Chicot, his heart palpitating, although he was not of a very tender nature, seated himself before the lackeys and pages, on a wooden balustrade.
He did not love the Angevins, and detested the minions, but they were all brave young men, and in their veins flowed a generous blood, which he was probably destined to see flow before long.
D'Epernon made a last bravado, "What! you are all afraid of me?" he cried.
"Hold your tongue," said Antragues.
"Come away, bravest of the brave," said Chicot, "or else you will lose another pair of shoes."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that there will soon be blood on the ground, and that you will walk in it, as you did last night."
D'Epernon became deadly pale, and, moving away, he seated himself at some distance from Chicot.
The combat began as five o'
