Part 3 (2/2)
”'Sir,' said my little man, 'do I understand--'
”I was at the end of the sweetest telish and said: 'You may understand what you da to be fatiguing--these two ilish as some recondite insult, for he drew hiether, and said, 'I shall have the honor to send to monsieur those ill ask him, for me,--for me, personally,--to translate his words, and, I trust, to withdraw the offensive statement which, no doubt, they are meant to convey'
”I replied that I had no more to say, except that I should instruct my friends to abide by the weapons I had mentioned On this he lost his temper and exclaimed that it was murder I said that was my desire; that they were hard to please; and that bowie-knives exhausted the list of weapons I should accept
”The colonel said further that, as I seenorant of the customs of civilized countries, it appeared proper to let me know that the seconds were left to settle these prelirave situation
”When I replied that he was as lacking in courtesy as the baron, the little retted that the prior claim of of his two friends would, he feared, deprive hi that satisfaction which he still hoped circumstances would eventually afford him He was queerly precise and too absurd for belief
”I replied lightly that I should be sorry if any accident were to deprive hiat his service after I had shot the count and the baron I began to enjoy this unique situation
”The colonel said I was most amiable--but really, my dear Mr
Greville, it is past my power to do justice to this scene They were like the Count Considines and the Irish gentlemen in Lever's novels”
”And was that all?” I asked
”No, not quite After the colonel ceased to criticize ain informed me that his own friends would call upon e Then these two peacemakers departed
Nohat do you think of ement--three duels as the sequel of hter
”Now,” he said, ”ill they do?--rifle, revolver, or bowie? By George, I anan--my second day in Paris and three duels on my hands! Isn't it jolly?”
That was by no means my opinion ”Mr Merton,” I said, ”I came here about this very o on--and did any man ever hear of such a mix-up? Where do you coht in the dark, by ave this infernal count your card instead of my own”
”The deuce you did! Great Scott, what fun!”
”Yes, I did” I went on to relate my encounter with the lady, and the manner in which Count le Moyne had behaved
”What an adventure! I am so sorry I was not in your place What a fine mystery! But ill you do? Was she his wife? I have hadto compare with this I envy you And you were sure she was not his wife?”
”No, she was not his wife; and as to what I shall do, it is sio to the count and explain the card and my mistake I meant to anticipate the visit to you of Count le Moyne's seconds I am sorry to have been late”
”Sorry! Not I It is immense!”
”The count will call me out There will be the usual farce of a sword duel I am in fair practice This will relieve you so far as concerns the count, and nobody else will fight you with the weapons you offer”
”Won't they, indeed? I have been insulted Do you suppose I can sit quiet under it? No, Mr Greville You, I hope, may make yourself unpleasant to this count, but I shall settle with him and the others, too Did I happen to -needles?”
”You did”