There
goes the last of the sun. We must hurry."
With a grimace the Count accepted the box and took out the pistols.
"They are old-fashioned," he said.
"A deal like the innkeeper's morals," supplemented the Prince.
"But effective," said the innkeeper.
The Count scowled at the old fellow, who met the look with phlegm. As
an innkeeper he might be an inferior, but as a second at a duel he was
an equal. It was altogether a different matter.
The Count carefully loaded the weapons, the innkeeper watching him
attentively. In his turn he examined them.
"Very good," he said.
The paces were then measured out. During this labor the Prince gazed
indifferently toward the west. The aftermath of the sun glowed on the
horizon. The Prince shaded his eyes for a spell.
"Gentlemen," he said, "I believe the Princess is approaching. At any
rate here comes the coach. Let us suspend hostilities till she has
passed."
A few minutes later the coach came rumbling along in a whirlwind of
dust. The stoical cavalrymen kept on without so much as a glance at
the quartet standing at the side of the road.
Pages:
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207