You, M.
le Baron, General of the King's Armies by Land and Sea in America,
propose an enterprise of a purely buccaneering character; whilst
I, the buccaneer, am urging one that is more concerned with upholding
the honour of France. You perceive how droll it is."
M. de Rivarol perceived nothing of the kind. M. de Rivarol in fact
was extremely angry. He bounded to his feet, and every man in the
room rose with him - save only M. de Cussy, who sat on with a grim
smile on his lips. He, too, now read the Baron like an open book,
and reading him despised him.
"M. le filibustier," cried Rivarol in a thick voice, "it seems that
I must again remind you that I am your superior officer."
"My superior officer! You! Lord of the World! Why, you are just
a common pirate! But you shall hear the truth for once, and that
before all these gentlemen who have the honour to serve the King
of France. It is for me, a buccaneer, a sea-robber, to stand here
and tell you what is in the interest of French honour and the
French Crown. Whilst you, the French King's appointed General,
neglecting this, are for spending the King's resources against an
outlying settlement of no account, shedding French blood in seizing
a place that cannot be held, only because it has been reported to
you that there is much gold in Cartagena, and that the plunder of
it will enrich you.
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