"Another petticoat for the coward to skulk behind," said d'Estelle, with a coarse laugh.
"Gentlemen, you have made a great mistake," cried Gabrielle, hastening forward. "This is not what you think. M. St. Jean is betrothed to Mademoiselle de Boisdegarde."
"It had small appearance of it just now," said d'Estelle.
"And I know it to be false," declared Antoine.
"Monsieur!" exclaimed Gabrielle, drawing herself up.
"Mademoiselle!" answered d'Estelle, with insolent imitation of her tone.
The words were scarcely out of d'Estelle's mouth before Denys strode forward and struck him a swinging left-handed blow across the mouth.
"You dog!" he said fiercely.
The two men drew then and were for attacking him together, but Lucette threw herself before him. Her wits, at first dazed by the dread of trouble to herself from the meeting of Antoine and Denys, were now sharpened by her fear for Denys' sake from the unequal combat, and by a rapid intuition she jumped to the conclusion that the meeting was designed for her lover's hurt.
"It shall not be. It is not fair—two to one. You cowards!" she cried, facing the couple angrily.
"Stand aside, Lucette," said Denys, putting her away. "The thing has gone too far," and choosing a spot which he deemed most to his advantage he put himself in an attitude of defence. "Now, messieurs, if you will."
Lucette wrung her hands distractedly.
"They will kill him. They have come to do it. I know—I know," she cried, until Gabrielle bade her run to the house and get help, when she set off with the speed of fear.
Denys was a good swordsman, and, having chosen his ground well, fought warily against the pair, who, over-eager to finish the thing before any help could come,
