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"I will not"

"Then I shall not fight you!" Count Hannibal answered coolly; and he

turned froain "You will pardon nonville, that you are in as !

I do not think that you would havewhich I fancy you have not considered If we fight you

may kill me, in which case the condition will not help me much Or

I--which is more likely--" he added, with a harsh smile, "may kill you,

and again I a man's pallid features betrayed the conflict in his breast To

do him justice, his hand itched for the sword-hilt--he was brave enough

for that; he hated, and only so could he avenge himself But the penalty

if he had the worse! And yet what of it? He was in hell now, in a hell

of humiliation, shame, defeat, tormented by this fiend! 'Twas only to

risk a lower hell

At last, "I will do it!" he cried hoarsely "Give me a sword and look to

yourself"

"You promise?"

"Yes, yes, I promise!"

"Good," Count Hannibal answered suavely, "but we cannot fight so, weto the door he opened it, and calling the Nor candles--a dozen candles; for in the narrow

streets the light aning, and in the half-shuttered roo with a throbbing brain, wondered

that the attendant expressed no surprise and said no word--until Tavannes

added to his orders one for a pair of swords