"If you think that my presence will be of any service, let us go."

"Just give me time to put on a coat and waistcoat and a cravat."

"Go on! go on! I am in no hurry."

"One, two!--what say you to that sword-thrust, eh?"

"Superb! you have made a hole in your part.i.tion!"

"And this sabre cut--pan! paf!"

"Magnificent! Your wardrobe is all covered with gashes; it has seen some cruel work! Are you going to fight with sword and sabre?"

"I am tempted to choose pistols."

"In that case, what's the use of making holes in your part.i.tion and hacking your wardrobe?"

"I don't know; I will see, I will reflect.--Monsieur de Belleville, your party was grand! and what a dinner you gave us!"

"There were some good things to eat!"

"In other words, there were dishes prepared with consummate art! I enjoyed among other things, a salmi of partridge, _aux truffes_----"

"With snipe!"

"Ah! there were snipe! that explains it; I said to myself that it had been kept just long enough!"

"And the mayonnaise of lobster?"

"And those white puddings _a la puree_ of chestnuts!"

The two worthies pa.s.sed the whole dinner in review, pausing to descant upon the dishes they had enjoyed most. This had lasted some time, when Monsieur Luminot exclaimed:

"Mon Dieu! and my duel!"

"I hoped he had forgotten it," thought Chamoureau.

But it was after two o'clock when they went to Monsieur Remplume's house. The little lame man received them, coughing, spitting and sneezing as usual.

"You know about the scene that took place last evening at Monsieur de Belleville's ball, do you not?" asked Luminot, laying his hand on the lame man's shoulder.

"Yes, yes! I know all about it, it has made noise enough; no one is talking about anything else all over the country. Besides, I arrived just as you fell on top of poor Droguet; you knocked out three of his teeth!"

"Two!"

"Three! he found there was another one missing when he got home."

"It isn't my fault; why did he happen to be under me when I fell?"

"That's so; hum! hum! hum! When I go to bed so late, it makes my cough worse."

"You know that I am to fight with Monsieur Edmond Didier, neighbor?"

"I know that he struck you, but I didn't know whether you were going to fight or not."

"Do you think that I will swallow that blow? Wouldn't you fight if you were in my place, you who have been a corporal in the National Guard?"

"I? hum! hum! _Sapredie!_ hum! hum! Oh! but I'm a swordsman, I am! It isn't safe to look askance at me!--Hum! hum! I've got a horrid lump in my throat!"

"Do you think that I'll let anyone tread on my toes?"

"I never said so. Hum! hum!"

"As you're such a swordsman, you will be my second witness; you will enjoy it."

"Your witness! to what?"

"Parbleu! to my duel with that popinjay who insulted me. Monsieur de Belleville is kind enough to be my princ.i.p.al second, and you must be the other."

"Oh! but--I've got a very bad cold!"

"It won't interfere with your coughing; I hope that I may count on you?"

"Let's see--first, let's see why you are going to fight?"

"Because I have received a blow."

"Very good; but why did he strike you?"

"Why? because I said that this Madame Dalmont and her friend were hussies--didn't amount to much."

"But you were in the wrong. Why did you say that? are you sure of it?"

"Sure! not at all; but it was your ladies who did nothing but say it over and over again, and worked me up to it; besides, I was full of punch."

"You should never make statements that you're not sure of; isn't that so, Monsieur de Belleville?"

Chamoureau scratched his nose, trying to think of a reply; but stout Luminot exclaimed:

"Enough of this! Sacrebleu! Monsieur Remplume, you can't refuse to be my second in an affair in which your wife urged me on to the quarrel, with the other ladies."

"Monsieur, if my wife urged you on, I will be--hum! hum!--your second; I will put some licorice in my pocket--When do you fight?"

"That is for you two to arrange with this Monsieur Edmond's seconds.--After all, I'd rather fight with him than with the fellow who grabbed me and tossed me in the air. Ah! the rascal! what muscle! what a biceps!"

"That was Freluchon--formerly my intimate friend, in the time of Eleonore, my first wife."

"I congratulate you!--Go now, messieurs, and settle upon the place and hour of the combat."