It was arranged this time that ‘three’ only should be counted, and the moment the last number was given the men were to fire.
Sutherland stood cold and collected; Gavrolles, this time, shook violently, and seemed to lose his self-possession.
‘Stop!’ he cried, just as the second prepared to count.
‘No! It is infamous! I will not fight again.’
And he threw down his pistol.
‘A coward,’ said Sutherland; ‘I thought so!’
But the fire-eating Chevalier now walked over, lifted the weapon, and handed it back to his principal.
‘On the contrary, you must fight now,’ he said grimly. ‘If not, I shall proclaim you to be what the Englishman calls you, a coward.’
With one fierce glare into his friend’s face, Gavrolles snatched the pistol, uttered an execration, and again took his stand facing Sutherland.
The Chevalier walked back to his place.