The handsome young man was the Marquis de Florac; the woman was Isabeau.

The promised wife of the peasant had become the mistress of the noble.
Our hero was not the man to suffer such an outrage quietly.

He walked straight up to the marquis and stood right in his way.

The marquis tried to push him aside with his elbow, but Jean Cavalier, letting fall the cloak in which he was wrapped, drew his sword.

The marquis was brave, and did not stop to inquire if he who attacked him was his equal or not.
Sword answered sword, the blades crossed, and at the end of a few instants the marquis fell, Jean's sword piercing his chest.
Cavalier felt sure that he was dead, for he lay at his feet motionless.
He knew he had no time to lose, for he had no mercy to hope for.