Part 9 (2/2)
Orlandi ceased, and the pheasant remained motionless.
At the same moment Lucien levelled his gun, and, with a quick aim, fired.
The pheasant fell like a stone.
”Fetch it!” said Lucien to Diamond.
The dog rushed into the brushwood, and soon returned with the bird, pierced by the bullet, in his mouth.
”That is a good shot,” I said. ”I congratulate you upon it, particularly with a fowling-piece.”
”Oh,” said Lucien, ”I do not deserve your praise, for one barrel is rifled, and carries a ball like a carbine.”
”Never mind, such a shot with a carbine deserves honourable mention.”
”Bah!” said Orlandi; ”why, with a carbine, Monsieur Lucien could hit a five-franc piece at three hundred paces.”
”And can you shoot with a pistol as well as with a gun?”
”Yes,” said Lucien, ”very nearly. At twenty-five paces I can always divide six b.a.l.l.s out of twelve on the blade of a knife.”
I took off my hat and saluted the speaker, saying,
”Is your brother an equally good shot?”
”My brother?” he replied. ”Poor Louis! he has never handled gun nor pistol in his life. My great fear is that he will get mixed up in some affair in Paris, and, brave as he undoubtedly is, he will be killed to sustain the honour of the country.”
Lucien, as he spoke, thrust the pheasant into the great pocket of his velveteen coat.
”Now,” he said, ”my dear Orlandi, till to-morrow farewell.”
”Till to-morrow, Monsieur Lucien?”
”I count upon your punctuality. At ten o'clock your friends and relatives will be at the end of the street. On the opposite side Colona, with his friends, will be likewise present, and we shall be on the steps of the church.”
”That is agreed, Monsieur Lucien. Many thanks for your trouble; and to you, monsieur,” he added, turning to me, ”I am obliged for the honour you have done me.”
After this exchange of compliments we separated, Orlandi disappearing in the brushwood, while we took our way back to the village.
As for Diamond, he was puzzled which to follow, and he stood looking right and left at the Orlandi and ourselves alternately. After hesitating for about five minutes, he did us the honour to accompany Lucien and me.
I must confess that while I had been scaling the ruined walls I had had my misgivings as to how I should descend, for the descent is usually more difficult, under such circ.u.mstances, than the ascent.
But I was glad to see that Lucien, apparently divining my thoughts, took another route home. This road, also, was advantageous in another respect, for it was not so rough, and conversation was easier.
At length, finding the path quite smooth, I continued my questions to my companion, in accordance with my usual custom, and said--
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