year。 But that her mistress； who hates water like a rabid catfor it
would be hard to give the palm to either in that matterthat her
mistress should have brought her here in a boat！ Is not that very
strange and wonderful？ Those two women came into Savoy to sleep like
marmots； they ask if day has dawned at noon； and to think that they
could get up this morning before eight o'clock； to take their chances
in running after me！〃
Very soon the old maid and her elderly innocence became； in his eyes；
a fresh manifestation of that artificial； malicious little world。 It
was a paltry device； a clumsy artifice； a piece of priest's or woman's
craft。 Was the duel a myth； or did they merely want to frighten him？
But these petty creatures； impudent and teasing as flies； had
succeeded in wounding his vanity； in rousing his pride； and exciting
his curiosity。 Unwilling to become their dupe； or to be taken for a
coward； and even diverted perhaps by the little drama； he went to the
Club that very evening。
He stood leaning against the marble chimney…piece； and stayed there
quietly in the middle of the principal saloon； doing his best to give
no one any advantage over him； but he scrutinized the faces about him；
and gave a certain vague offence to those assembled； by his
inspection。 Like a dog aware of his strength； he awaited the contest
on his own ground； without necessary barking。 Towards the end of the
evening he strolled into the cardroom； walking between the door and
another that opened into the billiard…room； throwing a glance from
time to time over a group of young men that had gathered there。 He
heard his name mentioned after a turn or two。 Although they lowered
their voices； Raphael easily guessed that he had become the topic of
their debate； and he ended by catching a phrase or two spoken aloud。
〃You？〃
〃Yes； I。〃
〃I dare you to do it！〃
〃Let us make a bet on it！〃
〃Oh； he will do it。〃
Just as Valentin； curious to learn the matter of the wager； came up to
pay closer attention to what they were saying； a tall； strong； good…
looking young fellow； who； however； possessed the impertinent stare
peculiar to people who have material force at their back； came out of
the billiard…room。
〃I am deputed； sir；〃 he said coolly addressing the Marquis； 〃to make
you aware of something which you do not seem to know； your face and
person generally are a source of annoyance to every one here； and to
me in particular。 You have too much politeness not to sacrifice
yourself to the public good； and I beg that you will not show yourself
in the Club again。〃
〃This sort of joke has been perpetrated before； sir； in garrison towns
at the time of the Empire； but nowadays it is exceedingly bad form；〃
said Raphael drily。
〃I am not joking；〃 the young man answered； 〃and I repeat it： your
health will be considerably the worse for a stay here； the heat and
light； the air of the saloon； and the company are all bad for your
complaint。〃
〃Where did you study medicine？〃 Raphael inquired。
〃I took my bachelor's degree on Lepage's shooting…ground in Paris； and
was made a doctor at Cerizier's； the king of foils。〃
〃There is one last degree left for you to take；〃 said Valentin； 〃study
the ordinary rules of politeness； and you will be a perfect
gentlemen。〃
The young men all came out of the billiard…room just then； some
disposed to laugh； some silent。 The attention of other players was
drawn to the matter； they left their cards to watch a quarrel that
rejoiced their instincts。 Raphael； alone among this hostile crowd； did
his best to keep cool； and not to put himself in any way in the wrong；
but his adversary having ventured a sarcasm containing an insult
couched in unusually keen language； he replied gravely：
〃We cannot box men's ears； sir； in these days； but I am at a loss for
any word by which to stigmatize such cowardly behavior as yours。〃
〃That's enough； that's enough。 You can come to an explanation to…
morrow；〃 several young men exclaimed； interposing between the two
champions。
Raphael left the room in the character of aggressor； after he had
accepted a proposal to meet near the Chateau de Bordeau； in a little
sloping meadow； not very far from the newly made road； by which the
man who came off victorious could reach Lyons。 Raphael must now either
take to his bed or leave the baths。 The visitors had gained their
point。 At eight o'clock next morning his antagonist； followed by two
seconds and a surgeon； arrived first on the ground。
〃We shall do very nicely here； glorious weather for a duel！〃 he cried
gaily； looking at the blue vault of sky above； at the waters of the
lake； and the rocks； without a single melancholy presentiment or doubt
of the issue。 〃If I wing him；〃 he went on； 〃I shall send him to bed
for a month； eh； doctor？〃
〃At the very least；〃 the surgeon replied； 〃but let that willow twig
alone； or you will weary your wrist； and then you will not fire
steadily。 You might kill your man instead of wounding him。〃
The noise of a carriage was heard approaching。
〃Here he is；〃 said the seconds； who soon descried a caleche coming
along the road； it was drawn by four horses； and there were two
postilions。
〃What a queer proceeding！〃 said Valentin's antagonist； 〃here he comes
post…haste to be shot。〃
The slightest incident about a duel； as about a stake at cards； makes
an impression on the minds of those deeply concerned in the results of
the affair； so the young man awaited the arrival of the carriage with
a kind of uneasiness。 It stopped in the road； old Jonathan laboriously
descended from it； in the first place； to assist Raphael to alight； he
supported him with his feeble arms； and showed him all the minute
attentions that a lover lavishes upon his mistress。 Both became lost
to sight in the footpath that lay between the highroad and the field
where the duel was to take place； they were walking slowly； and did
not appear again for some time after。 The four onlookers at this
strange spectacle felt deeply moved by the sight of Valentin as he
leaned on his servant's arm； he was wasted and pale； he limped as if
he had the gout； went with his head bowed down； and said not a word。
You might have taken them for a couple of old men； one broken with
years； the other worn out with thought； the elder bore his age visibly
written in his white hair； the younger was of no age。
〃I have not slept all night； sir；〃 so Raphael greeted his antagonist。
The icy tone and terrible glance that went with the words made the
real aggressor shudder； he know that he was in the wrong； and felt in
secret ashamed of his behavior。 There was something strange in
Raphael's bearing； tone； and gesture； the Marquis stopped； and every
one else was likewise silent。 The uneasy and constrained feeling grew
to a height。
〃There is yet time；〃 he went on； 〃to offer me some slight apology； and
offer it you must； or you will die sir！ You rely even now on your
dexterity； and do not shrink from an encounter in which you believe
all the advantage to be upon your side。 Very good； sir； I am generous；
I am letting you know my superiority beforehand。 I possess a terrible
power。 I have only to wish to do so； and I can neutralize your skill；
dim your eyesight； make your hand and pulse unsteady； and even kill
you outright。 I have no wish to be compelled to exercise my power； the
use of it costs me too dear。 You would not be the only one to die。 So
if you refuse to apologize to me； not matter what your experience in
murder； your ball will go into the waterfall there； and mine will
speed straight to your heart though I do not aim it at you。〃
Confused voices interrupted Raphael at this point。 All the time that
he was speaking； the Marquis had kept his intolerably keen gaze fixed
upon his antagonist； now he drew himself up and showed an impassive
face； like that of a dangerous madman。
〃Make him hold his tongue；〃 the young man had said to one of his
seconds； 〃that voice of his is tearing the heart out of me。〃
〃Say no more； sir； it is quite useless；〃 cried the seconds and the
surgeon； addressing Raphael。
〃Gentlemen； I am fulfilling a duty。 Has this young gentleman any final
arrangements to make？〃
〃That is enough； that will do。〃
The Marquis remained standing steadily； never for a moment losing
sight of his antagonist； and the latter seemed； like a bird before a
snake； to be overwhelmed by a well…nigh magical power。 He was
compelled to endure that homicidal gaze； he met and shunned it
incessantly。
〃I am thirsty； give me some water〃 he said again to the second。
〃Are you nervous？〃
〃Yes；〃 he answered。 〃There is a fascination about that man's glowing
eyes。〃
〃Will you apologize？〃
〃It is too late now。〃
The two antagonists were placed at fifteen paces' distance from each
other。 Each of them had a brace of pistols at hand； and； according to
the programme prescribed for them； each was to fire twice when and how
he pleased； but after the signal had been given by the seconds。
〃What are you doing； Charles？〃 exclaimed the young man who acted as
second to Raphael's antagonist； 〃you are putting in the ball before
the powder！〃
〃I am a dead man；〃 he mutte