And nodding to his acquaintances, he slowly left the room.
Ferdinand's banquet was not a success. Many of the guests left before dinner; others shammed gaiety. But Ferdinand himself was in excellent spirits. His first glass of wine soothed him; the second gave his excitement a pleasant flavour. He was delighted at the prospect of a duel, especially of a duel with Zapora, and he had not the slightest doubt of his success.
"I shall give him a lesson in shooting," he whispered to one of his seconds, "and that will be the end of it."
And he thought: "That will do more to put my position right than any amount of dinners."
The more experienced adventurers, of whom there was no lack in the room, had to admit, when they looked at him, that he had grit and pluck of a certain kind.
"Thank Heaven!" said one of them, "our newspapers will at last have something sensational to talk about."
"I am only sorry...." said another.
"For what?"
"Those bottles that we may see no more."
"Oh, I hope we shall give them decent burial."