Le chevalier d'Harmental Author:Alexandre Dumas Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER II. THE MEETING. As soon as Lafare, Fargy, and Ravanne saw their adversaries appear at the corner of the path, they walked to meet them. Arrived at... more » ten paces from one another, they all took off their hats and bowed with that elegant politeness which was a characteristic of the aristocracy of the eighteenth century, and advanced some steps thus bareheaded with smiles on their lips, so that to the eyes of the passer-by, ignorant of the cause of their encounter, they would have appeared like friends pleased at a chance meeting. " Gentlemen," said the Chevalier d'Harmental, to whom the first word by right belonged, " I hope that neither you nor we have been followed; but it is getting late, and we might be disturbed here. I think it would be wise in us to find a more retired spot, where we shall be more at ease to transact the little business which we have in hand." " Gentlemen," said Ravanne, " I know one which will suit you, a hundred yards from here, — a true cover." " Come, let us follow the child," said the captain ; " innocence leads to safety." Ravanne turned round, and examined from head to foot our friend with the yellow ribbons. " If you are not previously engaged, my strapping friend," said he, in a bantering tone, " I claim the preference." "Wait a moment, Ravanne," interrupted Lafare; "I have some explanations to give to Monsieur d'Harmental." "Monsieur Lafare," replied the chevalier, "your courage is so well known that the explanations you offer me are a proof of delicacy for which I thank you; but these explanations would only delay us uselessly, and we have no time to lose." " Bravo !" cried Ravanne, " that is what I call speaking, Chevalier. As soon as we have cut each other's throats, I hope you will grant me your friendship. I have...« less