eir
cheeks." The colour began to come back, into Jules's face; he
gesticulated with his cigar and became more and more dramatic. "They
waited for me. 'Tiens!' said one, 'this gentleman was with him. My
friend's name is M. Le Baron de---. The man who struck him was an
odd-looking person; kindly inform me whether it is possible for my friend
to meet him?' Eh!" commented Jules, "he was offensive! Was it for me to
give our dignity away? 'Perfectly, monsieur!' I answered. 'In that
case,' he said, 'please give me his name and ad dress.... I could not
remember his name, and as for the address, I never knew it...! I
reflected. 'That,' I said, 'I am unable to do, for special reasons.'
'Aha!' he said, 'reasons that will prevent our fighting him, I suppose?
'On the contrary,' I said. 'I will convey your request to him; I may
mention that I have heard he is the best swordsman and pistol-shot in
Europe. Good-night!' I wished to give them something to dream of, you
understand.... Patience, my dear! Patience! I was, coming to you, but
I thought I would let them sleep on it--there was plenty of time! But
yesterday morning I came into the Place, and there he was on the bench,
with a big dog. I declare to you he blushed like a young girl. 'Sir,' he
said, 'I was hoping to meet you; last evening I made a great disturbance.
I took an unpardonable liberty'--and he put in my hand an envelope. My
friend, what do you suppose it contained--a pair of gloves! Senor Don
Punctilioso, hein? He was the devil, this friend of yours; he fascinated
me with his gentle eyes and his white moustachettes, his humility, his
flames--poor man...! I told him I had been asked to take him a
challenge. 'If anything comes of it,' I said, 'make use of me!' 'Is
that so?' he said. 'I am most grateful for your kind offer. Let me
see--it is so long since I fought a duel. The sooner it's over the
better. Could you arrange to-morrow morning? Weapons? Yes; let them
choose.' You see, my friend, there was no hanging back here; nous voila
en train."

Jules took out his watch. "I have sixteen minutes. It is lucky for you
that you were away yesterday, or you would be in my shoes now. I fixed
the place, right hand of the road to Roquebrune, just by the railway
cutting, and the time--five-thirty of the morning. It was arranged that
I should call for him. Disgusting hour; I have not been up so early
since I fought Jacques Tirbaut in '85. At five o'c