detected signs welled up and seemed to choke him as he poured forth the
story that he had come to tell.

"I have been insulted," he gasped. "Grossly insulted by a vile creature of
Monsieur d'Orleans's household. An hour ago in the ante-chamber at the
Palais Royal I was spoken of in my hearing as the besotted nephew of the
Italian adventurer."

I sat up in bed tingling with excitement at the developments which already
I saw arising from his last night's imprudence.

"Calmly, Andrea," I begged of him, "tell me calmly."

"Mortdieu! How can I be calm? Ough! The thought of it chokes me. I was
a fool last night--a sot. For that, perchance, men have some right to
censure me. But, Sangdieu! that a ruffler of the stamp of Eugène de
Canaples should speak of it--should call me the nephew of an Italian
adventurer, should draw down upon me the cynical smile of a crowd of
courtly apes--pah! I am sick at the memory of it!"

"Did you answer him?"

"Pardieu! I should be worthy of the title he bestowed upon me had I not
done so. Oh, I answered him--not in words. I threw my hat in his face."

"That was a passing eloquent reply!"

"So eloquent that it left him speechless with amazement. He thought to
bully with impunity, and see me slink into hiding like a whipped dog,
terrified by his blustering tongue and dangerous reputation. But there!"