He recoiled. "You would not spare her!" he cried, his face damp with
sweat--for he knew now that he would not go. "You want to be rid of me!
You would fool me, and then--"
"Out of your own mouth you are convict!" Count Hannibal retorted gravely.
"It was you who said it! But still I swear it! Shall I swear it to
you?"
But Tignonville recoiled another step and was silent.
"No? O preux chevalier, O gallant knight! I knew it! Do you think
that I did not know with whom I had to deal?" And Count Hannibal burst
into harsh laughter, turning his back on the other, as if he no longer
counted. "You will neither die with her nor for her! You were better in
her petticoats and she in your breeches! Or no, you are best as you are,
good father! Take my advice, M. de Tignonville, have done with arms; and
with a string of beads, and soft words, and talk of Holy Mother Church,
you will fool the women as surely as the best of them! They are not all
like my cousin, a flouting, gibing, jeering woman--you had poor fortune
there, I fear?"
"If I had a sword!" Tignonville hissed, his face livid with rage. "You
call me coward, because I will not die to please you. But give me a
sword, and I will show you if I am a coward!"
Tavannes stood still. "You are there, are you?" he said in an altered
tone. "I--"
"Give me a sword," Tignonville repeated, holding out his open trembling
hands. "A sword! A sword! 'Tis easy taunting an unarmed man, but--"
"You wish to fight?"
"I ask no more! No more! Give me a sword," he urged, his voice
quivering with eagerness. "It is you who are the coward!"
Count Hannibal stared at him. "And what am I to get by fighting you?" he
reasoned slowly. "You are in my power. I can do with you as I please. I
can call from this window and denounce you, or I can summon my men--"
"Coward! Coward!"
"Ay? Well, I will tell you what I will do," with a subtle smile. "I
will give you a sword, M. de Tignonville, and I will meet you foot to
foot here, in this room, on a condition."
"What is it? What is it?" the young man cried with incredible eagerness.
"Name your condition!"
"That if I get the better of you, you find me a minister."
"I find you a--"
"A minister. Yes, that is it. Or tell me where I can find one."
The young man recoiled. "Never!" he said.
"You know where to find one."
"Never! Never!"
"You can lay your hand on one in five minutes, you know."