given to let only persons on foot pass.”
“No one has any right to give orders here, except myself,”
said Buckingham.
“On what grounds?” inquired Manicamp, with his soft tone.
“Will you do me the favor to explain this enigma to me?”
“Because, as I have already told you, I have hired all the
houses looking on the square.”
“We are very well aware of that, since nothing but the
square itself has been left for us.”
“You are mistaken, monsieur; the square belongs to me, as
well as the houses in it.”
“Forgive me, monsieur, but you are mistaken there. In our
country, we say, the highway belongs to the king, therefore
this square is his majesty’s; and, consequently, as we are
the king’s ambassadors, the square belongs to us.”
“I have already asked you who you are, monsieur,” exclaimed
Buckingham, exasperated at the coolness of his interlocutor.
“My name is Manicamp,” replied the young man, in a voice
whose tones were as harmonious and sweet as the notes of an
AEolian harp.
Buckingham shrugged his shoulders contemptuously, and said,
“When I hired these houses which surround the Hotel de
Ville, the square was unoccupied; these barracks obstruct my
sight; I hereby order them to be removed.”
A hoarse and angry murmur ran through the crowd of listeners
at these words. De Guiche arrived at this moment; he pushed
through the crowd which separated him from Buckingham, and,
followed by Raoul, arrived on the scene of action from one
side, just as De Wardes came up from the other. “Pardon me,
my lord; but if you have any complaint to make, have the
goodness to address it to me, inasmuch as it was I who
supplied the plans for the construction of these tents.”
“Moreover, I would beg you to observe, monsieur, that the
term `barrack’ is a highly objectionable one!” added
Manicamp, graciously.
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“You were saying, monsieur — ” continued De Guiche.
“I was saying, monsieur le comte,” resumed Buckingham, in a
tone of anger more marked than ever, although in some
measure moderated by the presence of an equal, “I was saying
that it is impossible these tents can remain where they
are.”
“Impossible!” exclaimed De Guiche, “and why?”
“Because I object to them.”
A movement of impatience escaped De Guiche, but a warning
glance from Raoul restrained him.
“You should the less object to them, monsieur, on account of
the abuse of priority you have permitted yourself to
exercise.”
“Abuse!”
“Most assuredly. You commission a messenger, who hires in
your name the whole of the town of Havre, without
considering the members of the French court, who would be
sure to arrive here to meet Madame. Your Grace will admit
that this is hardly friendly conduct in the representative
of a friendly nation.”
“The right of possession belongs to him who is first on the
ground.”
“Not in France, monsieur.”
“Why not in France?”
“Because France is a country where politeness is observed.”
“Which means!” exclaimed Buckingham, in so violent a manner
that those who were present drew back, expecting an
immediate collision.
“Which means, monsieur,” replied De Guiche, now rather pale,
“that I caused these tents to be raised as habitations for
myself and my friends, as a shelter for the ambassadors of
France, as the only place of refuge which your exactions
have left us in the town; and that I and those who are with
me, shall remain in them, at least, until an authority more
powerful, and more supreme, than your own shall dismiss me
from them.”
“In other words, until we are ejected, as the lawyers say,”
observed Manicamp, blandly.
“I know an authority, monsieur, which I trust is such as you
will respect,” said Buckingham, placing his hand on his
sword.
At this moment, and as the goddess of Discord, inflaming all
minds, was about to direct their swords against each other,
Raoul gently placed his hand on Buckingham’s shoulder. “One
word, my lord,” he said.
“My right, my right, first of all,” exclaimed the fiery
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young man.
“It is precisely upon that point I wish to have the honor of