"Indeed!" said the gentleman.

"But before he fainted, he collected all his strength to
challenge you, and to defy you while challenging you."

"Why, this fellow must be the devil in person!" cried the
stranger.

"Oh, no, your Excellency, he is not the devil," replied the host,
with a grin of contempt; "for during his fainting we rummaged his
valise and found nothing but a clean shirt and eleven crowns--
which however, did not prevent his saying, as he was fainting,
that if such a thing had happened in Paris, you should have cause
to repent of it at a later period."

"Then," said the stranger coolly, "he must be some prince in
disguise."

"I have told you this, good sir," resumed the host, "in order
that you may be on your guard."

"Did he name no one in his passion?"

"Yes; he struck his pocket and said, 'We shall see what Monsieur
de Treville will think of this insult offered to his protege.'"

"Monsieur de Treville?" said the stranger, becoming attentive,
"he put his hand upon his pocket while pronouncing the name of
Monsieur de Treville? Now, my dear host, while your young man
was insensible, you did not fail, I am quite sure, to ascertain