But Basterga was not one to be so lightly thwarted.

His intellect, his wit, his very mass intimidated.

Therefore it was with as much relief as surprise that Anne read in his face the reflection of the other's doubts, and saw that he, too, gave back.
"You are two fools!" he said.

"Two great, big fools!" There was resignation, there was something that was almost approval in his tones.
"You do not know what you are doing! Is there no way of making you hear reason ?" "You cannot go up," Anne said.

She had won, it seemed, without knowing how she had won.
Basterga grunted; and then, "Ah, well," he said, addressing Claude, "if I had you in the fields, my lad, it would not be that bit of metal would save you!" And he spouted with appropriate gesture-- "-- Illum fidi aequales, genua aegra trahentem Jactantemque utroque caput, crassumque cruorem Ore ejectantem mixtosque in sanguine dentes Ducunt ad navis! Half an hour in my company, and you would not be so bold." Claude smiled with pardonable contempt, but made no reply, nor did he change his attitude.
"Come!" Blondel muttered, addressing his ally with his eyes averted.