"You are not a gentleman, Sir; and therefore not worthy to stand before
my pistol. The owner of this house is not at home. At present it is as
much mine as yours; and I promise you, that if you are not out of it in
ten seconds you shall have my whip laid with severity upon your
shoulders."
I said all this in a tone sufficiently moderate, and in cool blood.
Gayarre must have seen that I meant it, for I _did_ mean it.
"You shall pay dearly for this," he hissed out. "You shall find that
this is not the country for a _spy_."
"Go, Sir!"
"And you, my fine pattern of quadroon virtue," he added, bending a
malicious glance upon Aurore, "there may come a day when you'll be less
prudish: a day when you'll not find such a gallant protector."
"Another word, and--"
The uplifted whip would have fallen on his shoulders. He did not wait
for that, but gliding through the door, shuffled off over the verandah.
I stopped outside to make sure that he was gone. Advancing to the end
of the platform I looked over the paling. The chattering of the birds
told me that some one was passing through the shrubbery.
I watched till I saw the gate open. I could just distinguish a head
above the palings moving along the road. I easily recognised it as that
of the disappointed seducer.
As I turned back, towards the drawing-room I forgot that such a creature
existed!