That is the way that such matters are arranged among men of honour, my good Herode!" "Doubtless," replied the tyrant, dryly, "but the duke well knows--despite his cursed pride--that the result of another meeting with you could not but be disastrous to himself.

He has tried the strength of your blade, and learned by bitter experience that its point is sharp.
You may be sure that he hates you like the very devil, and will not scruple to make use of any means whatever to revenge himself for his defeat at your hands." "Well, if he does not care to try my sword again, we could fight on horseback with pistols.

He could not accuse me of having any advantage of him there." Talking thus the two had reached the Quai de l'Ecole, and there a carriage just missed running over de Sigognac, though he did his best to get out of its way.

As it was, only his extremely slender figure saved him from being crushed between it and the wall, so close did it come to him--notwithstanding the fact that there was plenty of room on the other side, and that the coachman could easily have avoided the foot passenger he actually seemed to pursue.

The windows of the carriage were all closed, and the curtains drawn down, so that it was impossible to tell whether it had any inmates or not--but if de Sigognac could have peeped within he would have seen, reclining languidly upon the luxurious cushions, a handsome young nobleman, richly dressed, whose right arm was supported by a black silk scarf, arranged as a sling.