The three students were right in one point, however. Marguerite did not even tenant a grave in the paupers' corner of a cemetery. Her body was not claimed; in the darkness it had been bundled in a sack, and trotted to the Ecole Pratique in the Rue de l'Ecole de Médecine, there to contribute to the enlightenment of the rising generation of surgeons. From the slab in the Morgue to the slab in the dissecting-room! Gruesome journey and grim destiny!
CHAPTER XI.
THE BONE OF CONTENTION.
'POOR Marguerite!' ejaculated O'Hara, when he had heard from his visitor an account of the scene in La Jeune France. 'So this was her kismet! Sic transit gloria Aspasiæ. Well, at all events, she may be more useful in death than ever she was in life. To think of Marguerite becoming a hand-maid of science! The wilful wench! How she would glory in the thought of setting two men by the ears, if she could only learn it in the sphere she now adorns! But do you know, O'Hoolohan, on reflection, I can't help thinking you are in the wrong. How does it harm the woman to have her shin-bone ministering to the needs of literature? Ulric Zuingli bequeathed his skin to be made into a drum-head to rouse his followers; and Byron, if I'm not mistaken, was fond of taking his tipple out of a neatly-scooped skull.'
'Will you act for me? Right or wrong now the thing has gone too far for retreating.'
'I fear that is only too true. Of course I'll act for you. Let me see. You're sure he called you Mr. Insolent first.'
'Certain.'
'That's one point in our favour. As we are the offended party, we have the choice of weapons. Have you any preference?'
'Cavalry pistols. French duellists, as a rule, have a rooted dislike to facing a bullet. As for small swords, that's only child's play. A scratch, and honour is satisfied.'
'Cavalry pistols be it. I shall let you know the time and place of rendezvous, at four this afternoon, at your boarding-house.'
'All right,' said O'Hoolohan; 'meantime I shall go and take a look at the bears in the Jardin des Plantes.'