“Oh! I beg pardon—a blow calls for a sword-thrust. If I hadn’t received a blow, I would say: ‘I withdraw my insulting remarks about those ladies.’”
“Well! and if he should withdraw his blow——”
“That can hardly be done; unless he should let me give him one; then we should be quits!”
“He won’t do that.”
“In that case, you see, I must fight.—By the way, I need another second; two are none too many.”
“No, no! they’re none too many; perhaps you might have three or four—that would make more people.”
“No, it’s the custom to have only two. Who in the devil can I get for the other? I thought that you would bring one.”
“Let us see—some hearty blade like you and me. Suppose I should take Jarnouillard?”
“I have just met him; he was going to Paris.”