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“Let us go, then,” said Louis.

We went down to the door. Joseph was waiting for us.

“Shall I go with monsieur?” asked he.

“No, Joseph, that’s unnecessary, I shall not need you.”

Then remaining a little behind— “Here, my friend,” said he, putting a small
rouleau of gold into his hand, “if sometimes in my moments of ill humor I have
offended you, pardon me.”

“Oh! monsieur!” exclaimed Joseph, his eyes filling with tears, “what do you
mean?”

“Hush!” said Louis, and advancing rapidly to the carriage, he placed himself
between us.

“He was a good servant,” said he, throwing a last look at Joseph, “and if
either of you can be useful to him, I shall feel very grateful for it.”

“Do you dismiss him?” asked the Baron.

“No,” said Louis, smiling, “I leave him, that’s all.”

We stopped at Devisme’s door, and had barely time to take a box of pistols,
powder and bullets; we then started again at the greatest speed of our horses.

We arrived at Vincennes at five minutes to nine. Another carriage arrived at
the same moment as ours. It was Monsieur de Château-Renaud’s. We entered the
forest by two different roads, our drivers having received orders to join each
other in the great alley.

In a few minutes we were at the place of rendezvous.

“Gentlemen,” said Louis, while alighting, “you know no arrangement is
possible.”

“But, however,” said I.

“Oh! mon cher, remember, that after the confidence I have reposed in you, you
have less than any one else the fight to propose or receive any.”

I bowed my head before this absolute determination, which seemed to me like a
supreme will.

We left Louis near the carriage and advanced towards M. de Boissy and de
Châteaugrand. Baron Giordano carried the box of pistols.

We exchanged a salute.

“Gentlemen,” said the Baron, “in circumstances like these in which we find
ourselves placed, the shortest compliments are the best, for every moment we may
be interrupted. We have taken it upon us to furnish the weapons; here they are.
Please to examine them. We have just got them from the gunsmith’s, and give you
our word that M. de Franchi has not even seen them.”

“This assurance is unnecessary, sir,” replied the Viscount de Châteaugrand,
“we know with whom we have to do; and taking one pistol, while Mons. de Boissy
took the other, the two seconds tried the play of the springs and examined the
calibre of them.

“They are common target pistols,” said the Baron, and have never been used.
“Now, shall we have the liberty or not of using the double trigger?”

“But,” said M. de Boissy, “my opinion is, that every one should do as he
pleases, or as he is accustomed to do.”

“Be it so,” replied Giordano. “All equal chances are agreeable.”

“You then inform Mons. de Franchi, and we will tell Mons. de Château-Renaud.”

“That’s all right now, sir. We have brought the pistols,” continued Giordano,
‘”and you must load them.”

The two gentlemen each took a pistol, measured rigorously the same quantity
of powder, took at random two bullets, put them into the barrels, and rammed
them down.

During this operation, in which I had not wished to take an active part, I
went up to Louis, who received me with a smile.

“You will forget nothing that I have asked of you?” said he. “Obtain a
promise from Giordano, that he will not mention any thing to my mother or
brother. However, I have already made this request to him in the letter I gave
him. See to it also, that the papers do not speak of it: or if they do, that no
names are mentioned.”

“You have, then, still the horrible conviction that you will be killed in
this duel?” asked I.

“I am more certain of it than ever. But you will at least give me the credit
of having beheld the approach of death like a true Corsican?”

“Your calmness, my dear de Franchi, is so grand, that it makes me hope that
you are not fully convinced yourself.” Louis took out his watch.

“I have yet seven minutes to live,” said he; “look here, this is my watch,
keep it, I pray you, as a souvenir of me; it is an excellent Brequet.”