No sooner was the door closed than the boy's whole manner changed.

The simmering passion of which I had detected signs welled up and seemed to choke him as he poured forth the story that he had come to tell.
"I have been insulted," he gasped.

"Grossly insulted by a vile creature of Monsieur d'Orleans's household.

An hour ago in the ante-chamber at the Palais Royal I was spoken of in my hearing as the besotted nephew of the Italian adventurer." I sat up in bed tingling with excitement at the developments which already I saw arising from his last night's imprudence.
"Calmly, Andrea," I begged of him, "tell me calmly." "Mortdieu! How can I be calm?
Ough! The thought of it chokes me.

I was a fool last night--a sot.