for that."

"One question more," said Dujardin, with a face of anguish. "Is it
Jos--is it Madame Raynal's wish I should marry her sister?"

"Why, of course," said Raynal, in all sincerity, assuming that naturally
enough as a matter of course; "if you have any respect for HER feelings,
look on me as her envoy in this matter."

At this Camille turned sick with disgust; then rage and bitterness
swelled his heart. A furious impulse seized him to expose Josephine on
the spot. He overcame that, however, and merely said, "She wishes me to
marry her sister, does she? very well then, I decline."

Raynal was shocked. "Oh," said he, sorrowfully, "I cannot believe this
of you; such heartlessness as this is not written in your face; it is
contradicted by your past actions."

"I refuse," said Dujardin, hastily; and to tell the truth, not sorry to
inflict some pain on the honest soldier who had unintentionally driven
the iron so deep into his own soul.

"And I," said Raynal, losing his temper, "insist, in the name of my dear
Josephine"--

"Perdition!" snarled Dujardin, losing his self-command in turn.

"And of the whole family."

"And I tell you I will never marry her. Upon my honor, never."

"Your honor! you have none. The only question is would you rather marry
her--or die."

"Die, to be sure."

"Then die you shall."

"Ah!" said Dujardin; "did I not tell you we were wasting time?

"Let us waste no more then. WHEN and WHERE?"

"At the rear of the commander-in-chief's tent; when you like."

"This afternoon, then--at five."

"At five."

"Seconds?"

"What for?"

"You are right. They are only in the way of men who carry sabres; and
besides the less gossip the better. Good-by, till five," and the two
saluted one another with grim ceremony; and Raynal turned on his heel.

Camille stood transfixed; a fierce, guilty joy throbbed in his heart.
His rival had quarrelled with him, had insulted him, had challenged him.
It was not his fault. The sun shone bright now upon his cold despair.
An hour ago life offered nothing. A few hours more, and then joy beyond
expression, or an end of all. Death or Josephine! Then he remembered
that this very Josephine wished to marry him to Rose. Then he remembered
Raynal had saved his life. Cold chills crossed his breaking heart.
Of all that could happen to him death alone seemed a blessing without
alloy.

He stood there so torn with conflicting passions, that he noted neither
the pa