two seconds, with a lighter charge than usual, so that Jack might
possibly escape with only a flesh wound instead of having a hole
drilled right through him.

The combatants were then placed half facing each other, fifteen paces
apart.

"There is a grave suspicion afloat that your adversary has an ugly
knack of pulling the trigger half a second too soon," whispered Jack's
second, "so I am going to give him a caution."

A pistol was placed in the hand of each, and then Jack's second spoke.

"Listen, gentlemen. You will fire when I give the word three. If either
pulls the trigger before that word is pronounced, it will be murder."

He looked at the Frenchman, and then counted--

"One, two, three!"

But before the word "three" had fully passed his lips, the Frenchman's
pistol was discharged.

Young Jack, however, prepared for such a trick, had just a moment
before turned full towards him and stared him in the face.

This manoeuvre was entirely successful.

The Frenchman's unfair, murderous aim was disconcerted, and his bullet
whistled harmlessly past our hero's ear.

Jack then deliberately levelled his pistol at the Frenchman, who
trembled violently, and showed every symptom of the most abject terror.

"I thought so," exclaimed Jack. "A vile coward as well as a murderer."

And he discharged his own pistol in the air.

"Why did you not shoot the villain?" exclaimed Harry Girdwood, the
surgeon, and Jack's second simultaneously.

"It would be doing him too much honour, gentlemen. I leave him to the
hangman."

"You should have killed him," growled the surgeon, glancing after the
discomfited duellist, who was sneaking off, unattended even by his own
second.

"I don't feel bloodthirsty just at present, and I have proved the words
that gave rise to the challenge."

"That is true, but some other poor devil may not be so lucky."

"I fancy after this morning's _expose_ anyone may refuse to go out with
him without fear of dishonour."

"True; that is one good thing."

They re-entered their carriage and returned to Paris.

Just as young Jack alighted from the vehicle, he found himself seized
by the collar and shaken violently.

He turned hastily.

"Dad!"

"You young rascal!" exclaimed Harkaway senior, "where have you been all
night?"

"Why--I--I arranged to go out early in the morning for a drive with
this gentleman and Harry, so I took a room here at this hotel so as to
be close to the rendezvous."