"Nonsense," said Patsy, "our people won't lock us in dungeons and feed us on bread and water. They don't do it now-a-days. And so will you like to go soldiering. Why, haven't you been moaning to me every day for years because your grandfather would not let you go to be an officer and see the world and fight? You owned that it was fun stopping the carriage and getting me out and riding home--"
"Oh, yes," said Louis, "I do not deny it a bit. I own I said so, but even there it was Stair Garland who had most to do with the real business."
"Well, you must own that he played the game pretty straight."
"Umph," growled Louis, "of course. So would any one!"
"Now, Louis," said Patsy, "don't be a hog. You know you have often said that Stair Garland was as good a gentleman as anybody. Of course, he is fond of me--"
"Has he told you?" cried Louis, starting up and glowering with clenched fists.
"What is that to you, sir?" Patsy retorted, biting her upper lip, while her black eyes shrank to glittering dots under the long lashes through which she considered the speaker. "Attend to your own business, Louis Raincy. It is no business of yours what Stair Garland has said to me, or what he may say!"
"But it is--it is!" cried Louis, shamelessly, stamping his foot.
Patsy swept her skirts aside and motioned with her hand.
"Sit down, little boy!" she said, "you are not built to sing on that key. I can. Your grandfather could, or Uncle Julian--"
"He has killed a man in a duel--another man, I mean--I heard them telling about it to-day in the stables...."
"Not the Prince!... He will be outlawed. Perhaps they will send him to prison or cut off his head."
"No, no," Louis broke in; "not the Prince, though that is a pity too. I should liked have a whack at him--"
"Well, never mind--Stair Garland had one, and they say that he will hardly ever walk straight again. But whom has Uncle Ju killed? I knew if he heard of it he would kill somebody. He did once before."
"Lord Wargrove. They fought on the beach at Calais. He came straight over to London to arrange about your going to his Princess, whoever she may be, and he arrived here at the castle while your father and my grandfather were sitting together after dinner spinning stories. He was for your going to London directly. He spoke to grandfather about me, too. Mother says he is a bloodthirsty wretch and no right Christian. But grandfather must have thought a lot of him or he would never have listened to a word about my going for a soldier. Now he has written to the Duke to get me a company, and there will be a lot of money to pay, also, which grandad won't like. I am to go to the _dépôt_ immediately to learn the drill and so on. It is a blessing I can ride."