"I do not understand the nature of this appointment, Monsieur," began the Italian. "I intended to send my friend Captain de Sales to you to––"
"Ah, yes, that is the Continental way in these little affairs," I ventured to interrupt him coolly. "On our side of the Channel we are rather ignorant on such matters, I fear. But my young friend Mr. Laurence is an American."
"Do you mean that he will refuse to fight, after insulting me?" asked Paolo, bristling.
"Not at all. He is very young, and this will be his first duel. He may have misunderstood your intentions. But I gathered from him that you had said he would have to fight; that you then requested him to name a friend to whom you could send a friend of yours––"
"This is the fact. There was no misunderstanding. He named you."
"Yes; but as I said, he is an American."
"What of that, since he will fight?"
"As a duellist yourself, no doubt a successful one, you must be aware that such matters are conducted differently in the States."
"I know nothing of that. I know only our own ways, which are good enough for me."
"But my friend, being the challenged party, has the right, I believe, to choose the manner of duel."