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What followed in a place where feelings and practices had become
what they had become is not difficult to surmise。 When the session
rose； there were a dozen spadassins awaiting him in the vestibule；
and this time the men of his own party were less concerned to guard
him。 He seemed so entirely capable of guarding himself； he appeared；
for all his circumspection； to have so completely carried the war
into the enemy's camp； so completely to have adopted their own
methods； that his fellows scarcely felt the need to protect him
as yesterday。
As he emerged； he scanned that hostile file； whose air and garments
marked them so clearly for what they were。 He paused； seeking the
man he expected； the man he was most anxious to oblige。 But M。 de
La Tour d'Azyr was absent from those eager ranks。 This seemed to
him odd。 La Tour d'Azyr was Chabrillane's cousin and closest friend。
Surely he should have been among the first to…day。 The fact was
that La Tour d'Azyr was too deeply overcome by amazement and grief
at the utterly unexpected event。 Also his vindictiveness was held
curiously in leash。 Perhaps he； too； remembered the part played by
Chabrillane in the affair at Gavrillac； and saw in this obscure
Andre…Louis Moreau； who had so persistently persecuted him ever
since； an ordained avenger。 The repugnance he felt to come to the
point； with him； particularly after this culminating provocation；
was puzzling even to himself。 But it existed； and it curbed him now。
To Andre…Louis； since La Tour was not one of that waiting pack； it
mattered little on that Tuesday morning who should be the next。 The
next； as it happened； was the young Vicomte de La Motte…Royau； one
of the deadliest blades in the group。
On the Wednesday morning； coming again an hour or so late to the
Assembly； Andre…Louis announced … in much the same terms as he had
announced the death of Chabrillane … that M。 de La Motte…Royau
would probably not disturb the harmony of the Assembly for some
weeks to come； assuming that he were so fortunate as to recover
ultimately from the effects of an unpleasant accident with which he
had quite unexpectedly had the misfortune to meet that morning。
On Thursday he made an identical announcement with regard to the
Vidame de Blavon。 On Friday he told them that he had been delayed
by M。 de Troiscantins； and then turning to the members of the Cote
Droit； and lengthening his face to a sympathetic gravity：
〃I am glad to inform you； messieurs； that M。 des Troiscantins is
in the hands of a very competent surgeon who hopes with care to
restore him to your councils in a few weeks' time。〃
It was paralyzing； fantastic； unreal； and friend and foe in that
assembly sat alike stupefied under those bland daily announcements。
Four of the most redoubtable spadassinicides put away for a time；
one of them dead … and all this performed with such an air of
indifference and announced in such casual terms by a wretched little
provincial lawyer！
He began to assume in their eyes a romantic aspect。 Even that group
of philosophers of the Cote Gauche； who refused to worship any force
but the force of reason； began to look upon him with a respect and
consideration which no oratorical triumphs could ever have procured
him。
And from the Assembly the fame of him oozed out gradually over Paris。
Desmoulins wrote a panegyric upon him in his paper 〃Les Revolutions；〃
wherein he dubbed him the 〃Paladin of the Third Estate；〃 a name that
caught the fancy of the people； and clung to him for some time。
Disdainfully was he mentioned in the 〃Actes des Apotres；〃 the mocking
organ of the Privileged party； so light…heartedly and provocatively
edited by a group of gentlemen afflicted by a singular mental myopy。
The Friday of that very busy week in the life of this young man who
even thereafter is to persist in reminding us that he is not in any
sense a man of action； found the vestibule of the Manege empty of
swordsmen when he made his leisurely and expectant egress between
Le Chapelier and Kersain。
So surprised was he that he checked in his stride。
〃Have they had enough？〃 he wondered； addressing the question to Le
Chapelier。
〃They have had enough of you； I should think；〃 was the answer。
〃They will prefer to turn their attention to some one less able to
take care of himself。〃
Now this was disappointing。 Andre…Louis had lent himself to this
business with a very definite object in view。 The slaying of
Chabrillane had； as far as it went； been satisfactory。 He had
regarded that as a sort of acceptable hors d'oeuvre。 But the
three who had followed were no affair of his at all。 He had met
them with a certain amount of repugnance； and dealt with each as
lightly as consideration of his own safety permitted。 Was the
baiting of him now to cease whilst the man at whom he aimed had
not presented himself？ In that case it would be necessary to force
the pace！
Out there under the awning a group of gentlemen stood in earnest
talk。 Scanning the group in a rapid glance； Andre…Louis perceived
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr amongst them。 He tightened his lips。 He must
afford no provocation。 It must be for them to fasten their quarrels
upon him。 Already the 〃Actes des Apotres〃 that morning had torn the
mask from his face； and proclaimed him the fencing…master of the Rue
du Hasard； successor to Bertrand des Amis。 Hazardous as it had been
hitherto for a man of his condition to engage in single combat it
was rendered doubly so by this exposure； offered to the public as
an aristocratic apologia。
Still； matters could not be left where they were； or he should have
had all his pains for nothing。 Carefully looking away from that
group of gentlemen； he raised his voice so that his words must
carry to their ears。
〃It begins to look as if my fears of having to spend the remainder
of my days in the Bois were idle。〃
Out of the corner of his eye he caught the stir his words created
in that group。 Its members had turned to look at him； but for the
moment that was all。 A little more was necessary。 Pacing slowly
along between his friends he resumed：
〃But is it not remarkable that the assassin of Lagror should make
no move against Lagron's successor？ Or perhaps it is not remarkable。
Perhaps there are good reasons。 Perhaps the gentleman is prudent。〃
He bad passed the group by now； and he left that last sentence of
his to trail behind him； and after it sent laughter； insolent and
provoking。
He had not long to wait。 Came a quick step behind him； and a hand
falling upon his shoulder； spun him violently round。 He was brought
face to face with M。 de La Tour d'Azyr； whose handsome countenance
was calm and composed； but whose eyes reflected something of the
sudden blaze of passion stirring in him。 Behind him several members
of the group were approaching more slowly。 The others … like
Andre…Louis' two companions … remained at gaze。
〃You spoke of me； I think；〃 said the Marquis quietly。 〃I spoke of
an assassin … yes。 But to these my friends。〃 Andre…Louis' manner
was no less quiet； indeed the quieter of the two； for he was the
more experienced actor。
〃You spoke loudly enough to be overheard；〃 said the Marquis；
answering the insinuation that he had been eavesdropping。
〃Those who wish to overhear frequently contrive to do so。〃
〃I perceive that it is your aim to be offensive。〃
〃Oh； but you are mistaken； M。 le Marquis。 I have no wish to be
offensive。 But I resent having hands violently laid upon me；
especially when they are hands that I cannot consider clean； In the
circumstances I can hardly be expected to be polite。〃
The elder man's eyelids flickered。 Almost he caught himself
admiring Andre…Louis' bearing。 Rather； he feared that his own must
suffer by comparison。 Because of this； he enraged altogether； and
lost control of himself。
〃You spoke of me as the assassin of Lagron。 I do not affect to
misunderstand you。 You expounded your views to me once before； and
I remember。〃
〃But what flattery； monsieur！〃
〃You called me an assassin then； because I used my skill to dispose
of a turbulent hot…head who made the world unsafe for me。 But how
much better are you； M。 the fencing…master； when you oppose yourself
to men whose skill is as naturally inferior to your own！〃
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr's friends looked grave； perturbed。 It was
really incredible to find this great gentleman so far forgetting
himself as to descend to argument with a canaille of a
lawyer…swordsman。 And what was worse； it was an argument in which
he was being made ridiculous。
〃I oppose myself to them！〃 said Andre…Louis on a tone of amused
protest。 〃Ah； pardon； M。 le Marquis； it is they who chose to oppose
themselves to me … and so stupidly。 They push me； they slap my
face； they tread on my toes； they call me by unpleasant names。 What
if I am a fencing…master？ Must I on that account submit to every
manner of ill…treatment from your bad…mannered friends？ Perhaps had
they found out sooner that I am a fencing…master their manners would
have been better。 But to blame me for that！ What injustice！〃
〃Comedian！〃 the Marquis contemptuously apostrophized him。 〃D