“Malapert boy!” Mistress Holliday said angrily, “this is the teaching of Colonel Holliday.”

“Pardon me,” Rupert said quietly.  “Colonel Holliday begged me to submit to what could not be helped; but I declined.  This man is not worthy of you, madam.  Were you about to marry a good man, I would gladly receive him as my father.  I should be glad to know when out in the world that you were cared for and happy; but this is not a good man.”

“Hush, sir,” Mistress Holliday said.  “I will not suffer you to speak thus.  And know, Rupert, if you do not know it already, that I have absolute power over the estates of the Chace, and that if you defy me I can leave them where I will.”

“I know it, madam,” Rupert said, sadly; “but this will in no way alter my determination.  If when you marry you give me your permission to remain here with my grandfather, I will do so.  If not, I will go forth into the world to seek my fortune.”

“Insolent boy!” Mistress Holliday said, furiously, “I have a mind to call the lackeys in and bid them beat you.”

“Madam,” Rupert said, drawing himself up and touching his sword lightly, “if you value your lackeys you will give no such order; for the first man, lackey or lord, who lays his hand on me, I would kill like a dog.  With your permission, madam, I will retire, since this morning I take my dancing lesson.”

So saying, with a ceremonious bow Rupert left his mother’s presence.  Monsieur Dessin and his daughter were already with Colonel Holliday when Rupert joined them, and he went through his dancing lesson as usual.  Then Adele went as usual out into the garden, and the fencing lesson began.  When it was half over, Rupert’s brow clouded angrily, for he heard horsemen ride up to the door, and felt sure who they were.

“Steady, my dear pupil, steady,” Monsieur Dessin cried, as with knitted brow Rupert pressed him hotly, fancying at the moment that Sir William Brownlow stood in front of him.

“Peste!” he exclaimed, as the lad lunged and touched him in the chest, “you are terrible, Monsieur!

“Colonel,” he went on, dropping his sword, “I resign my post.  I have seen it coming for some time, and now it has arrived.  Your grandson is more than a match for me.  He has all my skill, some of yours, and has besides an activity and suppleness greater, I think, than I ever had.  You young islanders are trained to use hand and eye; and although French lads may have as much activity, they have far less strength, far less aptitude for such exercises.  Besides, there are other reasons.

“Go, Monsieur Rupert, and take care of my daughter; I would talk with monsieur your grandfather.”

Slowly, and brooding over the change which the late twenty-four hours had made in his fortune, Rupert sought the garden.  As he sauntered along the walks he heard a cry, and looking up saw Adele struggling in the arms of James Brownlow, who was trying to kiss her, while a young fellow his own age stood by laughing.  Rupert’s pent-up fury found a vent at last, and rushing forward, he struck the aggressor so violent a blow between the eyes that, loosing his hold of Adele, he fell to the ground.