"Philippe, do you go to De Farraud's to-night?" asked De Bergeret
suddenly. He was lounging on the couch in Philip's room, watching
Philip adjust his patches.
"De Farraud's? I'd not thought of it. Whom shall I meet there?"
"Your very obedient," said De Bergeret, flourishing his hat.
"The prospect does not entice me," answered Philip. "No, don't retort!
Don't speak. Don't move!" He leaned forward, shifting a candle to throw
its light on his face, and frowned at his reflection. The white hand
that held the haresfoot wavered an instant, and then alighted at the
corner of his mouth. Philip sat back, studying the effect.
"Whom else shall I meet, Jules?"
"The usual people, I fancy. And some others, no doubt."
"De Farraud's friends are so very mixed," deplored Philip. "Do you
suppose that De Chambert will be present?"
"Nothing is more certain," yawned De Bergeret. "But it will be amusing,
and the play will be high, which is all that matters."
"But De Chambert wears puce small-clothes," objected Philip.
"Does he? _Mordieu_, I'd like to see that! Puce small-clothes,
forsooth! And what does our Philippe wear?"
Philip glanced lovingly down at his pearl-grey breeches.
"Grey, and palest pink, with lacings of silver." He slipped out of his
gaily-hued robe, and stood up.
De Bergeret levelled his eyeglass at him.
"_Parbleu, Philippe!_ Grey lace!"
Philip shook out his ruffles.
"A sweet conceit, _hein_? But wait! François, my vest!"
His valet brought it, and helped Philip to put it on. It was a very
exquisite confection of pink and silver brocade.
De Bergeret was interested.
"I'll swear you designed that, Philippe! Now for the coat!"
When Philip had at last succeeded in entering into the coat it was some
ten minutes later. François stepped back, panting; Philip arranged his
sword to his satisfaction.
"A careless sprinkling of rubies, _hein_? One in the cravat, one here,
another in my wig. And on my fingers, so!..."
"Perfect!" applauded De Bergeret. "_Tonnerre de Dieu_, pink
hummingbirds on your stockings!"
François beamed and clasped his hands, gazing in rapt admiration at
Philip's startlingly clocked legs.
Philip laughed.
"Do they please your artistic soul, Jules? And are they to be wasted
on De Farraud? I had intended to go to the Saint-Clamond rout, where I
know I shall meet Clothilde. Come with me!"
De Bergeret shook his head.
"I promised De Vangrisse I'd be at De Farraud's some time to-night.
Forget the lovely Clothilde, Philippe. Bethink you, your so dear friend
Bancroft will come to Farraud's in De Chambert's train!"
Philip was fixing a long ruby ear-ring in his right ear, but he stopped
suddenly, and looked over his shoulder at De Bergeret.
"_Comment?_"
"Why, you leap to my bait!" said De Bergeret, amused. "I thought you
could not resist so great an attraction!"
Philip fixed the ruby and swept round for his cloak and hat.
"Faith, that can I not. I come, Jules, I come! François, thou rogue, my
snuff-box! Would that he may be wearing that salmon-pink! François, my
cane! Jules, you are sitting on my cloak! _Sangdieu!_ My new cloak!"
He swept De Bergeret off the coat, and shook out the soft, rose-lined
folds. "God be praised, it is unhurt!" With a deft movement he swung it
over his shoulders and fastened it. "My hat! Jules, what think you of
my hat?"
"A grey hat! Philippe, what an audacity! You are really coming to De
Farraud's?"
"To meet the so dear M. Bancroft. _En avant, Jules!_"
De Bergeret went to the glass.
"Cultivate a more restful manner, _mon petit_! I am not to be hurried.
Do you like this mixture of violet and cream?"
"I like everything you have on, even the so badly arranged cravat! I am
consumed with impatience! Come!"
"But why? Are you hasting to see the unspeakable Bancroft?"
"But yes! Whom else? I will explain _en route_."
De Bergeret suffered himself to be led to the door.
"Philippe, it is not _convenable_ to display such enthusiasm. Languor
is now the fashion."
"I am a fashion unto myself, then. I am an original. And I go to call
out M. Bancroft!"
De Bergeret stopped short.
"What! A brawl? No, then, I'll not come!"
"A brawl? Is it possible? I shall conduct the affair with great
_douceur_, I assure you! You and Saint-Dantin are to be my seconds."
"_Miséricorde!_ Philippe, you become more and more tiresome!"
expostulated his friend. "Why must you fight this fellow?"
"An old quarrel--the settling of an unpaid score! _Allons!_"
* * * * *
"Oh, the devil," muttered Bancroft.
"_Où donc?_" inquired Le Vallon, who was sitting next to him and who
understood English.
Bancroft shot an angry glance towards the door. Le Vallon turned to see
what had excited his wrath.
Talking to De Farraud, with many quick gestures and smiles, was Philip.
He had just arrived, and he was apologizing for his lateness, throwing
all the blame on De Bergeret, who accepted it meekly.
"Oh, the little Englishman!" said Le Vallon scornfully. "Always late,
always eccentric. And grey lace! What an affectation!"
Philip cast a swift glance round the room. His eyes rested an instant
on Bancroft's face, then they passed on. Two or three men called to
him, and he presently went to dice with De Vangrisse. But when Le
Vallon left Bancroft to join a faro group, Philip swept up his dice,
and with a laughing word to De Vangrisse, promising to return, he
walked over to Bancroft's table, and sat down in Le Vallon's chair with
a swirl of his full skirts.
Bancroft was about to rise. Astonished at Philip's sudden advent, he
sank back again.
"To what do I owe this honour?" he demanded.
Philip dealt out the cards.
"I will tell you. A hand of piquet? You will declare?" Bancroft sorted
his hand rather sullenly. Not until he had declared and played his card
did Philip speak again. Then he took the trick and leaned forward.
"It comes to my ears that you have been bandying a certain lady's name
about Paris in a way that does not please me. You understand, yes?"
"What the devil is it to you?" cried Bancroft, crimson-faced.
"Sh, sh! Not so loud, if you please! Go on playing! I am informed that
you speak of this lady as a pretty piece! It is not how I will have
you speak of her. Also, you say that she fell in love with you _en
désespéré_. _Eh bien_, I say that you lie in your throat!"
"Sir!"
"_Doucement, doucement._ Further, I say that if so be you again mention
this lady's name in public I shall send my lackeys to punish you. It is
understood?"
"You--you--you impudent young cockerel! I shall know how to answer
this! What's Cleone to you, eh?"
The pleasant smile died. Philip leaned forward.
"That name I will not have spoken, m'sieur. Strive to bear it in mind.
I have many friends, and they will tell me if you speak of the lady
when I am not by. And of the rest I have warned you."
"Ye can understand this, Mr. Jettan--I'll speak of her how and when I
like!"
Philip shrugged.
"You talk foolishly. There is no question of refusal to comply with my
wishes. If I so please I can make Paris ve-ry uncomfortable for you.
You know that, I think."
Bancroft was speechless with rage.
"There is another matter," continued Philip amiably. "Once before I
had occasion to complain of your manner. I do so again. And I find the
colour of your ribbons most distasteful to mine eye."
Bancroft sprang up, his chair grating on the polished floor.
"Perhaps you'll have the goodness to name your friends, sir?" he choked.
Philip bowed.
"This time, yes. It is a little debt I have to pay. M. le Comte de
Saint-Dantin and M. de Bergeret will act for me. Or De Vangrisse
yonder, or M. le Duc de Vally-Martin."
"The first named will suffice," snapped Bancroft. "My friends will wait
on them as soon as may be." With that he flounced away to the other end
of the room.
Philip walked back to De Vangrisse and perched on the arm of his chair.
De Bergeret cast his dice and nodded at Philip.
"The deed is done?"
"Most satisfactorily," answered Philip. "Throw, Paul, you can beat
that."
"Not I! Jules has the devil's own luck to-night. If it is not an
impertinence, are you to meet M. Bancroft?"
"Of course. Oh, _peste_!"--as De Vangrisse cast his dice.
"What did I tell you? May I second you?"
"A thousand thanks, Paul. But Saint-Dantin and Jules have consented to
act for me."
"Well, I shall come as a spectator," said De Vangrisse. "Jules, another
hundred! I'll not be beaten by you!"
* * * * *
Le Vallon, who had watched the brief encounter between his friend and
Philip with great curiosity, now edged across to where Bancroft was
standing.
Bancroft turned.
"Come apart a moment," he said. His voice was still trembling with
passion. He and Le Vallon drew near to the window.
"You saw that damned fellow come up to me just now?"
"But yes! I watched very closely. What did he want with you?"
"He came to impose his will--his will!--on mine. Curse his impudence!"
"Why? What did he say?" asked Le Vallon inquisitively.
Bancroft did not answer.
"I want you to act for me," he said abruptly. "He--insulted me, and
I've sworn to teach him a lesson."
Le Vallon drew back a little.
"What? You seek to kill him? Kill _le petit Anglais_?" His tone was
dubious.
"No, not quite that. I've no wish for trouble. He has too many friends.
I'll teach him to leave me alone!"
"Oh, yes! But..." Le Vallon pursed his lips.
"But what?" barked Bancroft.
"It is said that he is a not-to-be-despised swordsman. He pinked Armand
de Sedlamont with great ease."
"Pooh!" said Bancroft. "Six months ago--"
"I know, I know, but he has changed."
Bancroft scowled.
"Well, will you act for me or not?"
Le Vallon drew himself up.
"M'sieur, I do not entirely appreciate your manner."
Bancroft laughed uneasily.
"Oh, come, Le Vallon! Don't take offence! That puppy has so annoyed me
that I can scarce keep my temper. Where's De Chambert?"
"Playing at lansquenet with De Farraud. And I think we had best mingle
with the others. I do not care to appear conspicuous."
Bancroft caught at his arm.
"But you will second me?"
"I shall be honoured," bowed Le Vallon. "And I hope you will succeed in
showing my fine gentleman his place."
Later in the evening Saint-Dantin sauntered over to where Philip
sat, perched on the edge of the table, toasting some of his friends.
Saint-Dantin joined the gathering and laid a hand on Philip's shoulder.
Philip, who was drinking, choked.
"_Malédiction!_ Oh, 'tis you, Louis! What now?"
"There is a rumour that you go to fight _ce cher_ Bancroft, Philippe."
"Already?" Philip was startled. "Who told you?"
"_Personne._" Saint-Dantin smiled. "It is whispered here and there. And
Bancroft looks so black at you. It's true?"
"Of course it's true! Did I not say I should do it? His seconds are to
wait upon you and Jules."
"How very fatiguing!" sighed Saint-Dantin. "But quite amusing. One
jubilates. Bancroft is not at all liked. He is so _entreprenant_. An' I
mistake not, you will have an audience," he chuckled.
"What?" Philip gripped his wrist. "I won't have an audience!"
Saint-Dantin blinked, loosening the clasp on his wrist.
"_Pas si éclatant_, Philippe," he said. "You twist and turn like a
puppet on wires! I only know that at least five here to-night swear
they'll see the fight."
"But it is monstrous!" objected Philip. "I forbid you to divulge the
whereabouts of the meeting."
"Oh, _entendu_! But the secret will out."
"How am I to keep a steady wrist with a dozen ogling fools watching?"
demanded Philip.
"You must keep it steady," said De Chatelin. "My money's for you,
_petit Anglais_!"
Philip looked genuinely perturbed.
"Henri, it is iniquitous! It is not a public exhibition that I engage
in! One would say we were gladiators!"
"_Reste tranquille_," grinned De Vangrisse. "We are all backing you,
_mon petit_."
"I trust you'll not forget to inform His Majesty of the rendezvous,"
said Philip, resorting to bitter sarcasm. "And have you engaged a
fiddler to enliven the meeting?"
"_Philippe se fâche_," teased De Chatelin. "Quiet, little fighting
cock!"
"I shall write an ode!" threatened Philip direfully.
"Ah no, that is too much!" cried De Vangrisse with feeling.
"And I shall read it to you before I engage. Well?"
"It is a heavy price to pay," answered Paul, "but not too heavy for the
entertainment."