ty which possessed him, had watched Montfanon, to study him. He adds
that never had he seen a face express such sorrowful piety as that of the
man who, scorning all human respect, made the sign of the cross. It was
the devotee of the catacombs, who had left the altar of the martyrs to
accomplish a work of charity, then carried away by anger so far as to
place himself under the necessity of participating in a duel, who was, no
doubt, asking pardon of God. What remorse was stirring within the heart
of the fervent, almost mystical Christian, so strangely mixed up in an
adventure of that kind? He had at least this comfort, that after the
first examination, and when they had borne Florent into a room prepared
hastily by the care of Cibo, the doctor declared himself satisfied. The
ball could even be removed at once, and as neither the bone nor the
muscles had been injured it was a matter of a few weeks at the most.

"All that now remains for us," concluded Cibo, who had brought back the
news, "is to draw up our official report."

At that instant, and as the witnesses were preparing to reenter the house
for the last formality, an incident occurred, very unexpected, which was
to transform the encounter, up to that time so simple, into one of those
memorable duels which are talked over at clubs and in armories. If
Pietrapertosa and Cibo had ceased since morning to believe in the
jettatura of the "some one" whom neither had named, it must be
acknowledged that they were very unjust, for the good fortune of having
gained something wherewith to swell their Parisian purses was surely
naught by the side of this--to have to discuss with the Cavals, the
Machaults and other professionals the case, almost unprecedented, in
which they were participants.

Boleslas Gorka, who, when once his adversary had fallen, paced to and fro
without seeming to care as to the gravity of the wound, suddenly
approached the group formed by the four men, and in a tone of voice which
did not predict the terrible aggression in which he was about to indulge,
he said:

"One moment, gentlemen. I desire to say a few words in your presence to
Monsieur Dorsenne."

"I am at your service, Gorka," replied Julien, who did not suspect the
hostile intention of his old friend. He did not divine the form which
that hostility was about to take, but he had always upon his mind his
word of honor falsely given, and he was prepared to answer for it.

"It will not take much