The Black Wolfs Breed | Page 7

give me the gorgeous plays, the fetes and smiles of the Montespan, rather than the prayers, the masses and the sober gowns of de Maintenon. And now it is your turn, comrade; let us know something of your escapades, your days of folly in dear old Paris."
"I have never seen Paris," I answered simply.
"What! Never been to Paris? Then, man, you have never lived. But where have you spent all your days?"
"In the colonies--Quebec, Montreal, Biloxi. But now I will have an opportunity, for I am going--"
I had almost told something of my mission, ere I checked a too fluent confidence.
Levert, who had been pacing up and down the deck in his absorbed and inattentive way, dropped his blade across my shoulder and challenged me to the foils.
"No, it is too early yet," Achille replied, "besides, we were talking of other things. As you were saying, comrade, you go--?"
"Oh, you two talk too much," Levert broke in again, "let us have a bout; I'm half a mind I can handle a foil myself. A still tongue, a clear head and a sharp blade are the tools of Fortune."
It seemed almost that he had twice interrupted purposely to keep me from talking. I thought I read that deeper meaning in his eyes. Somehow I grew to distrust him from that moment. What consequence was it to him of what I spoke?
It was not Levert's business to govern my tongue for roe, so I only said:
"Nay, we'll try our skill somewhat later; not now," and resumed my conversation with Achille.
While his manner showed a concern I deemed the matter little to warrant, yet it did make me consider, so I determined not to speak truly of myself.
"Well, now, comrade, of your own intrigues. You were saying--?"
"Nay, nothing of that kind. I journey to Paris simply for my own pleasure." Levert, who half listened at a distance knew I was going to heed his advice, though I misdoubted his motive, and again took up his pacing to and fro.
"Aye, my dear Captain, but 'tis a long trip for such an errand?"
"Yes, quite a long trip, but I weary of the life at Biloxi, and would amuse myself for a while in France."
"But the garrison at Biloxi; is that strong enough to spare so good a soldier? then the Indians, do you not fear them?"
I glanced at him quickly, only half betraying my thought, but replied nonchalantly:
"No, the Indians are quiet, at least so our scouts tell us, and as for the state of the garrison, you were long enough ashore to know we are strong."
"Ah, then, there is another motive; a woman. Come, is it not true? Confess?"
I blushed in spite of myself; it was an idle way I had, for I had seen little of women. My confusion threw him completely off the track; had I only guessed it, would have taken refuge in that device sooner.
"No, no, comrade; you are wrong"--but still somehow my color came and went like a novice out of the convent. His good-humored raillery continued until I became annoyed in earnest, yet was glad he took the matter so seriously. When Levert passed us again on his walk I spoke to him.
"Now, my dear Levert, we will try our fortune with the foils if it pleases you."
"No, my humor is past. Do you try with Broussard; methinks he had rather the better of you yesterday. You agree, Broussard?"
"Yes, yes," he replied, eagerly, "let us at it."
He fenced rather worse than usual, so I had no trouble in touching him as I pleased. This begat an irritation of manner, and noticing it I suggested we leave off.
He would not hear to it; I saw the color slowly leave his face; his thin lips curled back and showed his teeth, until, fearing a serious outbreak, I stepped back as if I would lay aside the foil. He pressed me close, so close indeed I could not if I would drop my guard. He touched me once or twice.
"I call the bout a draw," declared Levert, who had himself observed Broussard's unusual energy.
"Nay, not so, not so; he gives back. I've much the better," and he lunged at me so vigorously I was forced to act with more aggression. The button snapped from the point of his foil; I cared not, and he affected not to see it, though something made me sure he realized his advantage. I determined now to show him a trick of my own.
From my youth I had the peculiar faculty of using one hand quite as well as the other, and had often practiced changing my sword swiftly from right to left. It was a simple feat, much more showy than difficult, yet exceedingly bewildering to an adversary. In this instance it afforded me an