"I saw him, too; it was the night of the La Balue, Juzencourt & Co.'s dinner, whilst you were singing."
"No, oh, no! It was one day when he had some ridiculous duel, and he did not know whether it would be better to tell Bertrade, or not to tell her."
"And what did he do?"
"I fancy he did not tell her anything about it."
"Oh, well, he had more pluck than I have."
"Have you a duel on?" Bijou asked impetuously.
"A duel if you like to call it that; and a ridiculous one most certainly—a fight with impossibilities. You cannot understand that, my dear little Bijou."
"And you think that grandmamma will understand it better than I could?"
"I do not know! Anyhow, she will listen to me, and she will pity me."
"But I, too,—I would listen, and I would pity you."