"You can have twenty-five balls," he said, "but not pistols No. 5, unless you are going to practise alone."
"Why so?"
"Because they were lent this morning to a gentleman who had a duel, and you should see the state in which he brought them back."
And, indeed, the second No. 5 pistol had the trigger-guard broken and the butt end blown off.
"What did that?"
"Why! a bullet," said Philippe.
"Quite so, but what about the gentleman who held it?"
"He had two of his fingers cut."
"Cut?"
"Yes, cut!"