“He insulted Laguerre,” I shouted back, and scrambled into the saddle. But I was far from satisfied. I, Vice-President, Minister of War, Provost-Marshal of the city, had been fighting with my fists in the open street before half the population. I knew what Laguerre would say, and I wondered hotly if the girl had seen me, and I swore at myself for having justified her contempt for us. Then I swore at myself again for giving a moment’s consideration to what she thought. I was recalled to the present by the apparition of my adversary riding his pony toward me, partly supported and partly restrained by two of his friends. He was trembling with anger and pain and mortification.
“You shall fight me for this,” he cried.
I was about to retort that he looked as though I had been fighting him, but it is not easy to laugh at a man when he is covered with dust and blood, and this one was so sorry a spectacle that I felt ashamed for him, and said nothing.
“I am not a street fighter,” he raged. “I wasn’t taught to fight in a lot. But I’ll fight you like a gentleman, just as though you were a gentleman. You needn’t think you’ve heard the last of me. My friends will act for me, and, unless you’re a coward, you will name your seconds.”
Before I could answer, Von Ritter had removed his hat and was bowing violently from his saddle.
“I am Baron Herbert Von Ritter,” he said “late Aide-de-Camp to his Majesty, the King of Bavaria. If you are not satisfied, Captain Miller and myself will do ourselves the honor of calling on your friends.”
His manner was so grand that it quite calmed me to hear him.
One of the men who was supporting my adversary, a big, sun-burned man, in a pith helmet, shook his head violently.
“Here, none of that, Miller,” he said; “drop it. Can’t you see the boy isn’t himself? This isn’t the time to take advantage of him.”
“We are only trying to oblige the gentleman,” said Miller. “The duel is the only means of defence we’ve left you people. But I tell you, if any of you insult our government again, we won’t even give you that satisfaction—we’ll ride you out of town.”