“Oh, I hope not!”
“Have you seen any military service?”
“Yes; but may I ask why your excellency asks me the question, for—”
“I had no particular reason; it was only for the sake of saying something.”
We had driven about half an hour when the carriage stopped at the door of a large garden. We got down and, following the postoli, reached a green arbour which, by the way, was not at all green on that 5th of March. In it was a stone table on which the footman placed two pistols, a foot and half long, with a powder flask and scales. He weighed the powder, loaded them equally, and laid them down crosswise on the table.
This done, Branicki said boldly,
“Choose your weapon, sir.”
At this the general called out,
“Is this a duel, sir?”
“Yes.”