Itwasnotmerelyundertheexcitementofthesword-playthatthisfortitudewasshown；itwasshowninthesurgeon\'sroomwhereanuninspiringquietreigned，andwheretherewasnoaudience。Thedoctor\'smanipulationsbroughtoutneithergrimacesnormoans。Andinthefightsitwasobservablethattheseladshackedandslashedwiththesametremendousspirit，aftertheywerecoveredwithstreamingwounds，whichtheyhadshowninthebeginning。
Theworldingenerallooksuponthecollegeduelsasveryfarcicalaffairs:true，butconsideringthatthecollegeduelisfoughtbyboys；thattheswordsarerealswords；
andthattheheadandfaceareexposed，itseemstomethatitisafarcewhichhadquiteagravesidetoit。
Peoplelaughatitmainlybecausetheythinkthestudentissocoveredupwitharmorthathecannotbehurt。
Butitisnotso；hiseyesareearsareprotected，buttherestofhisfaceandheadarebare。Hecannotonlybebadlywounded，buthislifeisindanger；andhewouldsometimesloseitbutfortheinterferenceofthesurgeon。
Itisnotintendedthathislifeshallbeendangered。
Fatalaccidentsarepossible，however。Forinstance，thestudent\'sswordmaybreak，andtheendofitflyupbehindhisantagonist\'searandcutanarterywhichcouldnotbereachediftheswordremainedwhole。
Thishashappened，sometimes，anddeathhasresultedonthespot。Formerlythestudent\'sarmpitswerenotprotected——andatthattimetheswordswerepointed，whereastheyareblunt，now；soanarteryinthearmpitwassometimescut，anddeathfollowed。Theninthedaysofsharp-pointedswords，aspectatorwasanoccasionalvictim——theendofabrokenswordflewfiveortenfeetandburieditselfinhisneckorhisheart，anddeathensuedinstantly。ThestudentduelsinGermanyoccasiontwoorthreedeathseveryyear，now，butthisarisesonlyfromthecarelessnessofthewoundedmen；
theyeatordrinkimprudently，orcommitexcessesinthewayofoverexertion；inflammationsetsinandgetssuchaheadwaythatitcannotbearrested。Indeed，thereisbloodandpainanddangerenoughaboutthecollegedueltoentitleittoaconsiderabledegreeofrespect。
Allthecustoms，allthelaws，allthedetails，pertainingtothestudentduelarequaintandnaive。
Thegrave，precise，andcourtlyceremonywithwhichthethingisconducted，investsitwithasortofantiquecharm。
Thisdignityandtheseknightlygracessuggestthetournament，nottheprize-fight。Thelawsareascuriousastheyarestrict。Forinstance，theduelistmaystepforwardfromthelineheisplacedupon，ifhechooses，butneverbackofit。Ifhestepsbackofit，orevenleansback，itisconsideredthathedidittoavoidabloworcontriveanadvantage；soheisdismissedfromhiscorpsindisgrace。
Itwouldseemnaturaltostepfromunderadescendingswordunconsciously，andagainstone\'swillandintent——yetthisunconsciousnessisnotallowed。Again:ifunderthesuddenanguishofawoundthereceiverofitmakesagrimace，hefallssomedegreesintheestimationofhisfellows；
hiscorpsareashamedofhim:theycallhim\"harefoot，\"
whichistheGermanequivalentforchicken-hearted。
CHAPTERVII
[HowBismarkFought]
Inadditiontothecorpslaws，therearesomecorpsusageswhichhavetheforceoflaws。
Perhapsthepresidentofacorpsnoticesthatoneofthemembershipwhoisnolongeranexempt——thatisafreshman——
hasremainedasophomoresomelittletimewithoutvolunteeringtofight；someday，thepresident，insteadofcallingforvolunteers，willAPPOINTthissophomoretomeasureswordswithastudentofanothercorps；heisfreetodecline——everybodysaysso——thereisnocompulsion。
Thisisalltrue——butIhavenotheardofanystudentwhoDIDdecline；todeclineandstillremaininthecorpswouldmakehimunpleasantlyconspicuous，andproperlyso，sinceheknew，whenhejoined，thathismainbusiness，asamember，wouldbetofight。No，thereisnolawagainstdeclining——exceptthelawofcustom，whichisconfessedlystrongerthanwrittenlaw，everywhere。
ThetenmenwhoseduelsIhadwitnesseddidnotgoawaywhentheirhurtsweredressed，asIhadsupposedtheywould，butcameback，oneafteranother，assoonastheywerefreeofthesurgeon，andmingledwiththeassemblageinthedueling-room。Thewhite-capstudentwhowonthesecondfightwitnessedtheremainingthree，andtalkedwithusduringtheintermissions。Hecouldnottalkverywell，becausehisopponent\'sswordhadcuthisunder-lipintwo，andthenthesurgeonhadsewedittogetherandoverlaiditwithaprofusionofwhiteplasterpatches；neithercouldheeateasily，stillhecontrivedtoaccomplishaslowandtroublesomeluncheonwhilethelastduelwaspreparing。
Themanwhowastheworsthurtofallplayedchesswhilewaitingtoseethisengagement。Agoodpartofhisfacewascoveredwithpatchesandbandages，andalltherestofhisheadwascoveredandconcealedbythem。
Itissaidthatthestudentlikestoappearonthestreetandinotherpublicplacesinthiskindofarray，andthatthispredilectionoftenkeepshimoutwhenexposuretorainorsunisapositivedangerforhim。
NewlybandagedstudentsareaverycommonspectacleinthepublicgardensofHeidelberg。Itisalsosaidthatthestudentisgladtogetwoundsintheface，becausethescarstheyleavewillshowsowellthere；
anditisalsosaidthatthesefacewoundsaresoprizedthatyouthshaveevenbeenknowntopullthemapartfromtimetotimeandputredwineinthemtomakethemhealbadlyandleaveasuglyascaraspossible。
Itdoesnotlookreasonable，butitisroundlyassertedandmaintained，nevertheless；Iamsureofonething——scarsareplentyenoughinGermany，amongtheyoungmen；
andverygrimonestheyare，too。Theycrisscrossthefaceinangryredwelts，andarepermanentandineffaceable。
Someofthesescarsareofaverystrangeanddreadfulaspect；
andtheeffectisstrikingwhenseveralsuchaccentthemilderones，whichformacitymaponaman\'sface；
theysuggestthe\"burneddistrict\"then。Wehadoftennoticedthatmanyofthestudentsworeacoloredsilkbandorribbondiagonallyacrosstheirbreasts。
Ittranspiredthatthissignifiesthatthewearerhasfoughtthreeduelsinwhichadecisionwasreached——duelsinwhichheeitherwhippedorwaswhipped——fordrawnbattlesdonotcount。[1]Afterastudenthasreceivedhisribbon，heis\"free\"；hecanceasefromfighting，withoutreproach——exceptsomeoneinsulthim；hispresidentcannotappointhimtofight；hecanvolunteerifhewantsto，orremainquiescentifhepreferstodoso。
StatisticsshowthathedoesNOTprefertoremainquiescent。
Theyshowthattheduelhasasingularfascinationaboutitsomewhere，forthesefreemen，sofarfromrestingupontheprivilegeofthebadge，arealwaysvolunteering。
AcorpsstudenttoldmeitwasofrecordthatPrinceBismarckfoughtthirty-twooftheseduelsinasinglesummertermwhenhewasincollege。Sohefoughttwenty-nineafterhisbadgehadgivenhimtherighttoretirefromthefield。
1。FROMMYDIARY——DinedinahotelafewmilesuptheNeckar，inaroomwhosewallswerehungalloverwithframedportrait-groupsoftheFiveCorps；somewererecent，butmanyantedatedphotography，andwerepicturedinlithography——thedatesrangedbacktofortyorfiftyyearsago。Nearlyeveryindividualworetheribbonacrosshisbreast。Inoneportrait-grouprepresentingaseachofthesepicturesdidanentireCorps，Itookpainstocounttheribbons:thereweretwenty-sevenmembers，andtwenty-oneofthemworethatsignificantbadge。
Thestatisticsmaybefoundtopossessinterestinseveralparticulars。Twodaysineveryweekaredevotedtodueling。Theruleisrigidthattheremustbethreeduelsoneachofthesedays；therearegenerallymore，buttherecannotbefewer。ThereweresixthedayIwaspresent；sometimestherearesevenoreight。
Itisinsistedthateightduelsaweek——fourforeachofthetwodays——istoolowanaveragetodrawacalculationfrom，butIwillreckonfromthatbasis，preferringanunderstatementtoanoverstatementofthecase。
Thisrequiresaboutfourhundredandeightyorfivehundredduelistsayear——forinsummerthecollegetermisaboutthreeandahalfmonths，andinwinteritisfourmonthsandsometimeslonger。OfthesevenhundredandfiftystudentsintheuniversityatthetimeIamwritingof，onlyeightybelongedtothefivecorps，anditisonlythesecorpsthatdothedueling；occasionallyotherstudentsborrowthearmsandbattlegroundofthefivecorpsinordertosettleaquarrel，butthisdoesnothappeneverydueling-day。[2]Consequentlyeightyyouthsfurnishthematerialforsometwohundredandfiftyduelsayear。
Thisaveragegivessixfightsayeartoeachoftheeighty。
Thislargeworkcouldnotbeaccomplishedifthebadge-holdersstoodupontheirprivilegeandceasedtovolunteer。
2。Theyhavetoborrowthearmsbecausetheycouldnotgetthemelsewhereorotherwise。AsIunderstandit，thepublicauthorities，alloverGermany，allowthefiveCorpstokeepswords，butDONOTALLOWTHEMTOUSETHEM。
Thisislawisrigid；itisonlytheexecutionofitthatislax。
Ofcourse，wherethereissomuchfighting，thestudentsmakeitapointtokeepthemselvesinconstantpracticewiththefoil。Oneoftenseesthem，atthetablesintheCastlegrounds，usingtheirwhipsorcanestoillustratesomenewswordtrickwhichtheyhaveheardabout；
andbetweentheduels，onthedaywhosehistoryI
havebeenwriting，theswordswerenotalwaysidle；
everynowandthenweheardasuccessionofthekeenhissingsoundswhichtheswordmakeswhenitisbeingputthroughitspacesintheair，andthisinformedusthatastudentwaspracticing。Necessarily，thisunceasingattentiontotheartdevelopsanexpertoccasionally。
Hebecomesfamousinhisownuniversity，hisrenownspreadstootheruniversities。HeisinvitedtoGo\"ttingen，tofightwithaGo\"ttingenexpert；ifheisvictorious，hewillbeinvitedtoothercolleges，orthosecollegeswillsendtheirexpertstohim。AmericansandEnglishmenoftenjoinoneoranotherofthefivecorps。Ayearortwoago，theprincipalHeidelbergexpertwasabigKentuckian；
hewasinvitedtothevariousuniversitiesandleftawakeofvictorybehindhimallaboutGermany；
butatlastalittlestudentinStrasburgdefeatedhim。
TherewasformerlyastudentinHeidelbergwhohadpickedupsomewhereandmasteredapeculiartrickofcuttingupunderinsteadofcleavingdownfromabove。Whilethetricklastedhewoninsixteensuccessiveduelsinhisuniversity；
butbythattimeobservershaddiscoveredwhathischarmwas，andhowtobreakit，thereforehischampionshipceased。
Arulewhichforbidssocialintercoursebetweenmembersofdifferentcorpsisstrict。Inthedueling-house，intheparks，onthestreet，andanywhereandeverywherethatthestudentsgo，capsofacolorgroupthemselvestogether。
Ifallthetablesinapublicgardenwerecrowdedbutone，andthatonehadtwored-capstudentsatitandtenvacantplaces，theyellow-caps，theblue-caps，thewhitecaps，andthegreencaps，seekingseats，wouldgobythattableandnotseemtoseeit，norseemtobeawarethattherewassuchatableinthegrounds。
Thestudentbywhosecourtesywehadbeenenabledtovisitthedueling-place，worethewhitecap——PrussianCorps。
Heintroducedustomanywhitecaps，buttononeofanothercolor。Thecorpsetiquetteextendedeventous，whowerestrangers，andrequiredustogroupwiththewhitecorpsonly，andspeakonlywiththewhitecorps，whileweweretheirguests，andkeepalooffromthecapsoftheothercolors。OnceIwishedtoexaminesomeoftheswords，butanAmericanstudentsaid，\"Itwouldnotbequitepolite；
thesenowinthewindowsallhaveredhiltsorblue；
theywillbringinsomewithwhitehiltspresently，andthoseyoucanhandlefreely。\"Whenaswordwasbrokeninthefirstduel，Iwantedapieceofit；butitshiltwasthewrongcolor，soitwasconsideredbestandpolitesttoawaitapropererseason。Itwasbroughttomeaftertheroomwascleared，andIwillnowmakea\"life-size\"
sketchofitbytracingalinearounditwithmypen，toshowthewidthoftheweapon。[Figure1]Thelengthoftheseswordsisaboutthreefeet，andtheyarequiteheavy。
One\'sdispositiontocheer，duringthecourseoftheduelsorattheirclose，wasnaturallystrong，butcorpsetiquetteforbadeanydemonstrationsofthissort。
Howeverbrilliantacontestoravictorymightbe，nosignorsoundbetrayedthatanyonewasmoved。
Adignifiedgravityandrepressionweremaintainedatalltimes。
Whentheduelingwasfinishedandwewerereadytogo，thegentlemenofthePrussianCorpstowhomwehadbeenintroducedtookofftheircapsinthecourteousGermanway，andalsoshookhands；theirbrethrenofthesameordertookofftheircapsandbowed，butwithoutshakinghands；
thegentlemenoftheothercorpstreatedusjustastheywouldhavetreatedwhitecaps——theyfellapart，apparentlyunconsciously，andleftusanunobstructedpathway，butdidnotseemtoseeusorknowwewerethere。
Ifwehadgonethitherthefollowingweekasguestsofanothercorps，thewhitecaps，withoutmeaninganyoffense，wouldhaveobservedtheetiquetteoftheirorderandignoredourpresence。
[Howstrangelyarecomedyandtragedyblendedinthislife!
Ihadnotbeenhomeafullhalf-hour，afterwitnessingthoseplayfulsham-duels，whencircumstancesmadeitnecessaryformetogetreadyimmediatelytoassistpersonallyatarealone——aduelwithnoeffeminatelimitationinthematterofresults，butabattletothedeath。Anaccountofit，inthenextchapter，willshowthereaderthatduelsbetweenboys，forfun，andduelsbetweenmeninearnest，areverydifferentaffairs。]
CHAPTERVIII
TheGreatFrenchDuel[ISecondGambettainaTerrificDuel]
MuchasthemodernFrenchduelisridiculedbycertainsmartpeople，itisinrealityoneofthemostdangerousinstitutionsofourday。Sinceitisalwaysfoughtintheopenair，thecombatantsarenearlysuretocatchcold。
M。PauldeCassagnac，themostinveterateoftheFrenchduelists，hadsufferedsoofteninthiswaythatheisatlastaconfirmedinvalid；andthebestphysicianinParishasexpressedtheopinionthatifhegoesonduelingforfifteenortwentyyearsmore——unlessheformsthehabitoffightinginacomfortableroomwheredampsanddraughtscannotintrude——hewilleventuallyendangerhislife。
ThisoughttomoderatethetalkofthosepeoplewhoaresostubborninmaintainingthattheFrenchduelisthemosthealth-givingofrecreationsbecauseoftheopen-airexerciseitaffords。AnditoughtalsotomoderatethatfoolishtalkaboutFrenchduelistsandsocialist-hatedmonarchsbeingtheonlypeoplewhoareimmoral。
Butitistimetogetatmysubject。AssoonasIheardofthelatefieryoutbreakbetweenM。GambettaandM。FourtouintheFrenchAssembly，Iknewthattroublemustfollow。
IknewitbecausealongpersonalfriendshipwithM。Gambettarevealedtomethedesperateandimplacablenatureoftheman。Vastasarehisphysicalproportions，Iknewthatthethirstforrevengewouldpenetratetotheremotestfrontiersofhisperson。
Ididnotwaitforhimtocallonme，butwentatoncetohim。AsIhadexpected，IfoundthebravefellowsteepedinaprofoundFrenchcalm。IsayFrenchcalm，becauseFrenchcalmnessandEnglishcalmnesshavepointsofdifference。Hewasmovingswiftlybackandforthamongthedebrisofhisfurniture，nowandthenstavingchancefragmentsofitacrosstheroomwithhisfoot；
grindingaconstantgristofcursesthroughhissetteeth；
andhaltingeverylittlewhiletodepositanotherhandfulofhishaironthepilewhichhehadbeenbuildingofitonthetable。
Hethrewhisarmsaroundmyneck，bentmeoverhisstomachtohisbreast，kissedmeonbothcheeks，huggedmefourorfivetimes，andthenplacedmeinhisownarm-chair。
AssoonasIhadgotwellagain，webeganbusinessatonce。
IsaidIsupposedhewouldwishmetoactashissecond，andhesaid，\"Ofcourse。\"IsaidImustbeallowedtoactunderaFrenchname，sothatImightbeshieldedfromobloquyinmycountry，incaseoffatalresults。
Hewincedhere，probablyatthesuggestionthatduelingwasnotregardedwithrespectinAmerica。However，heagreedtomyrequirement。ThisaccountsforthefactthatinallthenewspaperreportsM。Gambetta\'ssecondwasapparentlyaFrenchman。
First，wedrewupmyprincipal\'swill。Iinsisteduponthis，andstucktomypoint。IsaidIhadneverheardofamaninhisrightmindgoingouttofightaduelwithoutfirstmakinghiswill。Hesaidhehadneverheardofamaninhisrightminddoinganythingofthekind。
Whenhehadfinishedthewill，hewishedtoproceedtoachoiceofhis\"lastwords。\"Hewantedtoknowhowthefollowingwords，asadyingexclamation，struckme:
\"IdieformyGod，formycountry，forfreedomofspeech，forprogress，andtheuniversalbrotherhoodofman!\"
Iobjectedthatthiswouldrequiretoolingeringadeath；
itwasagoodspeechforaconsumptive，butnotsuitedtotheexigenciesofthefieldofhonor。Wewrangledoveragoodmanyante-mortemoutburts，butIfinallygothimtocuthisobituarydowntothis，whichhecopiedintohismemorandum-book，purposingtogetitbyheart:
\"IDIETHATFRANCEMIGHTLIVE。\"
Isaidthatthisremarkseemedtolackrelevancy；buthesaidrelevancywasamatterofnoconsequenceinlastwords，whatyouwantedwasthrill。
Thenextthinginorderwasthechoiceofweapons。
Myprincipalsaidhewasnotfeelingwell，andwouldleavethatandtheotherdetailsoftheproposedmeetingtome。
ThereforeIwrotethefollowingnoteandcarriedittoM。Fourtou\'sfriend:
Sir:M。GambettaacceptsM。Fourtou\'schallenge，andauthorizesmetoproposePlessis-Piquetastheplaceofmeeting；tomorrowmorningatdaybreakasthetime；
andaxesastheweapons。
Iam，sir，withgreatrespect，MarkTwain。
M。Fourtou\'sfriendreadthisnote，andshuddered。
Thenheturnedtome，andsaid，withasuggestionofseverityinhistone:
\"Haveyouconsidered，sir，whatwouldbetheinevitableresultofsuchameetingasthis?\"
\"Well，forinstance，whatWOULDitbe?\"
\"Bloodshed!\"
\"That\'saboutthesizeofit，\"Isaid。\"Now，ifitisafairquestion，whatwasyoursideproposingtoshed?\"
Ihadhimthere。Hesawhehadmadeablunder，sohehastenedtoexplainitaway。Hesaidhehadspokenjestingly。
Thenheaddedthatheandhisprincipalwouldenjoyaxes，andindeedpreferthem，butsuchweaponswerebarredbytheFrenchcode，andsoImustchangemyproposal。
Iwalkedthefloor，turningthethingoverinmymind，andfinallyitoccurredtomethatGatling-gunsatfifteenpaceswouldbealikelywaytogetaverdictonthefieldofhonor。SoIframedthisideaintoaproposition。
Butitwasnotaccepted。Thecodewasinthewayagain。
Iproposedrifles；thendouble-barreledshotguns；
thenColt\'snavyrevolvers。Thesebeingallrejected，Ireflectedawhile，andsarcasticallysuggestedbrickbatsatthree-quartersofamile。Ialwayshatetofoolawayahumorousthingonapersonwhohasnoperceptionofhumor；
anditfilledmewithbitternesswhenthismanwentsoberlyawaytosubmitthelastpropositiontohisprincipal。
Hecamebackpresentlyandsaidhisprincipalwascharmedwiththeideaofbrickbatsatthree-quartersofamile，butmustdeclineonaccountofthedangertodisinterestedpartiespassingbetweenthem。ThenIsaid:
\"Well，Iamattheendofmystring，now。PerhapsYOU
wouldbegoodenoughtosuggestaweapon?Perhapsyouhaveevenhadoneinyourmindallthetime?\"
Hiscountenancebrightened，andhesaidwithalacrity:
\"Oh，withoutdoubt，monsieur!\"
Sohefelltohuntinginhispockets——pocketafterpocket，andhehadplentyofthem——mutteringallthewhile，\"Now，whatcouldIhavedonewiththem?\"
Atlasthewassuccessful。HefishedoutofhisvestpocketacoupleoflittlethingswhichIcarriedtothelightandascertainedtobepistols。Theyweresingle-barreledandsilver-mounted，andverydaintyandpretty。
Iwasnotabletospeakforemotion。Isilentlyhungoneofthemonmywatch-chain，andreturnedtheother。
Mycompanionincrimenowunrolledapostage-stampcontainingseveralcartridges，andgavemeoneofthem。
Iaskedifhemeanttosignifybythisthatourmenweretobeallowedbutoneshotapiece。HerepliedthattheFrenchcodepermittednomore。Ithenbeggedhimtogoandsuggestadistance，formymindwasgrowingweakandconfusedunderthestrainwhichhadbeenputuponit。
Henamedsixty-fiveyards。Inearlylostmypatience。
Isaid:
\"Sixty-fiveyards，withtheseinstruments?Squirt-gunswouldbedeadlieratfifty。Consider，myfriend，youandIarebandedtogethertodestroylife，notmakeiteternal。\"
Butwithallmypersuasions，allmyarguments，Iwasonlyabletogethimtoreducethedistancetothirty-fiveyards；
andeventhisconcessionhemadewithreluctance，andsaidwithasigh，\"Iwashmyhandsofthisslaughter；
onyourheadbeit。\"
Therewasnothingformebuttogohometomyoldlion-heartandtellmyhumiliatingstory。WhenIentered，M。Gambettawaslayinghislastlockofhairuponthealtar。
Hesprangtowardme，exclaiming:
\"Youhavemadethefatalarrangements——Iseeitinyoureye!\"
\"Ihave。\"
Hisfacepaledatrifle，andheleaneduponthetableforsupport。Hebreathedthickandheavilyforamomentortwo，sotumultuouswerehisfeelings；thenhehoarselywhispered:
\"Theweapon，theweapon!Quick!whatistheweapon?\"
\"This!\"andIdisplayedthatsilver-mountedthing。
Hecastbutoneglanceatit，thenswoonedponderouslytothefloor。
Whenhecameto，hesaidmournfully:
\"TheunnaturalcalmtowhichIhavesubjectedmyselfhastolduponmynerves。Butawaywithweakness!
IwillconfrontmyfatelikeamanandaFrenchman。\"
Herosetohisfeet，andassumedanattitudewhichforsublimityhasneverbeenapproachedbyman，andhasseldombeensurpassedbystatues。Thenhesaid，inhisdeepbasstones:
\"Behold，Iamcalm，Iamready；revealtomethedistance。\"
\"Thirty-fiveyards。\"……
Icouldnotlifthimup，ofcourse；butIrolledhimover，andpouredwaterdownhisback。Hepresentlycameto，andsaid:
\"Thirty-fiveyards——withoutarest?Butwhyask?Sincemurderwasthatman\'sintention，whyshouldhepalterwithsmalldetails?Butmarkyouonething:inmyfalltheworldshallseehowthechivalryofFrancemeetsdeath。\"
Afteralongsilenceheasked:
\"Wasnothingsaidaboutthatman\'sfamilystandingupwithhim，asanoffsettomybulk?Butnomatter；
Iwouldnotstooptomakesuchasuggestion；ifheisnotnobleenoughtosuggestithimself，heiswelcometothisadvantage，whichnohonorablemanwouldtake。\"
Henowsankintoasortofstuporofreflection，whichlastedsomeminutes；afterwhichhebrokesilencewith:
\"Thehour——whatisthehourfixedforthecollision?\"
\"Dawn，tomorrow。\"
Heseemedgreatlysurprised，andimmediatelysaid:
\"Insanity!Ineverheardofsuchathing。Nobodyisabroadatsuchanhour。\"
\"ThatisthereasonInamedit。Doyoumeantosayyouwantanaudience?\"
\"Itisnotimetobandywords。IamastonishedthatM。Fourtoushouldeverhaveagreedtosostrangeaninnovation。
Goatonceandrequirealaterhour。\"
Irandownstairs，threwopenthefrontdoor，andalmostplungedintothearmsofM。Fourtou\'ssecond。Hesaid:
\"Ihavethehonortosaythatmyprincipalstrenuouslyobjectstothehourchosen，andbegsyouwillconsenttochangeittohalfpastnine。\"
\"Anycourtesy，sir，whichitisinourpowertoextendisattheserviceofyourexcellentprincipal。Weagreetotheproposedchangeoftime。\"
\"Ibegyoutoacceptthethanksofmyclient。\"Thenheturnedtoapersonbehindhim，andsaid，\"Youhear，M。Noir，thehourisalteredtohalfpastnine。\"WhereuponM。Noirbowed，expressedhisthanks，andwentaway。
Myaccomplicecontinued:
\"Ifagreeabletoyou，yourchiefsurgeonsandoursshallproceedtothefieldinthesamecarriageasiscustomary。\"
\"Itisentirelyagreeabletome，andIamobligedtoyouformentioningthesurgeons，forIamafraidIshouldnothavethoughtofthem。HowmanyshallIwant?Isupposedtwoorthreewillbeenough?\"
\"Twoisthecustomarynumberforeachparty。Ireferto\'chief\'surgeons；butconsideringtheexaltedpositionsoccupiedbyourclients，itwillbewellanddecorousthateachofusappointseveralconsultingsurgeons，fromamongthehighestintheprofession。Thesewillcomeintheirownprivatecarriages。Haveyouengagedahearse?\"
\"Blessmystupidity，Ineverthoughtofit!\"Iwillattendtoitrightaway。Imustseemveryignoranttoyou；
butyoumusttrytooverlookthat，becauseIhaveneverhadanyexperienceofsuchaswellduelasthisbefore。
IhavehadagooddealtodowithduelsonthePacificcoast，butIseenowthattheywerecrudeaffairs。Ahearse——sho!
weusedtoleavetheelectedlyingaroundloose，andletanybodycordthemupandcartthemoffthatwantedto。
Haveyouanythingfurthertosuggest?\"
\"Nothing，exceptthattheheadundertakersshallridetogether，asisusual。Thesubordinatesandmuteswillgoonfoot，asisalsousual。Iwillseeyouateighto\'clockinthemorning，andwewillthenarrangetheorderoftheprocession。Ihavethehonortobidyouagoodday。\"
Ireturnedtomyclient，whosaid，\"Verywell；
atwhathouristheengagementtobegin?\"
\"Halfpastnine。\"
\"Verygoodindeed。；Haveyousentthefacttothenewspapers?\"
\"SIR!Ifafterourlongandintimatefriendshipyoucanforamomentdeemmecapableofsobaseatreachery——\"
\"Tut，tut!Whatwordsarethese，mydearfriend?HaveI
woundedyou?Ah，forgiveme；Iamoverloadingyouwithlabor。
Thereforegoonwiththeotherdetails，anddropthisonefromyourlist。Thebloody-mindedFourtouwillbesuretoattendtoit。OrImyself——yes，tomakecertain，Iwilldropanotetomyjournalisticfriend，M。Noir——\"
\"Oh，cometothinkofit，youmaysaveyourselfthetrouble；