You have nothing to fear
if you leave me alone, and nothing to hope if you try to hinder
me. I am Colonel Etienne Gerard, of the Hussars of Conflans."
"The deuce!" said the Englishman. "You are the man that killed
the fox." A terrible scowl had darkened his face. The jealousy
of sportsmen is a base passion. He hated me, this Englishman,
because I had been before him in transfixing the animal. How
different are our natures! Had I seen him do such a deed I would
have embraced him with cries of joy. But there was no time for
argument.
"I regret it, sir," said I; "but you have a cloak here and I must
take it."
He tried to rise from his chair and reach his sword, but I got
between him and the corner where it lay.
"If there is anything in the pockets----"
"A case," said he.
"I would not rob you," said I; and raising the cloak I took from
the pockets a silver flask, a square wooden case and a
field-glass. All these I handed to him. The wretch opened the
case, took out a pistol, and pointed it straight at my head.
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