o Chapron and continued, but with an accent which
betrayed suppressed irritation: "After all, it does not concern us if
Monsieur Gorka has chosen to be represented in an affair of honor by one
whom he should not even salute.... You will, then, give our two names to
those two gentlemen.... and Dorsenne and I will await them, as is the
rule.... It is their place to come, since they are the proxies of the
person insulted."

"They have already arranged a meeting for this evening," replied Chapron.

"What's arranged? With whom? For whom?" exclaimed Montfanon, a prey to a
fresh access of choler. "With you?.... For us?.... Ah, I do not like such
conduct where such grave matters are concerned.... The code is absolute
on that subject.... Their challenge once made, to which you, Monsieur
Chapron, have to reply by yes or no, these gentlemen should withdraw
immediately.... It is not your fault, it is Ardea's, who has allowed that
dabbler in spurious dividends to perform his part of intriguer.... But we
will rectify all in the right way, which is the French.... And where is
the rendezvous?"

"I will read to you the letter which the Baron left for me with Florent,"
said Dorsenne, who indeed read the very courteous note Hafner had written
to him, in which he excused himself for choosing his own house as a
rendezvous for the four witnesses. "One can not ignore so polite a note."

"There are too many dear sirs, and too many compliments," said Montfanon,
brusquely. "Sit here," he continued, relinquishing his armchair to
Florent, "and inform the two men of our names and address, adding that we
are at their service and ignoring the first inaccuracy on their part. Let
them return!.... And you, Dorsenne, since you are afraid of wounding that
gentleman, I will not prevent you from going to his house--personally, do
you hear--to warn him that Monsieur Chapron, here present, has chosen for
his first second a disagreeable person, an old duellist, anything you
like, but who desires strict form, and, first of all, a correct call made
upon us by them, in order to settle officially upon a rendezvous."

"What did I tell you?" asked Dorsenne, when he with Florent descended
Montfanon's staircase. "He is a different man since you mentioned the
Baron to him. The discussion between them will be a hot one. I hope he
will not spoil all by his folly. On my honor, if I had guessed whom Gorka
would choose I should not have suggested to you the old leaguer,