"
I had kept an eye on the priest as I pronounced my father's name: and
again (or I was mistaken) the pendulous lids flickered slightly.
"You do not answer my main question," the young man persisted.
"What are you doing here, in Corsica, with the crown of King
Theodore?"
"I am the less likely to answer that question, sir, since you can
have no right to ask it."
"No right to ask it?" he echoed, stepping back with a slow laugh.
"No right to ask it--I! King Theodore's son?"
I shrugged my shoulders. I had a mind to laugh back at his
impudence, and indeed nothing but the mercy of Heaven restrained me
and so saved my life. As it was, I heard an ominous growl and
glanced around to find the whole company of bandits regarding me with
lively disfavour, whereas up to this point I had seemed to detect in
their eyes some hints of leniency, even of good will. By their looks
they had disapproved of their master's abuseful words to his sister,
albeit with some reserve which I set down to their training.
But even more evidently they believed to a man in this claim of his.
My gesture, slight as it was, gave his anger its opportunity.
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