Bardelys the Magnificent — Rafael Sabatini

It was an unlikely romance -- it started as a challenge from one of her scorned suitors: she was a woman, said the scorned one, who not even Bardelys the Magnificent could woo. Bardelys (called Magnificent for the fine quality of his hospoitality) tried to demur. It was madness, plain and simple. But them the rustic Gascon pointed out that it had become a matter of honor, and then there was no hope for it. All bad enoough -- and then the French Revolution intervened! O tempore! O more!