"But a man is not to be killed without reason."
"A pretext is easily invented."
"Certainly,—a pretext to hide the cause of a quarrel from the world. But the real cause ought to be known to both antagonists."
"I shall not discuss what ought or ought not to be. I ask you, will you fight this man and try to kill him? I request nothing unusual,—men are killed every day in duels. You are a good swordsman; Bussy d'Amboise himself has said so. Come! will you do this?" She looked up at me with a slight frown of repressed petulance.
"If you will assure me that he has affronted you, and permit me to let him know, privately, the cause of my quarrel."
"Oh!" she exclaimed, with irritation, "must a lady give a hundred reasons when she requests a service of a gentleman?"
"One sufficient reason, when it is a service like this."
"Well, I shall give none. I desire his death,—few gentlemen would ask a further reason."
"I had not thought you so cruel, mademoiselle, as to desire the death of any man."
"God forbid that I should desire the death of any other man! So, monsieur, I must understand that you refuse to serve me in this?"