ch he still had clenched in his hand. It
seemed to him now that he could have done battle with the whole world.
It was over. What happiness! He felt suddenly brave enough to defy no
matter whom.

The whole of the seconds conversed together for a few moments, making an
appointment to draw up their report of the proceedings in the course of
the day. Then they got into the carriage again, and the driver, who was
laughing on the box, started off, cracking his whip. They breakfasted
together on the boulevards, and in chatting over the event, Duroy
narrated his impressions. "I felt quite unconcerned, quite. You must,
besides, have seen it yourself."

Rival replied: "Yes, you bore yourself very well."

When the report was drawn up it was handed to Duroy, who was to insert
it in the paper. He was astonished to read that he had exchanged a
couple of shots with Monsieur Louis Langremont, and rather uneasily
interrogated Rival, saying: "But we only fired once."

The other smiled. "Yes, one shot apiece, that makes a couple of shots."

Duroy, deeming the explanation satisfactory, did not persist. Daddy
Walter embraced him, saying: "Bravo, bravo, you have defended the colors
of _Vie Francaise_; bravo!"

George showed himself in the course of the evening at the principal
newspaper offices, and at the chief _cafes_ on the boulevards. He twice
encountered his adversary, who was also showing himself. They did not
bow to one another. If one of them had been wounded they would have
shaken hands. Each of them, moreover, swore with conviction that he had
heard the whistling of the other's bullet.

The next day, at about eleven, Duroy received a telegram. "Awfully
alarmed. Come at once. Rue de Constantinople.--Clo."

He hastened to their meeting-place, and she threw herself into his arms,
smothering him with kisses.

"Oh, my darling! if you only knew what I felt when I saw the papers this
morning. Oh, tell me all about it! I want to know everything."

He had to give minute details. She said: "What a dreadful night you must
have passed before the duel."

"No, I slept very well."

"I should not have closed an eye. And on the ground--tell me all that
happened."

He gave a dramatic account. "When we were face to face with one another
at twenty paces, only four times the length of this room, Jacques, after
asking if we were ready, gave the word 'Fire.' I raised my arm at once,
keeping a good line, but I made the mistake of trying t