n even more dishonourable post."

De Beauvais turned white with anger. "Behind the Luxembourg in an hour's
time, Monsieur de Villar."

"I shall be there," Hector said coldly. He paused a minute, after the
three gentlemen, with the customary salute, walked on. He did not like
to go to the Hotel Mazarin lest the cardinal should obtain news of what
was going to take place, so he waited in the neighbourhood, knowing that
some of Mazarin's personal friends would be sure to arrive about this
hour. Presently he saw a colonel who, like himself, was spending the
winter in Paris, and who frequently attended the cardinal's levees.

"Colonel de Serres, as a fellow soldier I have a service to ask of you."

"I am entirely at your disposal, Monsieur Campbell."

"I have just had a quarrel forced upon me by Monsieur de Beauvais, and
I have to meet him in fifty minutes' time at the back of the Luxembourg.
As he was in company with two gentlemen, the Comte de Marplat and
Monsieur de Vipont, I shall be glad if you would kindly act as my
second, and if you can find another officer who would do so, I shall be
glad of his services also."

"I shall be glad to support you, Monsieur Campbell, and can lay my hand
on another second at once, for here comes my friend and yours, Monsieur
Emile de Chavigny, who will, like myself, be charmed to be concerned in
any affair against the duke's friends."

De Chavigny, whom Hector had seen at the court on the previous day
for the first time since they had parted in Italy, agreed at once to
Hector's request.

"De Beauvais has the reputation of being a good swordsman, Campbell,"
he said as they walked together towards the Luxembourg, Paolo and his
companion having now returned to the inn at his master's order; "but I
should say that he will want all his skill now. You were by far the best
swordsman among us when you left us suddenly in the south, and doubtless
since then your skill will not have fallen off."

"No, I know a good deal more than I knew then, Chavigny. There were few
days when we were in winter quarters that I had not an hour's work in
the fencing school with the officers of my regiment, and whenever I
heard that there was a professor of the art I have never failed to
frequent his salon and to learn his favourite strokes."

"That is all right, then. We need have no fear whatever as to the
result."

They reached the point fixed upon a minute or two before the clock
struck, and just as