I sat frowning in silence till the duke spoke again, in a low hoarse whisper: "And she?
What says she to you ?" I looked up with a start, and met his searching wrathful gaze.

I shook my head; his question was new to me--new and disturbing.
"I don't know," said I; and on that we sat in silence for many moments.
Then he rose abruptly and stood beside me.
"Mr.Aycon," he said, in the smoother tones in which he had begun our curious interview, "I came near a little while ago to doing a ruffianly thing, of a sort I am not wont to do.

We must fight out our quarrel in the proper way.

Have you any friends in the neighborhood ?" "I am quite unknown," I answered.
He thought for an instant, and then continued: "There is a regiment quartered at Pontorson, and I have acquaintances among the officers.

If agreeable to you, we will drive over there; we shall find gentlemen ready to assist us." "You are determined to fight ?" I asked.
"Yes," he said, with a snap of his lips.