mething, and you cannot be quite just while there is something
lacking. But let us put that aside and return to the point. Tell me what
induced you to publish this article. Every word of it is a calumny, and
I think, gentlemen, that you have been guilty of a mean action."

"Allow me--"

"Sir--"

"What? What? What?" cried all the visitors at once, in violent
agitation.

"As to the article," said Hippolyte in his croaking voice, "I have told
you already that we none of us approve of it! There is the writer," he
added, pointing to the boxer, who sat beside him. "I quite admit that he
has written it in his old regimental manner, with an equal disregard
for style and decency. I know he is a cross between a fool and an
adventurer; I make no bones about telling him so to his face every day.
But after all he is half justified; publicity is the lawful right of
every man; consequently, Burdovsky is not excepted. Let him answer for
his own blunders. As to the objection which I made just now in the name
of all, to the presence of your friends, I think I ought to explain,
gentlemen, that I only did so to assert our rights, though we really
wished to have witnesses; we had agreed unanimously upon the point
before we came in. We do not care who your witnesses may be, or
whether they are your friends or not. As they cannot fail to recognize
Burdovsky's right (seeing that it is mathematically demonstrable), it is
just as well that the witnesses should be your friends. The truth will
only be more plainly evident."

"It is quite true; we had agreed upon that point," said Lebedeff's
nephew, in confirmation.

"If that is the case, why did you begin by making such a fuss about it?"
asked the astonished prince.

The boxer was dying to get in a few words; owing, no doubt, to the
presence of the ladies, he was becoming quite jovial.

"As to the article, prince," he said, "I admit that I wrote it, in spite
of the severe criticism of my poor friend, in whom I always overlook
many things because of his unfortunate state of health. But I wrote and
published it in the form of a letter, in the paper of a friend. I showed
it to no one but Burdovsky, and I did not read it all through, even to
him. He immediately gave me permission to publish it, but you will admit
that I might have done so without his consent. Publicity is a noble,
beneficent, and universal right. I hope, prince, that you are too
progressive to deny this?"

"I deny nothing,