In all Europe there is no more genial companion and gallant gentleman than the aristocrat of France _pur sang_--in all the world no more terrible adversary than her wiry, well-trained soldier; but, from the prolific decay of old institutions and prejudices, a mushroom growth has sprouted of child-atheists and precocious profligates, calculating debauchees while their cheeks are still innocent of down, who, after the effervescence of a foul, vicious youth has spent itself, simmer down into avaricious, dishonest _bourgeois_ and bloated café politicians. The teeth of the Republican dragon have been drawn, but they are sown broadcast from Dan even to Beersheba. Ancient realm of Capet, Valois, and Bourbon--motherland of Du Guesclin and Bayard--you may well be proud of your Cadmean offspring!
Guy was passing the scene with a careless side-glance when the accent of the suppliant caught his ear--not French, though she spoke the language perfectly.
"By G--d," he said, dropping Mohun's arm, "I believe it's an Englishwoman they are bullying;" and three of his long strides took him into the midst of the group.
Two of the aggressors reeled back, right and left, from the shock of his mighty shoulders; and griping another, the tallest, by the collar, he whirled him some paces off on his back in the streaming kennel, as one might do with a very weak, light little child. "_Au large, canaille_!" he said, as he advanced on the two who still kept their feet. These drew back from his path without a second warning. One indeed, eminent in the _savate_, made a demonstration for an instant; but his comrade, who had just gathered himself up, caught his arm, muttering "_Ne t'y frotte pas, Alphonse. C'est trop dur_." None of them fancied an encounter with the grim giant who confronted them, his muscles braced and salient, his eyes gleaming with the _gaudia certaminis_, and his nostrils dilated as if they snuffed the battle.
So they made way for Guy and his charge to pass, only grinding out between their teeth the strange guttural blasphemies that characterize impotent Gallic wrath.
Mohun, a reserve scarcely leas formidable, stood by all the while, looking on lazily; he saw that his companion was more than equal to the emergency.