Words are feminine, but actions are masculine, and offended honour can only be appeased with blood, as the old saying has it." Whereupon the marquis called his servant, consigned the precious packet, with an admonition, to his care, and followed by him set off on his mission of defiance.

The duke, who had passed a restless, wakeful night, and only fallen asleep towards morning, was not yet up when the Marquis de Bruyeres, upon reaching his house, told the servant who admitted him to announce him immediately to his master.

The valet was aghast at the enormity of this demand, which was expressed in rather a peremptory tone.

What! disturb the duke! before he had called for him! it would be as much as his life was worth to do it; he would as soon venture unarmed into the cage of a furious lion, or the den of a royal tiger.

The duke was always more or less surly and ill-tempered on first waking in the morning, even when he had gone to bed in a good humour, as his servants knew to their cost.
"Your lordship had much better wait a little while, or call again later in the day," said the valet persuasively, in answer to the marquis.