LIONNETTE.

Oh, yes, please let us speak of it. I knew Mr. de Marnepont very well, and I have heard in fact that he was killed. By you, then?

NOURVADY.

Alas! yes, madam.

LIONNETTE.

In a duel?

NOURVADY.

Certainly. I did not a.s.sa.s.sinate him.

LIONNETTE.

He was very annoying.

NOURVADY.

That was not the only reason of his death. He had other defects. He was insolent, and, above all, a liar.

LIONNETTE.

What insolence was he guilty of? What lie did he tell? I will wager there was a woman in the case.

(RICHARD _is gone_. JOHN _hears all that is said, leaning upon the back of the couch where his wife is sitting_.)

NOURVADY.

No, madam, it concerned me pitifully. Mr. de Marnepont calumniated me.

He said I was hump-backed, which is not true. I have only the left shoulder a little higher than the right.

LIONNETTE.

That is not seen at all.

NOURVADY.

It is not seen any longer, especially since that duel. In any case, no one says any more about it. My father, it is true, had a round back--at the close of his life princ.i.p.ally. He had worked hard, stooping over a desk. That makes one round-shouldered in the end. Poor father! he said to me: "You have one shoulder higher than the other, the left; you get that from me; I ask your pardon for it, and I will endeavour to leave you what will make you forget it. But there are some people who will mock much more willingly at you as you will be very rich. Be strong in all sword-play, then; that will equalize everything." I followed the advice of my father, and I am astonished at the result. Then, as Mr. de Marnepont was a very good shot, I chose the pistol as our weapon. I was affronted, so wished to show him what good play was. We were allowed to fire at will; he fired first, and lodged a ball in my right shoulder, which naturally made me make this movement (_he raises his right shoulder a little_), for it was very painful, and I suffer from it often still. There are some days when my right arm is as if paralyzed. Whoever would get the better of me if I affronted him, has only to choose the sword; I should probably be killed at the second thrust.

TReVELe.

And Marnepont?

NOURVADY.

Ah, well! In making the movement occasioned by the pain, this shoulder was for the moment higher than that. (_He raises the right arm a little._) "Ah, said my opponent, laughing, I made a mistake, it is the right which is highest." It was not bad--for him, but it was bad taste.

Then I fired. It was the first time that poor fellow showed any wit; he wasn't used to it; it killed him.

G.o.dLER (_quite low to_ TReVELe).

He wants to rise in the estimation of our hostess; he is a clever fellow.

LIONNETTE (_looking at_ NOURVADY, _who is going towards_ G.o.dLER _and_ TReVELe, _one sitting and the other standing at the other side of the room_).

He is peculiar, that man.

JOHN.

Do you find him odd?

LIONNETTE.

Yes, he is so unlike any one else.

JOHN.

Indeed?

LIONNETTE.

What is the matter with you? What are you thinking about?

JOHN.

I am thinking that that odd man is very happy.

LIONNETTE.

In having the left shoulder higher than the right, and a ball in the latter?

JOHN.

In having what I have not, in having forty millions.

LIONNETTE.

Ah, yes, that would help us out of our difficulties.

JOHN.

My poor Lionnette, I am very unhappy.

LIONNETTE.

Why?