"I--I can hardly comprehend." "He did; he even volunteered to do so.

Le Gaire charged you with being unduly intimate with me, and your father resented his words.

The man began threatening as soon as I entered the room, and finally struck me across the face, daring me to an encounter.

I am no duellist; this was my first appearance in that role; but I could never have retained my self-respect and refused to meet him." "You--you forced him to accept pistols ?" "In a way, yes.

Your father convinced him I was an expert swordsman, and consequently he chose derringers, believing they would be to his advantage.