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"Fool! you cub of a Count! I'll teach you! Thomas, my sabre! I'll

teach you mores, you fool; get to hell out of here! Respects and

offices wound your delicate ears! I'll pay you up right off over

your pretty earrings. Get out of the door, draw your sword!

Thomas, my sabre!"

Then friends rushed to the Chamberlain, and the Judge seized his

hand.

"Hold, sir, this is our affair; I was challenged first. Protazy,

my hanger! I will make him dance like a bear on a pole!"

But Thaddeus checked the Judge:-

"My dear uncle, and Your Honour the Chamberlain, is it fitting

for you gentlemen to meddle with this fop? Are there not young

men here? And you, my brave youth, who challenge old men to

combat, we shall see whether you are so terrible a knight; we

will settle accounts to-morrow, and chose our place and weapons.

To-day depart, while you are still whole."