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“Ah! that’s very easy for you to say, mon cher; you only run the risk of your
life; while you leave to us the responsibility of answering to your whole family
the consequences of what may happen.”

“Oh! as for that, don’t be uneasy! I know my mother and brother. They will
merely ask you, ‘did Louis act like a gallant man?’ And when you tell them,
‘Yes!’ they will answer, ‘That is well!’ ”

“But, finally, tell us what weapons you prefer.”

“Well, if the pistol is proposed, accept it immediately.”

“That was my opinion, also,” said the Baron.

“Then go for the pistol,” replied I, “as it is your opinion, both of you. But
the pistol is a villainous weapon.”

“Have I time, between this and tomorrow, to learn to fight with a sword?”

“No. But with a good lesson from Grisier, you could, perhaps, learn to defend
yourself.”

Louis smiled.

“Believe me,” said he, “all that will happen to me to-morrow morning is
already written in the book of fate, and whatever you or I may do cannot change
any thing in it.”

After this, we shook hands with him, and went out.

Our first visit was, of course, to the second of our adversary who lived
nearest to us. We therefore called upon Mons. Réné de Châteaugrand, who lived,
as already mentioned, at No. 12, Rue de la Paix.

Admittance was denied to all persons except those who should introduce
themselves as coming from Monsieur Louis de Franchi. We signified our mission,
presented our cards, and were admitted without further delay.

We found in M. Châteaugrand a man of the world, perfectly elegant. He would
not permit us to go to the trouble of calling upon Monsieur de Boissy, but
informed us that it had been agreed between them, that whoever should be called
upon first by us, should send for the other; and both of them were to hold
themselves in readiness to come at a moment’s warning. Monsieur de Châteaugrand
therefore sent his servant immediately to inform Monsieur de Boissy that we were
in waiting at his residence.

During this time there was not for a moment any mention made of the business
which had brought us here. We spoke of stakes, hunting, and the opera.

We had been waiting about ten minutes, when Mons. de Boissy arrived.

The two gentlemen did not even pretend to have a choice in the weapons. Sword
and pistol were equally familiar to Mons. de Château-Renaud, who left it
entirely to the preference of Mons. Louis de Franchi, or to the decision of
hazard.

A louis d’or was then thrown in the air, head for the sword, tail for the
pistol. The louis fell with the tail up.

It was finally concluded that the duel should take place on the following
morning, at nine o’clock, at the Bois de Vincennes; that the adversaries were to
be placed at twenty steps’ distance from each other, that one of the seconds
should clap his hands three times as a signal, and that at the third clap they
would both fire.

We took this answer to Monsieur de Franchi.

The same evening, after I had returned home, I found the cards of Mons.
Châteaugrand and Mons. de Boissy.