And I will warrant them for four as gallant boys as you will ever find behind you!' They were certainly four as arrant ruffians as I had ever seen before me, and I saw I must not hesitate.

'Two or none, M.Fresnoy,' I said firmly.

'I gave you a commission for two, and two I will take--Matthew and Mark, or Luke and John, as you please.' ''Tis a pity to break the party,' said he, scowling.
'If that be all,' I retorted, 'one of my men is called John.

And we will dub the other Luke, if that will mend the matter.' 'The Prince of Conde,' he muttered sullenly, 'employed these men.' 'The Prince of Conde employed some queer people sometimes, M.Fresnoy,' I answered, looking him straight between the eyes, 'as we all must.

A truce to this, if you please.