I rose to my feet and answered, mimicking his insolent words, "I give promises, sir, when I please, and not to every fellow who chooses to ask them of me." "You shall give me your promise before you leave this room," he cried.
His voice had been rising in passion and was now loud and fierce.
Whether the sound of it had reached the room above, or whether the Duke and Carford had grown weary of one another, I do not know, but as the French gentleman uttered this last threat Carford opened the door, stood aside to let his Grace enter, and followed himself.

As they came in, we were in a most hostile attitude; for the Frenchman's pistol was in his hand, and my hand had flown to the hilt of my sword.

The Duke looked at us in astonishment.
"Why, what's this, gentlemen ?" he said.

"Mr Dale, are you at variance with this gentleman ?" But before I had time to answer him, he had stepped forward and seen the Frenchman's face.

"Why, here is M.de Fontelles!" he cried in surprise.