and then sat down and
began to reflect. How absurd these things were, all the same! What did a
duel prove? Was a rascal less of a rascal after going out? What did an
honest man, who had been insulted, gain by risking his life against a
scoundrel? And his mind, gloomily inclined, recalled the words of
Norbert de Varenne.

Then he felt thirsty, and having heard the sound of water dropping
behind him, found that there was a hydrant serving as a douche bath, and
drank from the nozzle of the hose. Then he began to think again. It was
gloomy in this cellar, as gloomy as a tomb. The dull and distant rolling
of vehicles sounded like the rumblings of a far-off storm. What o'clock
could it be? The hours passed by there as they must pass in prisons,
without anything to indicate or mark them save the visits of the warder.
He waited a long time. Then all at once he heard footsteps and voices,
and Jacques Rival reappeared, accompanied by Boisrenard. He called out
as soon as he saw Duroy: "It's all settled."

The latter thought the matter terminated by a letter of apology, his
heart beat, and he stammered: "Ah! thanks."

The descriptive writer continued: "That fellow Langremont is very
square; he accepted all our conditions. Twenty-five paces, one shot, at
the word of command raising the pistol. The hand is much steadier that
way than bringing it down. See here, Boisrenard, what I told you."

And taking a pistol he began to fire, pointed out how much better one
kept the line by raising the arm. Then he said: "Now let's go and lunch;
it is past twelve o'clock."

They went to a neighboring restaurant. Duroy scarcely spoke. He ate in
order not to appear afraid, and then, in course of the afternoon,
accompanied Boisrenard to the office, where he got through his work in
an abstracted and mechanical fashion. They thought him plucky. Jacques
Rival dropped in in the course of the afternoon, and it was settled that
his seconds should call for him in a landau at seven o'clock the next
morning, and drive to the Bois de Vesinet, where the meeting was to take
place. All this had been done so unexpectedly, without his taking part
in it, without his saying a word, without his giving his opinion,
without accepting or refusing, and with such rapidity, too, that he was
bewildered, scared, and scarcely able to understand what was going on.

He found himself at home at nine o'clock, after having dined with
Boisrenard, who, out of self-devotion, ha