Part 53 (1/2)
Adler lost his self-control.
”You are insulting me!” he shouted.
”On the contrary, I will not even retract my last statement in order not to offend you.”
The excited young man was on the point of throwing himself upon Zapora.
”You shall give me satisfaction!” he panted.
”With pleasure.”
”At once!”
”Well, I must have my dinner first; I am hungry,” said Zapora coolly.
”It does not take me more than an hour; after that I shall be at your disposal in my house.”
And nodding to his acquaintances, he slowly left the room.
Ferdinand's banquet was not a success. Many of the guests left before dinner; others shammed gaiety. But Ferdinand himself was in excellent spirits. His first gla.s.s of wine soothed him; the second gave his excitement a pleasant flavour. He was delighted at the prospect of a duel, especially of a duel with Zapora, and he had not the slightest doubt of his success.
”I shall give him a lesson in shooting,” he whispered to one of his seconds, ”and that will be the end of it.”
And he thought: ”That will do more to put my position right than any amount of dinners.”
The more experienced adventurers, of whom there was no lack in the room, had to admit, when they looked at him, that he had grit and pluck of a certain kind.
”Thank Heaven!” said one of them, ”our newspapers will at last have something sensational to talk about.”
”I am only sorry....” said another.
”For what?”
”Those bottles that we may see no more.”
”Oh, I hope we shall give them decent burial.”
”I hope we shan't have to do the same with one of the princ.i.p.als.”
”I doubt it. What are the conditions?”
”Pistols, and to fight till blood flows.”
”d.a.m.n it! Whose idea was that?”
”Adler's.”
”Is he so sure of himself?”
”He is an excellent shot.”
Towards the end of the dinner it became known that Zapora had accepted the conditions, and that the duel was to take place the next morning.