"The man with whom you fought this duel——"
"Monsieur Cherami?"
"Exactly. Monsieur Cherami called on me this morning——"
"The deuce! did he undertake to challenge you also?"
"Oh, no! far from it! He came to ask my pardon for his conduct. He realizes his mistake; he is in despair at what he did; and he wishes, as a great favor, to be allowed to come to offer you his apologies and tell you how delighted he is at your recovery."
"Pardieu! he's an extraordinary mortal! He insists upon fighting for his friend——"
"Yes; it was in a moment of exasperation."
"And now he's sorry for it! But I bear the fellow no ill-will at all. He fences very well; ah! he's an excellent blade!"
"And you will allow him to come to offer his apologies?"
"Willingly; but listen: only on condition that he will tell me who the two seconds were that he brought with him. You can't form an idea, madame, of those two men, who certainly had never assisted at such a performance before! It was enough to make you burst with laughing. De Gervier was much amused; but De Maugrillé was on the point of losing his temper; he wanted to fight them. It was altogether funny, I assure you."