If he knew the truth, he would
apologize. Tell him," he roared suddenly, "that I _demand_ that he
apologize!"
Billy felt like the man who, after jauntily forcing the fighting,
unexpectedly gets a jolt on the chin that drops him to the canvas.
While the referee might have counted three Billy remained upon the
canvas.
Then again he forced the fighting. Eagerly he turned to St. Clair.
"He says," he translated, "you must recite something."
St. Clair exclaimed incredulously:
"Recite!" he gasped.
Than his indignant protest nothing could have been more appropriate.
"Wants to see you act out," insisted Billy. "Go on," he begged; "humor
him. Do what he wants or he'll put us in jail!"
"But what shall I--"
"He wants the curse of Rome from Richelieu," explained Billy. "He knows
it in French and he wants you to recite it in English. Do you know it?"
The actor smiled haughtily.
"I _wrote_ it!" he protested. "Richelieu's my middle name. I've done it
in stock."
"Then do it now!" commanded Billy. "Give it to him hot. I'm Julie de
Mortemar.
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