Volume Ii Part 64 (1/2)
”I say! I hope it won't be to-day!” cried Chamoureau; ”what do you say to a week from Sunday?”
”My dear Monsieur de Belleville, a duel is never postponed so long as that. It is already three o'clock; it is too late for a meeting to-day.
Fix it for to-morrow morning--at eight o'clock. We can meet in the little wood on your left as you go down toward Raincy--just behind the old keeper's house.”
”Very good; and what weapons do you propose to fight with? You are the insulted party, and you have the right to choose.”
”Yes, I know that well enough! I have the choice of weapons, and that is what embarra.s.ses me; that is the difficulty.”
”Which are you strongest with?”
”I am strong at all; that is to say, I can defend myself. Ah! if we could fight with the quarter-staff--that's the thing I can handle!”
”Well, choose the quarter-staff,” said Chamoureau; ”it isn't so dangerous.”
”It isn't accepted in fas.h.i.+onable society! I am reflecting; as the insulted party, I shall fire first.”
”I know nothing about it.”
”Yes, yes! hum! hum! you will fire first.”
”Then I choose pistols.”
”That's right,” said Chamoureau; ”then, if you miss your opponent, you can pa.s.s at once to the sword.”
”Messieurs, will you please go to this Monsieur Edmond's house, you know where he lives?”
”Perfectly well.”
”Remember what we have agreed upon--eight o'clock to-morrow.”
”And if it can't be to-morrow,” said Chamoureau, ”why, so much the better! we won't go there again.”
XXIV
THE BOATMAN
Paul Duronceray was true to his promise and appeared at Edmond Didier's not long after the latter and Freluchon had left the Tower.
”No one has come yet,” said Edmond.
”Pardieu! I was certain that no one would have come,” said Freluchon; ”we have time to breakfast at our leisure.”
”And while you are breakfasting,” said Paul, after bidding his dog lie at his feet, ”I will tell you something which will be of great interest to you; for it concerns this Thelenie, this woman who, I doubt not, is the original instigator of your duel to-day. And what I have to tell you also a.s.sures the happiness and the future welfare of that lovely girl, Agathe, who is to be your wife, Monsieur Edmond.”
”What! it concerns Agathe, monsieur? Oh! speak! pray, speak!”
Paul thereupon told the two young men what he had told Honorine the night before. The reader may imagine the surprise and joy of Edmond when he learned that the girl whom he loved would be recognized at last by her father's family.