“I remember him well,” answered Gabrielle. She was oppressed by a sense of danger, impalpable and invisible, but yet real. “That is all,” said Gerard, with a smile to reassure her. “Of what spoke you together?” asked the Governor. “May not a man speak even with a monk in Morvaix without the Governor’s permission? ’Twould seem not indeed; for even while we were in converse, those two jackals who sought to take your Denys’ life, Gabrielle, came up with flouts and jeers and sneers, as though licensed to insult even men of a religious life. I think in truth this is a matter that concerns you closely, my lord.” “How dare you say that to me?” “What daring is there in it? I answered the fellow--the one that is yet unwounded--told him my thoughts of him and offered him such reparation as he could take; when he turned upon me and hinted that such insolence as his was possible by your protection and permission. He is yonder; let him come and answer for himself;” and Gerard pointed to where Antoine and d’Estelle were standing at a distance. “Enough of this insolence,” exclaimed the Governor. “So I told him,” replied Gerard coolly; “scarce believing it possible such things could be done with your sanction.” De Proballe had been fretting at this interlude in which he was not taking the important part he desired. “You need a curb to your tongue, Gerard,” he said. “Does M. de Proballe desire an opportunity of applying it?” “What a fire-eater it is!” cried de Proballe, hiding his vexation under a laugh, “and what a wit! Where did you learn to be so free with your tongue?” “Not in Morvaix of a truth, where every one must order his speech to suit the ears of his Governor, it seems.” “Gerard!” whispered Gabrielle, with growing alarm at his reckless answers. “Yet there are things in Morvaix that we can teach persons of even your high character!” exclaimed the Governor sharply. “I have already learnt many, my lord,” was the dry retort. “One you will learn. Thou shalt do no murder,” added de Proballe. “That is certainly a branch of knowledge with many expert professors here,” returned Gerard, with the same reckless air. His manner was intentionally assumed. He had not failed to discern from de Proballe’s manner that some development was at hand, which boded danger; and he chose deliberately the attitude of reckless defiance of all authority. Intrepid by nature, he had often seen danger met and difficulties overcome by boldness, when no other means could have succeeded. His bearing toward the Governor, despot though he was in Morvaix, was carefully calculated. As a Bourbon and the son of the Suzerain Duke, with full authority to act in his father’s place, this Governor owed him allegiance, and he believed he had but to reveal his true character to bring the bully to his knees. Moreover, his hot Bourbon blood was fired by the insults heaped upon him as well as by the infamous condition of affairs he had found in Morvaix.