I think I shall straightway go a-hunting in the mountains with my friend the Margrave!" He considered a moment longer, and took a deep draught of Rhenish.
"Then the matter of a second," continued the Prince; "he is to fight, of course ?" "No," said I; "principals only." "I wonder," said the Prince, meditatively, "if there be anything in that.
It is not our Plassenburg custom between two young men, well surrounded with brisk lads.

Three seconds, and three to meet them point to point, was more our ancient way." "It was specially arranged at the request of the Count you Reuss," I told the Prince.
"If there is to be no fighting of seconds, what do you say to old Dessauer?
He was a pretty blade in my time, and has all the etiquette and chivalry of the business at his finger-ends.

Also he likes you." "At any rate, he is ever railing upon me with that sharp tongue of his!" said I.
"But did you ever hear him rail upon any of these young men that lean on rails and roll their eyes under ladies' windows ?" said the Prince.
"Old Leopold Dessauer is even now no weakling.

I warrant he could draw a good sword yet upon occasion.

Anything more lovely than his riposte I never saw." The Prince got upon his feet with the difficulty of a man naturally heavy of body, who takes all his exercise upon horseback.
"Page!" he cried.