"A glass of wine, Vicomte ?" "A thousand thanks, Monsieur--no," he answered coldly in his mincing tones.

"It is concerning your affair with M.le Marquis de St.Auban that I am come." And drawing forth a dainty kerchief, which filled the room with the scent of ambregris, he tapped his lips with it affectedly.
"Do you come as friend or--in some other capacity ?" "I come as mediator." "Mediator!" I echoed, and my brow grew dark.

"Sdeath! Has St.Auban's courage lasted just so long as the sting of my whip ?" He raised his eyebrows after a supercilious fashion that made me thirst to strike the chair from under him.
"You misapprehend me; M.de St.Auban has no desire to avert the duel.
On the contrary, he will not rest until the affront you have put upon him be washed out--" "It will be, I'll answer for it." "Your answer, sir, is characteristic of a fanfarron.

He who promises most does not always fulfil most." I stared at him in amazement.
"Shall I promise you something, Vicomte?
Mortdieu! If you seek to pick a quarrel with me--" "God forbid!" he ejaculated, turning colour.

And his suddenly awakened apprehensions swept aside the affectation that hitherto had marked his speech and manner.
"Then, Monsieur, be brief and state the sum of this mediation." "It is this, Monsieur.