The Broad Highway

"You love her?--you?--you?" he panted.

"Yes," I answered, flinging him off so that he staggered; "yes

--yes! I--who fought for her once, and am willing--most willing,

to do so again, now or at any other time, for, though I hold no

hope of winning her--ever--yet I can serve her still, and protect

her from the pollution of your presence," and I clenched my

fists.

He stood poised as though about to spring at me, and I saw his

knuckles gleam whiter than the laces above them, but, all at

once, he laughed lightly, easily as ever.

"A very perfect, gentle knight!" he murmured, "sans peur et sans

reproche--though somewhat grimy and in a leather apron. Chivalry

kneeling amid hammers and horseshoes, worshiping Her with a

reverence distant and lowly! How like you, worthy cousin, how

very like yon, and how affecting! But"--and here his nostrils

quivered again--" but I tell you--she is mine--mine, and always

has been, and no man living shall come between us--no, by God!"

"That," said I, "that remains to be seen!"

"Ha?"

"Though, indeed, I think she is safe from you while I live."

"But then, Cousin Peter, life is a very uncertain thing at best,"

he returned, glancing at me beneath his drooping lids.

"Yes," I nodded, "it is sometimes a blessing to remember that."

Sir Maurice strolled to the door, and, being there, paused, and

looked back over his shoulder.

"I go to find Charmian," said he, "and I shall find her--sooner

or later, and, when I do, should you take it upon yourself to

--come between us again, or presume to interfere again, I shall

--kill you, worthy cousin, without the least compunction. If

you think this sufficient warning--act upon it, if not--" He

shrugged his shoulders significantly. "Farewell, good and worthy

Cousin Peter, farewell!--or shall we say--'au revoir'?"