Lagardere answered him cheerfully. "I came here to fight with you. I stay
here to fight for you. I must fight somebody. I lose by the change, for
it is a greater honor to fight Monsieur de Nevers than a battalion of
bravos, but there is no help for it."
There was a little silence, and then Nevers said, slowly: "You are a
splendid gentleman."
"There is nothing to make a fuss about," Lagardere said, lightly. "I am
this little lady's soldier. I came here in a cutthroat humor enough, but
since I dandled her daintiness in my arms I've taken a fine liking for
her father."
Nevers reached out his hand to Lagardere. "Henceforward we are
comrades--brothers."
Lagardere clasped the extended hand. "Heart and hand, for life and death,
brother."