The master was not at home. He had got into a cart very early in the morning with Teresa and f.a.n.n.y, and from the nature of his arrangements there was reason to suspect that he would be absent for some time.
Alone in the room sat Alexander drawing patterns on a piece of paper fastened to the table.
The two gentlemen wished him _bon jour_. He responded in a similar strain, and, approaching, asked them what were their commands.
"Hem! young man!" began Conrad, in a thunderous voice, "is this Master Boltay"s house?"
"It is," replied Alexander. There is surely no need for much growling, thought he.
Conrad, snorting violently, glanced round the room like one of those fairy-tale dragons that scents human flesh, and then roared--
"Let the master be sent for!"
"He is not at home."
Conrad glanced at Livius, murmuring, "Didn"t I say so?" Whereupon he planted one fist on the table, flung the other behind his back, and thrusting forward his chest, regarded the youth with a savage stare.
"Then where _is_ the master?"
"He did not so far honour me with his confidence as to tell me," replied Alexander, who had sufficient _sang-froid_ to a.s.sume an expression of utter indifference.
""Tis well," said Conrad, and he drew from an inner pocket a sealed letter. "What"s your name, young man?"
Alexander began looking at his interlocutor with surprise and annoyance.
"Come, come!" said Conrad, "don"t be afraid. I don"t mean to frighten you. I only want to know your name."
"My name is Alexander Barna."
Conrad took a note of the fact in his pocket-book, and then ceremoniously holding the letter by the edge of the envelope, he said--
"Then listen to me, my dear _Mr._ Alexander Barna." He laid particular stress upon the word "Mr." that the lad might be duly sensible of the honour done to him thereby. "This letter tells your master----"
"You may give it me, sir. I am Mr. Boltay"s confidential agent, and during his absence he has entrusted me with the transaction of all his business."
"Then take this letter," remarked Conrad in voice of thunder; and was on the point of adding something of a very imposing character, when Alexander completely disconcerted him by indiscreetly tearing open the letter addressed to his master, and approaching the window that he might be able to read it better.
"What are you doing?" cried both the seconds at the same time.
"I am authorized by Mr. Boltay during his absence to open all letters addressed to him, and discharge all debts or claims that may come in."
"But this is a purely personal matter which does not concern you."
Meanwhile Alexander had been glancing through the letter. He now came straight towards the two seconds.
"Gentlemen, I am at your service," he said.
"How! What business is it of yours?"
"Mr. Boltay has empowered me to satisfy any claim whatever that may be made upon him."
"Well, what then?"
"Why, then," said Alexander, smoothing out the letter with his hand, "I am ready to settle this account also whenever and wherever you please."
Conrad looked at Livius. "This lad seems disposed to joke with us," said he.
"I am not joking, gentlemen. Since yesterday I have become Mr. Boltay"s partner, and all the obligations of the firm are binding upon both of us equally. The credit of the establishment demands it."
Conrad began to doubt whether the youth was in his right mind or knew how to read.
"Have you read what is in that letter?" he roared.
"Yes. It is a challenge."
"And what right have you to accept a challenge which is meant for some one else?"
"Because my partner, my foster-father, is not present, and everything, be it ill or good fortune, disaster or annoyance, which touches him, touches me equally. If he were present he would answer for himself. Now, however, he is away, and he has his own reasons, no doubt, for not telling me whither he has gone or how long he will be absent; and therefore, gentlemen, you must either take away this challenge or let me give you satisfaction."
Conrad drew Livius aside to consult him as to whether this was regular according to duelling rules. Livius recalled similar cases, but only as between gentlemen.
"Hark ye, Alexander Barna," said Conrad, "what you propose is only usual among gentlemen."
"Well, gentlemen, I am not the challenger; the challenge comes from you."
This was unanswerable.
Conrad folded his terrific arms over his immense chest, and roared this question almost down the young man"s throat--
"Can you fight?"
Alexander could scarce refrain from smiling. "I can fight with either swords or pistols, gentlemen," said he; ""tis all one to me. Let me tell you that I was at Waterloo and there won a decoration."
"Who are your seconds?" asked Livius, coldly. "Give me the names of two of your acquaintances."
"My acquaintances are all peaceable working men, who would have nothing to do with so risky an affair. I might possibly shoot down the challenger, and in that case, I should not like to make exiles of two innocent men; but if you will be so good as to choose for me two seconds from your own honourable circle, I will accept them whoever they may be."
"We will let you know the time and place of the meeting at once," said Livius; and with that they took up their hats and withdrew.
"It seems to me," said Livius to Conrad, as they went away, "that that young fellow has as stout a heart as any gentleman could have."
"We"ll see what he"s made of early to-morrow morning," returned the other.
That same evening a gorgeous silver-laced heyduke might have been seen looking for Master Boltay"s workshop, and making inquiries for Alexander Barna. There was a letter in his hand.
"Be so good as to tell me," said the heyduke in a courteous voice (a sure sign that he was accustomed to polite treatment from his superiors), "whether you used to work in Monsieur Gaudehoux"s _atelier_ at Paris?"
"Yes, I did."