"That is easily told," answered the Norman, assuming a tone equally bold and peremptory with that of the Statesman. "Thus it stands, Sir Count: you men of quality often employ us nobility of the forest to do what you either cannot, or dare not do for yourselves; then, if all goes well, you pay us scantily for our pains; if it goes ill, you hang us for your own doings. But we will have none of that. If we are to be falcons for your game, we will risk the stroke of the heron's bill, but we will not have our necks wrung after we have struck the prey. When your lackey was present, it was your deed. Mark ye that, Sir Counsellor?"
"Villain, thou art insolent!" cried Chavigni, forgetting, in the height of passion, the fearful odds against him, in case of quarrel at such a moment. "How dare you, slave, to--"
"Villain! and slave!" cried the Norman, interrupting him, and laying his hand on his sword. "Know, proud Sir, that I dare any thing. You are now in the green forest, not at council-board, to prate of daring."
Chavigni's dignity, like his prudence, became lost in his anger. "Boasting Norman coward!" cried he, "who had not even courage, when he saw his leader slain before his face--"
The Norman threw the torch from his hand, and drew his weapon; but Chavigni's sword sprang in a moment from the scabbard. He was, perhaps, the best swordsman of his day; and before his servant (who advanced, calling loudly to Lafemas to come forth from the wood where he had remained from the first) could approach, or the robbers could show any signs of taking part in the fray, the blades of the statesman and the freebooter had crossed, and, maugre the Norman's vast strength, his weapon was instantly wrenched from his hand, and, flying over the heads of his companions, struck against the bank above.
Chavigni drew back, as if to pass his sword through the body of his opponent; but the one moment he had been thus engaged, gave time for reflection on the imprudence of his conduct, and calmly returning his sword to its sheath, "Thou art no coward, after all," said he, addressing the Norman in a softened tone of voice; "but trust me, friend, that boasting graces but little a brave man. As for the rest, it is no disgrace to have measured swords with Chavigni."