'I have no lieutenant.' 'You should have thought of that before you interfered with my boots,' he retorted with contempt.
'True,' I said overlooking his manner.

'But better late than never.

I am not sure, now I think of it, that my duty to Monseigneur will let me fight.' 'You will swallow the blow ?' he cried, spitting on the ground offensively.

'DIABLE!' And the Lieutenant, standing on one side with his hands behind him and his shoulders squared, laughed grimly.
'I have not made up my mind,' I answered irresolutely.
'Well, NOM DE DIEU! make it up,' the Captain replied, with an ugly sneer.

He took a swaggering step this way and that, playing his weapon.
'I am afraid, Lieutenant, that there will be no sport to-day,' he continued in a loud aside.