Tell me how you slew him, Monsieur le Capitaine." "I think we are wasting time," said the captain, angry too.

He felt that this smiling gentleman was deriding the pair of them; it crossed his mind that for some purpose of his own the Marquis was seeking to gain time.

He drew his sword.
Florimond saw the act, watched it, and his eyes twinkled.

Suddenly Marius's sword shot out at him.

He leapt back beyond the table, and threw himself on guard, his lips still wreathed in their mysterious smile.
"The time has come, messieurs," said he.