Nor had she to watch long; before the Chevalier
had been gone five minutes, Santerre, with his sword drawn, tramped
heavily through the house, followed by Denot, and a score of his men.
The door from the salon to the garden steps was open, and without
waiting a moment in the house, he marched through and confronted Agatha
and her father.
"Here is your damsel safe, at any rate, friend Denot," said Santerre,
"and a pretty girl she is too, but a bitter royalist, no doubt, by the
proud turn of her white neck."
Denot did not immediately follow Santerre on to the steps. He had firmly
resolved to thrust himself upon Agatha as a conqueror; to rush upon her
as an eagle upon its prey, and to carry her off with a strong hand,
disregarding her cries, as the eagle disregards the bleating of the
lamb; but the first glance he had got of his victim somehow startled his
resolve, and scared the blood from his cheek, and almost from his heart.
When Santerre, however, called to him, he was obliged to follow; and
then, making fearful grimaces with his lips, and scowling with his eyes,
he stalked out before the astonished father and daughter.
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