"What is this tumult?" the captain demanded. Villon answered him
airily, smiling over the crossed pikes that penned him.
"A fair fight, good captain, conducted according to the honourable
laws of sword and lantern."
The captain of the watch turned his attention to Thibaut, who,
assisted by one of the soldiers, had raised himself upon one elbow
and was glaring vindictively at Villon.
"Who is this man?" he asked.
A desire for revenge got the better of the wounded man's discretion.
"I am Thibaut d'Aussigny," he gasped. "I am the Grand Constable."
A little shiver of surprise and alarm ran round the room at the
sound of that dreaded name. The captain of the watch kneeled in
salutation.
"Monseigneur," he said, "how did this happen?" Thibaut's senses were
running away from him with his running blood, but malignity
overcrowed weakness for a moment. He pointed at Villon. "Take that
fellow and hang him on the nearest lantern," and as he spoke he
swooned. Promptly the captain turned towards his prisoner. "Take
that fellow outside and hang him," he commanded curtly. Villon
glanced wildly about for a way to escape and saw none.
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