e."

"In other words," said Orange, quietly, "you wish to drive a good
bargain, knowing that whether you utter one insult or twenty, I can but
fight you once."

"_A l'outrance_, however," answered Castrillon, dipping a biscuit into
the glass.

"Yes, _a l'outrance_."

"This being the case, let me tell you a few of my ideas. You find life
very hard. I find it altogether amusing. I don't love a woman the less
when I cease to honour her. I don't honour a man the less when I detest
him. If you should kill me, M. de Hausee, it will be the most
respectable occurrence in my immortality. But if I should kill you, it
will be the vile conclusion of an exemplary career."

"Your conversation is most entertaining, Monsieur. I am, unhappily, in
no mood to listen to it. May I ask you to meet me to-morrow with your
second at three o'clock at Calais? We can then go on to Dunkerque and
settle this difference."

"I am perfectly agreeable."

They arranged a few more details and parted. The interview, which took
place in French, is not easily reproduced in English. Orange wrote one
account of the scene, and Castrillon confided another to Prince
d'Alchingen, and the above is probably as nearly as possible a faithful
description of what actually passed.

Robert left Hadley Lodge, and plunged through the darkness toward
London. He reached Vigo Street about seven o'clock in the morning. It
was Sunday, and the streets were silent. He let himself into the house
with a latch-key, and groped his way up the creaking unlit staircase. On
entering his room, the draught between the open window and the door set
all his papers whirling from his writing-table, and, by a strange
accident, dislodged his crucifix from its nail. It fell to the ground,
and when he picked it up, the small Figure was broken. This accident
seemed an ill omen, but he put it from his thoughts, and scrawled a
hasty letter to Charles Aumerle, asking him to be his second. This he
delivered himself at Aumerle's chambers in St. James's Place, saying
that he would call for an answer at nine. But Aumerle, ever fond of
adventures, was at Vigo Street at half-past eight.

"If you are bent upon it," said he, "I will do everything in my power to
see it through. I think you are quite right. Every one will say the
same."

The two left for Calais by the first boat that morning. Castrillon, and
Isidore, and a young Frenchman, M. de Lamoignon, were on board also. At
Calais the two secon