moment indeed the man was in my power. My wrist was raised, and
I had my point at his breast, I could have run him through by a
single thrust. And I hated him. Oh, how I hated him! But he
did not stir. Had he spoken, had he moved so much as an eyelid,
or drawn back his foot, or laid his hand on his hilt, I should
have killed him there. But he did not stir and I could not do
it. My hand dropped. "Cowards!" I cried, glancing bitterly
from him to them--they had never failed me before. "Cowards!" I
muttered, seeming to shrink into myself as I said the word. And
I flung my sword clattering on the floor.

"That is better!" he drawled quite unmoved, as if nothing more
than words had passed, as if he had not been in peril at all.
"It was what I was going to ask you to do. If the other young
gentlemen will follow your example, I shall be obliged. Thank
you. Thank you."

Croisette, and a minute later Marie, obeyed him to the letter! I
could not understand it. I folded my arms and gave up the game
in despair, and but for very shame I could have put my hands to
my face and cried. He stood in the middle under the lamp, a head
taller than the tallest of us; our master. And we stood round
him trapped, beaten, for all the world like children. Oh, I
could have cried! This was the end of our long ride, our
aspirations, our knight-errantry!

"Now perhaps you will listen to me," he went on smoothly, "and
hear what I am going to do. I shall keep you here, young
gentlemen, until you can serve me by carrying to mademoiselle,
your cousin, some news of her betrothed. Oh, I shall not detain