"Nobody knows what may happen! Unskilful men have been known to shoot their seconds, but I don't suppose they'll aim at the ground."
The combatants walked forward two or three steps, then fired at almost the same instant. Albert received the bullet in his coat collar. But Count Dahlborne was less fortunate; he was shot in the left arm, near the shoulder, but did not fall.
"Are you wounded, monsieur le comte?" asked Albert, running up to him.
"Yes—in the arm—the shoulder, I believe. Oh! it's a trifle. I don't see why we should go any further. But you are a fine young fellow, and I consider it my duty to tell you what Madame Baldimer whispered to me last night when she left us."
"Ah! she said something to you, did she? And to me, too."
"She whispered these words in my ear: 'This young man is constantly at my heels; find some way to rid me of his presence.'"
Albert turned pale when he heard what his fair enslaver thought of him.
"I give you my word of honor that she said that to me," added the count.
"I believe you, especially as she said to me, speaking of you: 'That man is insufferable to me; try to rid me of him.'"
"She's a woman who isn't worth having two respectable men fight for her. I abandon the field to you, monsieur; I shall go no more to her house."