“Oh, oui, certainly; if you are determined to carry out your promise given to this low-bred hound, well, I am at your service.”
“I am determined. So don’t upbraid me for my rashness and folly. Promise to be ready at the appointed time.”
“The fellow is half a savage, and would not scruple to murder you if he had a chance of doing so.”
“I do not think that. No, monsieur, he is not without honour.”
“Bah! Don’t you mislead yourself supposing anything of the sort. You don’t know what sort of a man you have to deal with. A duel with such a person—well, I won’t say any more, but the whole affair appears to me altogether incomprehensible.”
“Why so?”
“How? Why that you should have suffered yourself to fall into such a trap. But you must bring your man down. Now you are in the scrape you must get out of it in the best way possible.”
“Then you agree to accompany me, and see fair play?”
“I should not be worthy the name I bear if I refused,” cried the chevalier, with a flourish of his right hand, and a significant nod. “Oh, yes, you may rely upon my services in this business—in this unfortunate business. But, my dear young friend, I will not attempt to conceal from you that I am greatly concerned at the course of events—greatly concerned.”
“I am not very well pleased myself, to speak the truth, but this is between ourselves.”