FullReads

The servant left the room.

“Did you not meet two gentlemen on the staircase” continued Louis, drawing
forward an armchair.

“Yes, one of them was decorated.”

“Exactly so.”

“I suspected they had been to visit you.”

“You guessed right.”

“Did they come in the name of M. de Château-Renaud?”

“They are his seconds.”

“Ah Diable! he has taken the matter rigorously, it appears.”

“He could not do otherwise, you’ll acknowledge that,” said Louis.

“And they came—””

“To request me to send two of my friends to talk with them about the matter;
I then thought of you.”

“I am much flattered with your remembrance of me, but I cannot go alone to
see them.”

“I have sent for one of my friends, the Baron Giordano-Martelli, to take
breakfast with us. He will be here at eleven o’clock. We will then breakfast
together, and at noon, you will have the kindness to call upon these gentlemen,
who have promised to stay at home till three o’clock. Here are their names and
residences.”

Louis handed me two cards.

One, was that of the Baron Réné de Châteaugrand, the other, of M. Adrien de
Boissy. The first lived No 12, Rue de la Paix; the second, who, as I had
suspected, belonged to the army, was a lieutenant in the regiment of the
Chasseurs d’Afrique, and lived at 29, Rue de Lille.

I turned the cards over and over in my hands.

“Well, what embarrasses you?” asked Louis.

“I would like you to tell me, quite candidly, if you consider this affair as
serious. You know that our conduct must be regulated accordingly.”

“How is that! as very serious! certainly. Besides, you have heard it. I have
placed myself at the disposal of Monsieur de Château-Renaud, and he has sent me
his seconds; I have therefore nothing else to do, but to let things take their
course.”

“Yes, certainly, but—”

“Go on,” said Louis, smiling.

“But at least we ought to know what you are going to fight about. One cannot
see two people cutting each other’s throats, without at least wishing to learn
the motive of the combat. You know very well that the position of the seconds is
more important than that of the fighter.”

“Well, then, I will tell you, in two words, the cause of this quarrel. On my
arrival at Paris, one of my friends, the captain of a frigate, introduced me to
his wife. She was young and handsome. The sight of her made so deep an
impression upon me, that fearing I might fall in love with her, I seldom took
advantage of the permission I had received, of coming to the house at any hour.
My friend complained of my indifference, and I then openly told him the truth;
that is to say, that his wife was too charming in every respect, for me to run
the risk of seeing her too frequently. He smiled, gave me his hand and invited
me to dinner the same day.”

“My dear Louis,” said he, at the dessert, “I leave in three weeks for Mexico;
perhaps I shall be gone three months, perhaps six months, or even more. We
sailors know sometimes the hour of parting, but never the time of our return. In
my absence I commend my Emily to your care. And you, Emily, I request you to
treat Louis de Franchi as a brother.”

The young lady answered, by offering me her hand.

“I was surprised, I did not know what to say, and I must certainly have
appeared very insipid to my future sister.”

“Three months after, in fact, my friend departed. During these three months,
he had prevailed upon me to take dinner with them without ceremony, at least
once a week.”

“Emily remained with her mother. It is not necessary to tell you, that the
confidence of her husband had made her sacred to me, and that although loving
her more than it was necessary for a brother, I never looked upon her but as a
sister.

“Six months passed away. Emily resided with her mother, and her husband, upon
leaving, had requested her to continue to receive company. My poor friend was
very much afraid of the reputation of being jealous.