d not left him all day. As soon
as he was alone he strode quickly up and down his room for several
minutes. He was too uneasy to think about anything. One solitary idea
filled his mind, that of a duel on the morrow, without this idea
awakening in him anything else save a powerful emotion. He had been a
soldier, he had been engaged with the Arabs, without much danger to
himself though, any more than when one hunts a wild boar.

To reckon things up, he had done his duty. He had shown himself what he
should be. He would be talked of, approved of, and congratulated. Then
he said aloud, as one does under powerful impressions: "What a brute of
a fellow."

He sat down and began to reflect. He had thrown upon his little table
one of his adversary's cards, given him by Rival in order to retain his
address. He read, as he had already done a score of times during the
day: "Louis Langremont, 176 Rue Montmartre." Nothing more. He examined
these assembled letters, which seemed to him mysterious and full of some
disturbing import. Louis Langremont. Who was this man? What was his age,
his height, his appearance? Was it not disgusting that a stranger, an
unknown, should thus come and suddenly disturb one's existence without
cause and from sheer caprice, on account of an old woman who had had a
quarrel with her butcher. He again repeated aloud: "What a brute."

And he stood lost in thought, his eyes fixed on the card. Anger was
aroused in him against this bit of paper, an anger with which was
blended a strange sense of uneasiness. What a stupid business it was. He
took a pair of nail scissors which were lying about, and stuck their
points into the printed name, as though he was stabbing someone. So he
was to fight, and with pistols. Why had he not chosen swords? He would
have got off with a prick in the hand or arm, while with the pistols one
never knew the possible result. He said: "Come, I must keep my pluck
up."

The sound of his own voice made him shudder, and he glanced about him.
He began to feel very nervous. He drank a glass of water and went to
bed.

As soon as he was in bed he blew out his candle and closed his eyes. He
was warm between the sheets, though it was very cold in his room, but
he could not manage to doze off. He turned over and over, remained five
minutes on his back, then lay on his left side, then rolled on the
right. He was still thirsty, and got up to drink. Then a sense of
uneasiness assailed him. Was he