"Of course it is Colonel Despard," he said. "You would not be likely to forget him, baron."
We had been speaking in a low tone, but at Dumergue's sneer, the baron lost his temper. Raising his voice, he said, almost in a shout:
"Then I tell Colonel Despard that he is a mean hound."
If I assumed the colonel's name, I felt I must at least defend it from imputations. I began:
I was interrupted. One of the men on the settee interposed, rising as he spoke.
"I beg pardon, gentlemen, but is it Colonel Despard of the Hussars to whom you refer?"
"Then that gentleman is not Colonel Despard," announced our new friend. "I am Colonel Despard's brother-in-law."
For a moment I was at a loss; things were falling out so very unfortunately. Dumergue turned on the stranger fiercely:
"Pray, sir, was your interposition solicited?"
"Certainly not. But if this gentleman says he is Colonel Despard, I take leave to contradict him."
"I should advise you to do nothing of the sort," said I. "M. Dumergue knows me very well."
"This person," said the baron, "passed himself off as Colonel Despard, and, by that pretext, obtained from me the honor of a duel with me. It appears that he is a mere impostor."
The other man on the settee called out cheerfully, "Bob, send for the police!"
Dumergue looked rather sheepish; his invention failed him.
"Do either or both of these gentlemen," said I, indicating the baron and the colonel's brother-in-law, "call me an impostor?"
"I do," said the baron, with a sneering laugh.
"I am compelled to assert it," said the other, with a bow.
I had edged near the little table, on which the baron's coffee had been served. I now took up the coffee-pot and milk-jug. The coffee I threw in the baron's face, and the milk in that of his ally. Both men sprang forward with an oath. At the same moment, the electric light went out, and I was violently pulled back toward the door, and someone whispered, "Vanish as quick as you can. Go home--go anywhere."
"All right, sir," said I, for I recognized the prince's voice. "But what are they doing?"
"Never mind; be off." And the prince handed me a hat.
I walked quickly to the door, and hailed a hansom. As I drove off, I saw the prince skip upstairs, and a _posse_ of waiters rush toward the smoking room. I went home to bed.