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and now； Monsieur； and I will ask you to understand that I never
wish it reopened； else shall I be forced to seek protection at the
hands of my father or my brother。〃
〃You may seek it now； Suzanne；〃 quoth a voice from the thicket at
her back； a voice which came to startle both of them though in
different ways。 Before they had recovered from their surprise the
Marquis de Bellecour stood before them。 He was a tall man of some
fifty years of age； but so powerful of frame and so scrupulous in
dress that he might have conveyed an impression of more youth。 His
face； though handsome in a high…bred way； was puffed and of an
unhealthy yellow。 But the eyes were as keen as the mouth was
voluptuous； and in his carefully dressed black hair there were few
strands of grey。
He came slowly forward； and his lowering glance wandered from his
daughter to his secretary in inquiry。 At last …
〃Well？〃 he demanded。 〃What is the matter？〃
〃It is nothing； Monsieur；〃 his daughter answered him。 〃A trifling
affair 'twixt M。 la Boulaye and me； with which I will not trouble
you。〃
〃It is not nothing； my lord；〃 cried La Boulaye； his voice vibrating
oddly。 〃It is that I love your daughter and that I have told her
of it。〃 He was in a very daring mood that morning。
The Marquis glanced at him in dull amazement。 Then a flush crept
into his sallow cheeks and mounted to his brow。 An inarticulate
grunt came from his thick lips。
〃Canaille！〃 he exclaimed； through set teeth。 〃Can you have presumed
so far？〃
He carried a riding…switch； and he seemed to grasp it now in a manner
peculiarly menacing。 But La Boulaye was nothing daunted。 Lost he
already accounted himself； and on the strength of the logic that if
a man must hang； a sheep as well as a lamb may be the cause of it；
he took what chances the time afforded him to pile up his debt。
〃There is neither insolence nor presumption in what I have done；〃
he answered； giving back the Marquis look for look and scowl for
scowl。 〃You deem it so because I am the secretary to the Marquis
de Bellecour and she is the daughter of that same Marquis。 But
these are no more than the fortuitous circumstances in which we
chance to find ourselves。 That she is a woman must take rank before
the fact that she is your daughter； and that I am a man must take
rank before the fact that I am your secretary。 Not； then； as your
secretary speaking to your daughter have I told this lady that I
love her； but as a man speaking to a woman。 To utter that should
be … nay； is … the right of every man； to hear it should be honouring
to every woman worthy of the name。 In a primitive condition … 〃
〃A thousand devils！〃 blazed the Marquis； unable longer to contain
himself。 〃Am I to have my ears offended by this braying？ Miserable
scum； you shall be taught what is due to your betters。〃
His whip cracked suddenly； and the lash leapt serpentlike into the
air； to descend and coil itself about La Boulaye's head and face。
A cry broke from the young man； as much of pain as of surprise； and
as the lash was drawn back； he clapped his hands to his seared face。
But again he felt it； cutting him now across the hand with which he
had masked himself。 With a maddened roar he sprang upon his
aggressor。 In height he was the equal of the Marquis； but in weight
he seemed to be scarce more than the half of his opponent's。 Yet
a nervous strength dwelt unsuspected in those lean arms and steely
wrists。
Mademoiselle stood by looking on； with parted lips and eyes that
were intent and anxious。 She saw that figure； spare and lithe as
a greyhound； leap suddenly upon her father； and the next instant
the whip was in the secretary's hands； and he sprang back from the
nobleman； who stood white and quivering with rage； and perhaps； too；
with some dismay。
〃That I do not break it across your back； M。 le Marquis； said the
young man； as he snapped the whip on his knee； 〃you may thank your
years。〃 With that he flung the two pieces wide into the sunlit
waters of the brook。 〃But I will have satisfaction； Monsieur。 I
will take payment for this。〃 And he pointed to the weal that
disfigured his face。
〃Satisfaction？〃 roared the Marquis； hoarse in his passion。 〃Would
you demand satisfaction of me； animal？〃
〃No；〃 answered the young man； with a wry smile。 〃Your years again
protect you。 But you have a son； and if by to…morrow it should
come to pass that you have a son no more； you may account yourself；
through this〃 … and again he pointed to the weal … 〃his murderer。〃
〃Do you mean that you would seek to cross swords with the Vicomte？〃
gasped the nobleman； in an unbelief so great that it gained the
ascendency over his anger。
〃That is what I mean； Monsieur。 In practice he has often done so。
He shall do so for once in actual earnest。〃
〃Fool！〃 was the contemptuous answer； more coldly delivered now； for
the Marquis was getting himself in hand。 〃If you come near Bellecour
again； if you are so much as found within the grounds of the park；
I'll have you beaten to death by my grooms for your presumption。
Keep you the memory of that promise in mind； Sir Secretary； and let
it warn you to avoid Bellecour； as you would a plague…house。 Come；
Suzanne；〃 he said； turning abruptly to his daughter； 〃Enough of
this delightful morning have we already wasted on this canaille。〃
With that he offered her his wrist； and so； without so much as
another glance at La Boulaye； she took her departure。
The secretary remained where they had left him； pale of face …
saving the fortuitous crimson mark which the whip had cut … and
very sick at heart。 The heat of the moment being spent； he had
leisure to contemplate his plight。 A scorned lover； a beaten man；
a dismissed secretary！ He looked sorrowfully upon his volume of
〃The Discourses；〃 and for the first time a doubt crossed his mind
touching the wisdom of old Jean Jacques。 Was there would there ever
be any remedy for such a condition of things as now prevailed？
Already the trees had hidden the Marquis and his daughter from La
Boulaye's sight。 The young revolutionist felt weary and lonely …
dear God； how lonely！ neither kith nor kin had he； and of late all
the interest of his life … saving always that absorbed by Jean
Jacques … had lain in watching Suzanne de Bellecour； and in loving
her silently and distantly。 Now that little crumb of comfort was
to be his no more； he was to go away from Bellecour； away from the
sight of her for all time。 And he loved her； loved her； loved her！
He tossed his arms to Heaven with a great sigh that was a sob almost；
then he passed his hands over his face； and as they came in contact
with the swollen ridge that scored it； love faded from his mind；
and vindictiveness came to fill its room。
〃But for this；〃 he cried aloud。 〃I shall take payment … aye； as
there is a God！〃
Then turning； and with 〃The Discourses 〃 held tightly to his side；
he moved slowly away； following the course of the gleaming waters。
CHAPTER II
LORDS OF LIFE AND DEATH
One friend did La Boulaye count in the village of Bellecour。 This
was old Duhamel； the schoolmaster； an eccentric pedant and