The swords had scarcely clashed when the count's weapon was wrenched
from his hand and sent flying for a distance of twenty paces.

"That is enough," Colonel de Serres said, stepping forward; "you
have done what you thought to be your duty, Monsieur le Comte,
but it needs very different blades from those of yourself and your
companions to stand before Colonel Campbell. He had you at his
mercy, and had a right to take your life if he chose; but as he
refrained from doing that when you had your sword in your hand, he
certainly will not do so now. Messieurs, we wish you good morning."

"And you may mention," Hector added, "to this person of high rank,
that I shall be happy to accommodate as many of the gentlemen of
his following as choose to take the matter up."

"He will send no more to you, Campbell," Chavigny said as they
moved off, leaving the count, whose valet now ran up, to obtain
a vehicle and carry his dead and wounded comrades away.

"No, I fancy not; he will try other means now. The war has only
begun. Men like Lei, Brillet, and the Campions are not the sort
of men who would act as bravos, even for the Duke of Beaufort, and
I do not think that he would even venture to propose it to them.
It will be meaner instruments that he will employ next time.
However, I shall of course go straight to the cardinal and acquaint
him with what has happened. I doubt not but that he will lay the
matter before the queen, and then that Beaufort will hear of it;
but, passionate and revengeful as he is, I think that he will not
be turned from his purpose, even if he knows that he may be forced