay, but tell me." "Indeed I will not, if you'll pardon me." "Sir, I wish to know. I ins I beg." A stare from me had stopped the "insist" when it was half-way through his lips. On my soul, he flushed!
"Why, yes." "I met him last night! He cried those words to me again. The insolent rascal! I'll make him pay for it." "In truth you've a reckoning to settle with him." "But how does he come into this matter?" "Insolent still, he's a suitor for Mistress Quinton's hand." Fontelles gave a scornful shrug of his shoulders; Carford, smiling and more at ease, watched him.
Two stood impassive and motionless, with hands at their sides; at their feet lay what seemed bundles of clothes. The other two were in their shirts; they were opposite one another, and their swords were in their hands. I could not doubt the meaning; while love held me idle, anger had lent Fontelles speed; while I sought to perfect my joy, he had been hot to avenge his wounded honour.
He paused on his way to the door, and turned back with brightened eyes. He gave a careless laugh, saying, "My dear Fontelles, you have more than me to reckon with before you take her away." "What do you mean, my lord?" "Why, men in love are hard to reason with, and with fools in love there is no reasoning at all.
If, on the other hand, he quarrelled openly with Fontelles, he must face the consequences he feared or incur Barbara's unmeasured scorn. He could not solve the puzzle and determined to seek a respite. "I do not doubt your honour, sir," he said. Fontelles bowed gravely. "But there is more in this matter than you know. I must beg a few hours for consideration and then I will tell you all openly."
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