e, or to
force me to demand satisfaction from you for a matter to which I do not
attach as much importance as you do. Between ourselves, a duel would be
an act of folly."

"Do you understand, at any rate," I retorted, "that I forbid your ever
presenting yourself before Mademoiselle Kondje-Gul Murrah again?"

"Fie! my dear fellow! What do you take me for? After such an astonishing
confession on her part, I should prove myself deficient in the most
ordinary discretion, if I did not henceforth spare her my presence; so
you may set your mind at ease on that point."

"Do you also imply by this evasive answer that you will abandon certain
plots with her mother, which I might describe in terms that would not
please you?"

"_Corbleu!_ I should be too heavily handicapped in such a game, you must
admit. Nor do I think that the good lady would be of much service to me,
from what I know of her. Moreover," he added, "you have made me your
confidences, as a friend, and, late though they arrive, I shall feel
bound by them henceforth, if only on the ground of the mutual
consideration, which, in grave circumstances, relations owe to each
other."

The idea, then, occurred to me of provoking him in another way; but I
clearly realised that, as he was playing such a perfidious part, it
would be dangerous for me to commit this imprudence.

"Come, my dear Daniel," I said, as I rose from my chair, "at any rate, I
can see that you have a very good-natured disposition."

"Of course I have," he replied; "and yet there are people who accuse me
of evil designs."

The most formidable perils are those which you feel darkly conscious of,
without being able to discern either the enemy or the snare. This
interview with Kiusko left almost an impression of terror on my mind.
Knowing him to be as brave as I did, I felt convinced that his
insensibility to my insults could only be due to the calculated calm of
an implacable will, which was pursuing its object, whether of love, of
vengeance, or of hatred, with all the energy of desperation.

Notwithstanding the humiliations he had undergone, I made sure that he
had by no means given up the game. He meant to have Kondje-Gul, even if
he had to capture her forcibly, and to carry her off as his prey. When I
considered his sinister calm, which seemed to be abiding its
opportunity, I wondered whether we were not already threatened by some
secret machinations on his part.

Still I was not the man to b