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"A challenge!" roared a dozen voices "A challenge, Bardelys!"
"Mais voyons," I deprecated, with a laugh, "would you havethis embodiood entle excuse of the boaster," sneered Chatellerault, "when desired to ood his boast"
"Monsieur conceives that I have ested one--else I do not know the ested that where I have failed you could succeed, if you had a e you again Go about this wooing as you will; dazzle the lady with your wealth and your es; and all the splendours you can command; yet I make bold to say that not a year of your scented attentions and most insidious wiles will bear you fruit Are you sufficiently challenged?"
"But this is rank frenzy!" I protested "Why should I undertake this thing?"
"To prove ," he taunted me "To prove me clumsy Come, Bardelys, what of your spirit?"
"I confess I would do much to afford you the proof you ask But to take a wife! Pardi! That is much indeed!"
"Bah!" he sneered "You do well to draw back You are wise to avoid discomfiture This lady is not for you When she is won, it will be by so squire of da, be his experiences of dalliance never so vast"
"Po' Cap de Dieu!" growled Cazalet, as a Gascon captain in the Guards, and ore strange, southern oaths "Up, Bardelys! Afoot! Prove your boldness and your gallantry, or be forever shamed; a squire of da! Mordeiven a man a bellyful of steel for the half of those titles!"
I heeded him little, and as little the other noisy babblers, who now on their feet--those that could stand--were spurringone of the baiters it seemed that of a sudden the tables were turned and I was beco the business init but little Doubts of the issue, were I to undertake it, I had none
My views of the other sex were neither more nor less than my words to the Count had been calculated to convey It may be--I kno that it was that the women I had known fitted Chatellerault's description, and were not over-difficult to win Hence, such successes as I had had with theiven me a false iht I was satisfied that Chatellerault talked wildly, and that no such woman lived as he depicted Cynical and soured you may account me Such I knoas accounted in Paris; a 's favour could give hinificence--so envied--of ust than satisfaction Since already I had gauged its shallows