“Yes, they wished to get rid of the most formidable of us all.” “It is cowardly! it is infamous!” “We will tell the duke.” “No,” said Antragues, “let us not charge any one with the care of our vengeance. Look, my friends, at the noble face of the bravest of men; see his blood, that teaches that he never left his vengeance to any other person. Bussy! we will act like you, and we will avenge you.” Then, drawing his sword, he dipped it in Bussy’s blood. “Bussy,” said he, “I swear on your corpse, that this blood shall be washed off by the blood of your enemies.” “Bussy,” cried the others, “we swear to kill them or die.” “No mercy,” said Antragues. “But we shall be but three.” “True, but we have assassinated no one, and God will strengthen the innocent. Adieu, Bussy!” “Adieu, Bussy!” repeated the others; and they went out, pale but resolute, from that cursed house, around which a crowd had begun to collect. Arriving on the ground, they found their opponents waiting for them. “Gentlemen,” said Quelus, rising and bowing, “we have had the honor of waiting for you.” “Excuse us,” said Antragues, “but we should have been here before you, but for one of our companions.” “M. de Bussy,” said D’Epernon, “I do not see him. Where is he?” “We can wait for him,” said Schomberg. “He will not come.” All looked thunderstruck; but D’Epernon exclaimed: “Ah! the brave man par excellence--is he, then, afraid?” “That cannot be,” said Quelus. “You are right, monsieur,” said Livarot. “And why will he not come?” “Because he is dead.” “Dead!” cried they all, but D’Epernon turned rather pale. “And dead because he has been assassinated,” said Antragues. “Did you not know it, gentlemen?” “No; how should we?” “Besides, is it certain?” Antragues drew his sword. “So certain that here is his blood,” said he. “M. de Bussy assassinated!” “His blood cries for vengeance! do you not hear it, gentlemen?” said Ribeirac. “What do you mean?” “‘Seek whom the crime profits,’ the law says,” replied Ribeirac. “Ah! gentlemen, will you explain yourselves?” cried Maugiron. “That is just what we have come for.” “Quick! our swords are in our hands!” said D’Epernon. “Oh! you are in a great hurry, M. le Gascon; you did not crow so loud when we were four against four!” “Is it our fault, if you are only three?” “Yes, it is your fault; he is dead because you preferred him lying in his blood to standing here; he is dead, with his wrist cut, that that wrist might no longer hold a sword; he is dead, that you might not see the lightning of those eyes, which dazzled you all. Do you understand me? am I clear?”