"Have you read Mérimée's Le Vase étrusque?"
"Yes."
"Well, he says that every man killed by a bullet turns round before he falls; I should like to know if this is true, from the point of view of science."
"I will do my best to gratify your desire."
The seconds separated from one another. Fontan and Soulié went towards M. Gaillardet and de Longpré, and Maillan came to me.
"Well," they said, "we have claimed that the choice of arms ought to be decided by lot; but M. Gaillardet's seconds maintain the contrary; we have come to consult you."
"You know very well what my opinion is; I will fight with what you will, but I should prefer swords."
"Fontan and Soulié are reporting to M. Gaillardet, as you see. Stop, they are coming to us."
And, indeed, Soulié and Fontan were doing so, and we met them half-way.