, and you--you
cannot; if _you_ fight our cause is lost! The candidate must not fight."

"Hah-h! Messieurs," cried the hero, beating his breast and lifting his
eyes, "_grace au ciel_. I have a son. Yes, my beloved friends, a son who
shall call the villain out and make him pay for his impudence with
blood, or eat his words in to-morrow morning's paper. Heaven be thanked
that gave me a son for this occasion! I shall see him at once--as soon
as I can dress."

"We will go with you."

"No, gentlemen, let me see my son alone. I can meet you at Maspero's in
two hours. Adieu, my dear friends."

He was resolved.

"_Au, revoir,_," said the dear friends.

Shortly after, cane in hand, General Villivicencio moved with an ireful
stride up the _banquette_ of Rue Royale. Just as he passed the red-brick
front one of the batten shutters opened the faintest bit, and a certain
pair of lovely eyes looked after him, without any of that round
simplicity which we have before discovered in them. As he half turned to
knock at his son's door he glanced at this very shutter, but it was as
tightly closed as though the house were an enchanted palace.

Dr. Mossy's door, on the contrary, swung ajar when he knocked, and the
General entered.

"Well, my son, have you seen that newspaper? No, I think not. I _see_
you have not, since your cheeks are not red with shame and anger."

Dr. Mossy looked up with astonishment from the desk where he sat
writing.

"What is that, papa?"

"My faith! Mossy, is it possible you have not heard of the attack upon
me, which has surprised and exasperated the city this morning?"

"No," said Dr. Mossy, with still greater surprise, and laying his hand
on the arm of his chair.

His father put on a dying look. "My soul!" At that moment his glance
fell upon the paper which had been sent in by Madame Delicieuse. "But,
Mossy, my son," he screamed, "_there_ it is!" striking it rapidly with
one finger--"there! there! there! read it! It calls me 'not
responsible!' 'not responsible' it calls me! Read! read!"

"But, papa," said the quiet little Doctor, rising, and accepting the
crumpled paper thrust at him, "I have read this. If this is it, well,
then, already I am preparing to respond to it."

The General seized him violently, and, spreading a suffocating kiss on
his face, sealed it with an affectionate oath.

"Ah, Mossy, my boy, you are glorious! You had begun already to write!
You are glorious! Read to me what you