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accepting　or　refusing；　with　such　rapidity　that　his　brain　whirled　and
he　scarcely　knew　what　was　taking　place。　He　returned　home　about　nine
o'clock　in　the　evening　after　having　dined　with　Boisrenard；　who　had
not　left　him　all　day。　When　he　was　alone；　he　paced　the　floor；　he　was
too　confused　to　think。　One　thought　alone　filled　his　mind　and　that
was：　a　duel　to…morrow！　He　sat　down　and　began　to　meditate。　He　had
thrown　upon　his　table　his　adversary's　card　brought　him　by　Rival。　He
read　it　for　the　twentieth　time　that　day：

　　　　〃Louis　LANGREMONT；
　　　　　176　Rue　Montmartre。〃

Nothing　more！　Who　was　the　man？　How　old　was　he？　How　tall？　How　did　he
look？　How　odious　that　a　total　stranger　should　without　rhyme　or
reason；　out　of　pure　caprice；　annoy　him　thus　on　account　of　an　old；
woman's　quarrel　with　her　butcher！　He　said　aloud：　〃The　brute！〃　and
glared　angrily　at　the　card。

He　began　to　feel　nervous；　the　sound　of　his　voice　made　him　start；　he
drank　a　glass　of　water　and　laid　down。　He　turned　from　his　right　side
to　his　left　uneasily。　He　was　thirsty；　he　rose；　he　felt　restless

〃Am　I　afraid？〃　he　asked　himself。

Why　did　his　heart　palpitate　so　wildly　at　the　slightest　sound？　He
began　to　reason　philosophically　on　the　possibility　of　being　afraid。
No；　certainly　he　was　not；　since　he　was　ready　to　fight。　Still　he　felt
so　deeply　moved　that　he　wondered　if　one　could　be　afraid　in　spite　of
oneself。　What　would　happen　if　that　state　of　things　should　exist？　If
he　should　tremble　or　lose　his　presence　of　mind？　He　lighted　his
candle　and　looked　in　the　glass；　he　scarcely　recognized　his　own　face；
it　was　so　changed。

Suddenly　he　thought：　〃To…morrow　at　this　time　I　may　be　dead。〃　He
turned　to　his　couch　and　saw　himself　stretched　lifeless　upon　it。　He
hastened　to　the　window　and　opened　it；　but　the　night　air　was　so
chilly　that　he　closed　it；　lighted　a　fire；　and　began　to　pace　the
floor　once　more；　saying　mechanically：　〃I　must　be　more　composed。　I
will　write　to　my　parents；　in　case　of　accident。〃　He　took　a　sheet　of
paper　and　after　several　attempts　began：

　　　　　〃My　dear　father　and　mother：〃

　　　　　〃At　daybreak　I　am　going　to　fight　a　duel；　and　as　something
　　　　　might　happen〃

He　could　write　no　more；　he　rose　with　a　shudder。　It　seemed　to　him
that　notwithstanding　his　efforts；　he　would　not　have　the　strength
necessary　to　face　the　meeting。　He　wondered　if　his　adversary　had　ever
fought　before；　if　he　were　known？　He　had　never　heard　his　name。
However；　if　he　had　not　been　a　remarkable　shot；　he　would　not　have
accepted　that　dangerous　weapon　without　hesitation。　He　ground　his
teeth　to　prevent　his　crying　aloud。　Suddenly　he　remembered　that　he
had　a　bottle　of　brandy；　he　fetched　it　from　the　cupboard　and　soon
emptied　it。　Now　he　felt　his　blood　course　more　warmly　through　his
veins。　〃I　have　found　a　means；〃　said　he。

Day　broke。　He　began　to　dress；　when　his　heart　failed　him；　he　took
more　brandy。　At　length　there　was　a　knock　at　the　door。　His　friends
had　come；　they　were　wrapped　in　furs。　After　shaking　hands；　Rival
said：　〃It　is　as　cold　as　Siberia。　Is　all　well？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Are　you　calm？〃

〃Very　calm。〃

〃Have　you　eaten　and　drunk　something？〃

〃I　do　not　need　anything。〃

They　descended　the　stairs。　A　gentleman　was　seated　in　the　carriage。
Rival　said：　〃Dr。　Le　Brument。〃　Duroy　shook　hands　with　him　and
stammered：　〃Thank　you；〃　as　he　entered　the　carriage。　Jacques　Rival
and　Boisrenard　followed　him；　and　the　coachman　drove　off。　He　knew
where　to　go。

The　conversation　flagged；　although　the　doctor　related　a　number　of
anecdotes。　Rival　alone　replied　to　him。　Duroy　tried　to　appear　self…
possessed；　but　he　was　haunted　continually　by　the　fear　of　showing　his
feelings　or　of　losing　his　self…possession。　Rival　addressed　him；
saying：　〃I　took　the　pistols　to　Gastine　Renette。　He　loaded　them。　The
box　is　sealed。〃

Duroy　replied　mechanically：　〃Thank　you。〃

Then　Rival　proceeded　to　give　him　minute　directions；　that　he　might
make　no　mistakes。　Duroy　repeated　those　directions　as　children　learn
their　lessons　in　order　to　impress　them　upon　his　memory。　As　he
muttered　the　phrases　over　and　over；　he　almost　prayed　that　some
accident　might　happen　to　the　carriage；　if　he　could　only　break　his
leg！

At　the　end　of　a　glade　he　saw　a　carriage　standing　and　four　gentlemen
stamping　their　feet　in　order　to　keep　them　warm；　and　he　was　obliged
to　gasp　in　order　to　get　breath。　Rival　and　Boisrenard　alighted　first；
then　the　doctor　and　the　combatant。

Rival　took　the　box　of　pistols；　and　with　Boisrenard　approached　the
two　strangers；　who　were　advancing　toward　them。　Duroy　saw　them　greet
one　another　ceremoniously；　then　walk　through　the　glade　together　as
they　counted　the　paces。

Dr。　Le　Brument　asked　Duroy：　〃Do　you　feel　well？　Do　you　not　want
anything？〃

〃Nothing；　thank　you。〃　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　was　asleep；　that　he
was　dreaming。　Was　he　afraid？　He　did　not　know。　Jacques　Rival　returned
and　said　in　a　low　voice：　〃All　is　ready。　Fortune　has　favored　us　in
the　drawing　of　the　pistols。〃　That　was　a　matter　of　indifference　to
Duroy。　They　helped　him　off　with　his　overcoat；　led　him　to　the　ground
set　apart　for　the　duel；　and　gave　him　his　pistol。　Before　him　stood　a
man；　short；　stout；　and　bald；　who　wore　glasses。　That　was　his
adversary。　A　voice　broke　the　silencea　voice　which　came　from　afar：
〃Are　you　ready；　sirs？〃

Georges　cried：　〃Yes。〃

The　same　voice　commanded：　〃Fire！〃

Duroy　heard　nothing　more；　saw　nothing　more；　he　only　knew　that　he
raised　his　arm　and　pressed　with　all　his　strength　upon　the　trigger。
Soon　he　saw　a　little　smoke　before　him；　his　opponent　was　still
standing　in　the　same　position；　and　there　was　a　small　white　cloud
above　his　head。　They　had　both　fired。　All　was　over！　His　second　and
the　doctor　felt　him；　unbuttoned　his　garments；　and　asked　anxiously：
〃Are　you　wounded？〃　He　replied：　〃No；　I　think　not。〃

Langremont　was　not　wounded　either；　and　Jacques　Rival　muttered
discontentedly：　〃That　is　always　the　way　with　those　cursed　pistols；
one　either　misses　or　kills　one's　opponent〃

Duroy　was　paralyzed　with　surprise　and　joy。　All　was　over！　He　felt
that　he　could　fight　the　entire　universe。　All　was　over！　What　bliss！
He　felt　brave　enough　to　provoke　anyone。　The　seconds　consulted
several　moments；　then　the　duelists　and　their　friends　entered　the
carriages　and　drove　off。　When　the　official　report　was　drawn　up；　it
was　handed　to　Duroy　who　was　to　insert　it　in　the　〃Echoes。〃　He　was
surprised　to　find　that　two　balls　had　been　fired。

He　said　to　Rival：　〃We　only　fired　once！〃

The　latter　smiled：　〃Yesonceonce　eachthat　makes　twice！〃

And　Duroy；　satisfied　with　that　explanation；　asked　no　more　questions。
M。　Walter　embraced　him。

〃Bravo！　you　have　defended　the　colors　of　'La　Vie　Francaise'！　Bravo！〃

The　following　day　at　eleven　o'clock　in　the　forenoon；　Duroy　received
a　telegram：

〃My　God！　I　have　been　frightened。　Come　at　once　to　Rue　de
Constantinople　that　I　may　embrace　you；　my　love。　How　brave　you　are。　I
adore　you。　Clo。〃

He　repaired　to　the　place　appointed；　and　Mme。　de　Marelle　rushed　into
his　arms；　covering　him　with　kisses。

〃Oh；　my　darling；　if　you　only　knew　how　I　felt　when　I　read　the　morning
papers！　Tell　me；　tell　me　all　about　it。〃

Duroy　was　obliged　to　give　her　a　detailed　account。

〃You　must　have　had　a　terrible　night　before　the　duel！〃

〃Why；　no；　I　slept　very　well。〃

〃I　should　not　have　closed　my　eyes。　Tell　me　what　took　place　on　the
ground。〃

Forthwith　he　proceeded　to　give　her　a　graphic　description　of　the
duel。　When　he　had　concluded；　she　said　to　him：　〃I　cannot　live　without
you！　I　must　see　you；　and　with　my　husband　in　Paris　it　is　not　very
convenient。　I　often　have　an　hour　early　in　the　morning　when　I　could
come　and　embrace　you；　but　I　cannot　enter　that　horrible　house　of
yours！　What　can　we　do？〃

He　asked　abruptly：　〃How　much　do　you　pay　here？〃

〃One　hundred　francs　a　month。〃

〃Very　well；　I　will　take　the　apartments　on　my　own　account；　and　I　will
move　at　once。　Mine　are　not　suitable　anyway　for　me　now。〃

She　thought　a　moment　and　then　replied：　〃No　I　do　not　want　you　to。〃

He　asked　in　surprise：　〃Why　not？〃

〃Because！〃

〃That　is　no　reason。　These　rooms　suit　me　very　well。　I　am　here；　I
shall　remain。〃　He　laughed。　〃Moreover；　they　were　hired　in　my　name！〃

But　she　persisted：　〃No；　no；　I　do　not　wish　you　to。〃

〃Why　not；　then？〃

She　whispered　softly；　tenderly：　〃Because　you　would　bring　others
here；　and　I　do　not　wish　you　to。〃

Indignantly　he　cried：　〃Never；　I　promise　you！〃

〃You　would　do　so　in　spite　of　your　promise。〃

〃I　swear　I　will　not。〃

〃Truly？〃

〃Trulyupon　my　word　of　honor。　This　is　our　nestours　alone！〃

She　embraced　him　in　a　transport　of　delight。　〃Then　I　agree；　my
dearest。　But　if　you　deceive　me　oncejust　once；　that　will　end　all
between　us　forever。〃

He　protested；　and　it　was　agreed　that　he　should　settle　in　the　rooms
that　same　day。　She　said　to　him：

〃You　must　dine　with　us　Sunday。　My　husband　thinks　you　charming。〃

He　was　flattered。　〃Indeed？〃

〃Yes；　you　have　made　a　conquest。　Did　you　not　tell　me　that　your　home
was　in　the　country？〃

〃Yes；　why？〃

〃Then　you　know　something　about　agriculture？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Very　well；　talk　to　him　of　gardening　and　crops；　he　enjoys　those
subjects。〃

〃All　right。　I　shall　not　forget。〃

She　left　him；　after　lavishing　upon　him　innumerable　caresses。




CHAPTER　VIII。

DEA