“I never said so. Hum! hum!”
“As you’re such a swordsman, you will be my second witness; you will enjoy it.”
“Your witness! to what?”
“Parbleu! to my duel with that popinjay who insulted me. Monsieur de Belleville is kind enough to be my principal second, and you must be the other.”
“Oh! but—I’ve got a very bad cold!”
“It won’t interfere with your coughing; I hope that I may count on you?”
“Let’s see—first, let’s see why you are going to fight?”
“Because I have received a blow.”
“Very good; but why did he strike you?”
“Why? because I said that this Madame Dalmont and her friend were hussies—didn’t amount to much.”