ek　laughed。

〃A　duel；　eh？　My　dear　Count；　I　don't　take　you　seriously　enough　for　that。　But　I　should　take　a　good　deal　of　pleasure　in　kicking　you　down　the　Promenade　des　Anglais。〃

The　te　was　not　at　all　anxious　to　take　offence。　He　merely　raised　his　eyebrows　and　murmured：

〃The　English　are　barbarians。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Derek；　〃what　is　it　you　have　to　say　to　me？〃

〃I　will　be　frank；〃　said　the　te；　〃I　will　e　immediately　to　the　point。　That　will　suit　us　both；　will　it　not？〃

Again　he　smiled　in　his　agreeable　fashion。

〃Go　on；〃　said　Derek　curtly。

The　te　looked　at　the　ceiling；　joined　the　tips　of　his　fingers　together；　and　murmured　softly：

〃You　have　e　into　a　lot　of　money；　Monsieur。〃

〃What　the　devil　has　that　got　to　do　with　you？〃

The　te　drew　himself　up。

〃Monsieur；　my　name　is　tarnished！　I　am　suspected　…　accused　…　of　foul　cri