He stopped, and turned, startled by the noisy entrance of the Captain; who came in so abruptly that those who remained at the table sprang to their feet. M. Hugues' face was flushed, his eyes were gleaming with anger. The lawyer, who stood nearest to the door, turned a shade paler, and stammered out a question. But the Captain passed by him with a glance of contempt, and came straight to me. "M. le Vicomte," he said out loud, blurting out his words in haste, "you are a gentleman. You will understand me. I want your help." I stared at him. "Willingly," I said. "But what is the matter?" "I have been insulted!" he answered, his moustaches curling. "How?" "In the street! And by one of those puppies! But I will teach him manners! I am a soldier, sir, and I----" "But, stay, M. le Capitaine," I said, really taken aback. "I understood that there was to be no fighting. And that you in particular----" "Tut! tut!" "Would be caned before you would go out." "_Sacré Nom!_" he cried, "what of that? Do you think that I am not a gentleman because I have served in America instead of in France?" "No," I said, scarcely able to restrain a smile. "But it is playing into their hands. So you said yourself, a minute ago, and----" "Will you help me, or will you not, sir?" he retorted angrily. And then, as the lawyer tried to intervene, "Be silent, you!" he continued, turning on him so violently that the scrivener jumped back a pace. "What do you know of these things? You miserable pettifogger! you----" "Softly, softly, M. le Capitaine," I said, startled by this outbreak, and by the prospect of further brawling which it disclosed. "M. l'Avoué is doing merely his duty in remonstrating. He is in the right, and---- "I have nothing to do with him! And for you--you will not assist me?" "I did not say that." "Then, if you will, I crave your services at once! At once," he said more calmly; but he still kept his shoulder to the lawyer. "I have appointed a meeting behind the Cathedral. If you will honour me, I must ask you to do so immediately."