'
The blood leaped darkly into Alain's face. He turned to Romaine
and me, and his eyes flashed.
'It is your turn now,' he said. 'At least it shall be prison for
prison with the two viscounts.'
'Not so, Mr. Alain, by your leave,' said Romaine. 'There are a few
formalities to be considered first.'
But Alain was already striding towards the door.
'Stop a moment, stop a moment!' cried Romaine. 'Remember your own
counsel not to despise an adversary.'
Alain turned.
'If I do not despise I hate you!' he cried, giving a loose to his
passion. 'Be warned of that, both of you.'
'I understand you to threaten Monsieur le Vicomte Anne,' said the
lawyer. 'Do you know, I would not do that. I am afraid, I am very
much afraid, if you were to do as you propose, you might drive me
into extremes.'
'You have made me a beggar and a bankrupt,' said Alain. What
extreme is left?'
'I scarce like to put a name upon it in this company,' replied
Romaine. 'But there are worse things than even bankruptcy, and
worse places than a debtors' jail.'
The words were so significantly said that there went a visible
thrill through Alain; sudden as a sword-stroke, he fell pale again.
'I do not understand you,' said he.
'O yes, you do,' returned Romaine. 'I believe you understand me
very well.
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