Part 3 (1/2)

At all events, I am not the man'

”'Monsieur,' said the colonel, 'so you still deny--'

”'Wait a little,' said I 'I allow no man to doubt my word But let us be clear as to this Ae now used to e! the colonel said, 'Yes' They really believed otten past any desire to explain or contradict, and so I replied that it was all daentlemen were on these occasions courteous

”You should have seen the baron He is as tall as I aot red and said that if it were not for his principal's prior claim on me, he should himself at once call me to account I replied sweetly that need not interfere, for that, after I had killed the count, I should be lad to accommodate his friend He did seem a bit amazed”

V

I was about to comment on this queer story when Merton said:

”Pardon me, I must first tell you all; then you will kindly say what you think of this a performance

”The little colonel, who had the leanness and redness of a boiled shrimp, now took up the talk, and this other idiot said: 'My friend the baron will, no doubt, postpone the pleasure of er indisposed to satisfy our principal, and, as we understand it, declines to explain or apologize,--in fact, admits, by his inclination to meet our friend, what he seemed to deny,--may we have the honor to knohen monsieur's seconds ait on us? Here isbeautifully I laid his card on the table and said, 'Be so good, gentlemen, as to understand that I have not retracted my statement, but that if the count insists, as you do, that I lie,--that, at least, is decent cause for a quarrel,--he can have it'

”The little man replied that the count could not do otherwise

”'Very good,' said I--No, don't interrupt this charo on There is more of it and better

”My colonel then said, 'We shall expect to hear from you--and, by the way, I understand from monsieur's card that he is an American'

”I said, 'Yes; captain Second Infantry'

”'Ah, a soldier--really! In the army of the Confederation, I presume

We shall be enchanted to meet monsieur's friends'

”'What!' I said; 'does monsieur the colonel wish to insult me? I am of the North'

”'A thousand pardons!'

”'No matter You will hear froentlemen ill be my seconds' This see the challenged party, I ht as well say that my friends would insist on the rifle at thirty paces

”'But monsieur, that is unusual, barbarous!' said the little man

”'Indeed!' said I 'Then suppose we say revolvers at twelve paces or less I have no prejudices' It seems that the baron had, for he said my new proposition was also unheard of, uncivilized

”Upon this I stood up and said: 'Gentle for ested--indeed, said--that I, a soldier, am afraid and have lied to you I accepted the situation thus forced on -needles hich you fight child duels in France, I propose to take it seriously'

”I saw the little et As I stopped he said, 'Pardon me; I have not the honor fully to comprehend'

”'Indeed?' said I 'So far I have hesitated to ascribe to gentle weapons which involve peril, and I thought that I had at last done so I do not see how I can make myself more clear'