“Pardon me,” said I, “for disarming you; I know that it is not etiquette; but neither is it etiquette to fence with a buttonless foil. You might have dangerously wounded me, and been unhappy yourself ever afterwards.”
Then, taking off my mask, I hung it on the wall, and placed my foil by the side of it.
Félicién saw plainly that I did not wish to continue the combat; and, without taking off his mask, he stalked out of the room.
“Ah!” cried M. Duplay; “you have read him a good lesson, and I must say that he deserved it. Now then, say good-bye to the ladies, and let us be off to the Rue Grange Batélière, where you will introduce me to M. Drouet. I need not tell you that if I hear of your coming to Paris without paying me a visit, I shall be your bitter enemy for life.”
I bade the two girls good-bye, and we set out.
As I expected, Félicién was awaiting us in the court.
The moment he saw me come out with M. Duplay, who evidently only came with me to prevent a quarrel, Félicién began to divest himself of his upper garments; but M. Duplay cried out, “Come here, you young vagabond!—I tell you, come here!”
Félicién approached unwillingly.
“Give your hand to my young friend here—he has a right to it.”