Itwasnotmerelyundertheexcitementofthesword-playthatthisfortitudewasshown；itwasshowninthesurgeon'sroomwhereanuninspiringquietreigned，andwheretherewasnoaudience。Thedoctor'smanipulationsbroughtoutneithergrimacesnormoans。Andinthefightsitwasobservablethattheseladshackedandslashedwiththesametremendousspirit，aftertheywerecoveredwithstreamingwounds，whichtheyhadshowninthebeginning。
　　Theworldingenerallooksuponthecollegeduelsasveryfarcicalaffairs:true，butconsideringthatthecollegeduelisfoughtbyboys；thattheswordsarerealswords；
　　andthattheheadandfaceareexposed，itseemstomethatitisafarcewhichhadquiteagravesidetoit。
　　Peoplelaughatitmainlybecausetheythinkthestudentissocoveredupwitharmorthathecannotbehurt。
　　Butitisnotso；hiseyesareearsareprotected，buttherestofhisfaceandheadarebare。Hecannotonlybebadlywounded，buthislifeisindanger；andhewouldsometimesloseitbutfortheinterferenceofthesurgeon。
　　Itisnotintendedthathislifeshallbeendangered。
　　Fatalaccidentsarepossible，however。Forinstance，thestudent'sswordmaybreak，andtheendofitflyupbehindhisantagonist'searandcutanarterywhichcouldnotbereachediftheswordremainedwhole。
　　Thishashappened，sometimes，anddeathhasresultedonthespot。Formerlythestudent'sarmpitswerenotprotected——andatthattimetheswordswerepointed，whereastheyareblunt，now；soanarteryinthearmpitwassometimescut，anddeathfollowed。Theninthedaysofsharp-pointedswords，aspectatorwasanoccasionalvictim——theendofabrokenswordflewfiveortenfeetandburieditselfinhisneckorhisheart，anddeathensuedinstantly。ThestudentduelsinGermanyoccasiontwoorthreedeathseveryyear，now，butthisarisesonlyfromthecarelessnessofthewoundedmen；
　　theyeatordrinkimprudently，orcommitexcessesinthewayofoverexertion；inflammationsetsinandgetssuchaheadwaythatitcannotbearrested。Indeed，thereisbloodandpainanddangerenoughaboutthecollegedueltoentitleittoaconsiderabledegreeofrespect。
　　Allthecustoms，allthelaws，allthedetails，pertainingtothestudentduelarequaintandnaive。
　　Thegrave，precise，andcourtlyceremonywithwhichthethingisconducted，investsitwithasortofantiquecharm。
　　Thisdignityandtheseknightlygracessuggestthetournament，nottheprize-fight。Thelawsareascuriousastheyarestrict。Forinstance，theduelistmaystepforwardfromthelineheisplacedupon，ifhechooses，butneverbackofit。Ifhestepsbackofit，orevenleansback，itisconsideredthathedidittoavoidabloworcontriveanadvantage；soheisdismissedfromhiscorpsindisgrace。
　　Itwouldseemnaturaltostepfromunderadescendingswordunconsciously，andagainstone'swillandintent——yetthisunconsciousnessisnotallowed。Again:ifunderthesuddenanguishofawoundthereceiverofitmakesagrimace，hefallssomedegreesintheestimationofhisfellows；
　　hiscorpsareashamedofhim:theycallhim"harefoot，"
　　whichistheGermanequivalentforchicken-hearted。
　　CHAPTERVII
　　[HowBismarkFought]
　　Inadditiontothecorpslaws，therearesomecorpsusageswhichhavetheforceoflaws。
　　Perhapsthepresidentofacorpsnoticesthatoneofthemembershipwhoisnolongeranexempt——thatisafreshman——
　　hasremainedasophomoresomelittletimewithoutvolunteeringtofight；someday，thepresident，insteadofcallingforvolunteers，willAPPOINTthissophomoretomeasureswordswithastudentofanothercorps；heisfreetodecline——everybodysaysso——thereisnocompulsion。
　　Thisisalltrue——butIhavenotheardofanystudentwhoDIDdecline；todeclineandstillremaininthecorpswouldmakehimunpleasantlyconspicuous，andproperlyso，sinceheknew，whenhejoined，thathismainbusiness，asamember，wouldbetofight。No，thereisnolawagainstdeclining——exceptthelawofcustom，whichisconfessedlystrongerthanwrittenlaw，everywhere。
　　ThetenmenwhoseduelsIhadwitnesseddidnotgoawaywhentheirhurtsweredressed，asIhadsupposedtheywould，butcameback，oneafteranother，assoonastheywerefreeofthesurgeon，andmingledwiththeassemblageinthedueling-room。Thewhite-capstudentwhowonthesecondfightwitnessedtheremainingthree，andtalkedwithusduringtheintermissions。Hecouldnottalkverywell，becausehisopponent'sswordhadcuthisunder-lipintwo，andthenthesurgeonhadsewedittogetherandoverlaiditwithaprofusionofwhiteplasterpatches；neithercouldheeateasily，stillhecontrivedtoaccomplishaslowandtroublesomeluncheonwhilethelastduelwaspreparing。
　　Themanwhowastheworsthurtofallplayedchesswhilewaitingtoseethisengagement。Agoodpartofhisfacewascoveredwithpatchesandbandages，andalltherestofhisheadwascoveredandconcealedbythem。
　　Itissaidthatthestudentlikestoappearonthestreetandinotherpublicplacesinthiskindofarray，andthatthispredilectionoftenkeepshimoutwhenexposuretorainorsunisapositivedangerforhim。
　　NewlybandagedstudentsareaverycommonspectacleinthepublicgardensofHeidelberg。Itisalsosaidthatthestudentisgladtogetwoundsintheface，becausethescarstheyleavewillshowsowellthere；
　　anditisalsosaidthatthesefacewoundsaresoprizedthatyouthshaveevenbeenknowntopullthemapartfromtimetotimeandputredwineinthemtomakethemhealbadlyandleaveasuglyascaraspossible。
　　Itdoesnotlookreasonable，butitisroundlyassertedandmaintained，nevertheless；Iamsureofonething——scarsareplentyenoughinGermany，amongtheyoungmen；
　　andverygrimonestheyare，too。Theycrisscrossthefaceinangryredwelts，andarepermanentandineffaceable。
　　Someofthesescarsareofaverystrangeanddreadfulaspect；
　　andtheeffectisstrikingwhenseveralsuchaccentthemilderones，whichformacitymaponaman'sface；
　　theysuggestthe"burneddistrict"then。Wehadoftennoticedthatmanyofthestudentsworeacoloredsilkbandorribbondiagonallyacrosstheirbreasts。
　　Ittranspiredthatthissignifiesthatthewearerhasfoughtthreeduelsinwhichadecisionwasreached——duelsinwhichheeitherwhippedorwaswhipped——fordrawnbattlesdonotcount。[1]Afterastudenthasreceivedhisribbon，heis"free"；hecanceasefromfighting，withoutreproach——exceptsomeoneinsulthim；hispresidentcannotappointhimtofight；hecanvolunteerifhewantsto，orremainquiescentifhepreferstodoso。
　　StatisticsshowthathedoesNOTprefertoremainquiescent。
　　Theyshowthattheduelhasasingularfascinationaboutitsomewhere，forthesefreemen，sofarfromrestingupontheprivilegeofthebadge，arealwaysvolunteering。
　　AcorpsstudenttoldmeitwasofrecordthatPrinceBismarckfoughtthirty-twooftheseduelsinasinglesummertermwhenhewasincollege。Sohefoughttwenty-nineafterhisbadgehadgivenhimtherighttoretirefromthefield。
　　1。FROMMYDIARY——DinedinahotelafewmilesuptheNeckar，inaroomwhosewallswerehungalloverwithframedportrait-groupsoftheFiveCorps；somewererecent，butmanyantedatedphotography，andwerepicturedinlithography——thedatesrangedbacktofortyorfiftyyearsago。Nearlyeveryindividualworetheribbonacrosshisbreast。Inoneportrait-grouprepresentingaseachofthesepicturesdidanentireCorps，Itookpainstocounttheribbons:thereweretwenty-sevenmembers，andtwenty-oneofthemworethatsignificantbadge。
　　Thestatisticsmaybefoundtopossessinterestinseveralparticulars。Twodaysineveryweekaredevotedtodueling。Theruleisrigidthattheremustbethreeduelsoneachofthesedays；therearegenerallymore，buttherecannotbefewer。ThereweresixthedayIwaspresent；sometimestherearesevenoreight。
　　Itisinsistedthateightduelsaweek——fourforeachofthetwodays——istoolowanaveragetodrawacalculationfrom，butIwillreckonfromthatbasis，preferringanunderstatementtoanoverstatementofthecase。
　　Thisrequiresaboutfourhundredandeightyorfivehundredduelistsayear——forinsummerthecollegetermisaboutthreeandahalfmonths，andinwinteritisfourmonthsandsometimeslonger。OfthesevenhundredandfiftystudentsintheuniversityatthetimeIamwritingof，onlyeightybelongedtothefivecorps，anditisonlythesecorpsthatdothedueling；occasionallyotherstudentsborrowthearmsandbattlegroundofthefivecorpsinordertosettleaquarrel，butthisdoesnothappeneverydueling-day。[2]Consequentlyeightyyouthsfurnishthematerialforsometwohundredandfiftyduelsayear。
　　Thisaveragegivessixfightsayeartoeachoftheeighty。
　　Thislargeworkcouldnotbeaccomplishedifthebadge-holdersstoodupontheirprivilegeandceasedtovolunteer。
　　2。Theyhavetoborrowthearmsbecausetheycouldnotgetthemelsewhereorotherwise。AsIunderstandit，thepublicauthorities，alloverGermany，allowthefiveCorpstokeepswords，butDONOTALLOWTHEMTOUSETHEM。
　　Thisislawisrigid；itisonlytheexecutionofitthatislax。
　　Ofcourse，wherethereissomuchfighting，thestudentsmakeitapointtokeepthemselvesinconstantpracticewiththefoil。Oneoftenseesthem，atthetablesintheCastlegrounds，usingtheirwhipsorcanestoillustratesomenewswordtrickwhichtheyhaveheardabout；
　　andbetweentheduels，onthedaywhosehistoryI
　　havebeenwriting，theswordswerenotalwaysidle；
　　everynowandthenweheardasuccessionofthekeenhissingsoundswhichtheswordmakeswhenitisbeingputthroughitspacesintheair，andthisinformedusthatastudentwaspracticing。Necessarily，thisunceasingattentiontotheartdevelopsanexpertoccasionally。
　　Hebecomesfamousinhisownuniversity，hisrenownspreadstootheruniversities。HeisinvitedtoGo"ttingen，tofightwithaGo"ttingenexpert；ifheisvictorious，hewillbeinvitedtoothercolleges，orthosecollegeswillsendtheirexpertstohim。AmericansandEnglishmenoftenjoinoneoranotherofthefivecorps。Ayearortwoago，theprincipalHeidelbergexpertwasabigKentuckian；
　　hewasinvitedtothevariousuniversitiesandleftawakeofvictorybehindhimallaboutGermany；
　　butatlastalittlestudentinStrasburgdefeatedhim。
　　TherewasformerlyastudentinHeidelbergwhohadpickedupsomewhereandmasteredapeculiartrickofcuttingupunderinsteadofcleavingdownfromabove。Whilethetricklastedhewoninsixteensuccessiveduelsinhisuniversity；
　　butbythattimeobservershaddiscoveredwhathischarmwas，andhowtobreakit，thereforehischampionshipceased。
　　Arulewhichforbidssocialintercoursebetweenmembersofdifferentcorpsisstrict。Inthedueling-house，intheparks，onthestreet，andanywhereandeverywherethatthestudentsgo，capsofacolorgroupthemselvestogether。
　　Ifallthetablesinapublicgardenwerecrowdedbutone，andthatonehadtwored-capstudentsatitandtenvacantplaces，theyellow-caps，theblue-caps，thewhitecaps，andthegreencaps，seekingseats，wouldgobythattableandnotseemtoseeit，norseemtobeawarethattherewassuchatableinthegrounds。
　　Thestudentbywhosecourtesywehadbeenenabledtovisitthedueling-place，worethewhitecap——PrussianCorps。
　　Heintroducedustomanywhitecaps，buttononeofanothercolor。Thecorpsetiquetteextendedeventous，whowerestrangers，andrequiredustogroupwiththewhitecorpsonly，andspeakonlywiththewhitecorps，whileweweretheirguests，andkeepalooffromthecapsoftheothercolors。OnceIwishedtoexaminesomeoftheswords，butanAmericanstudentsaid，"Itwouldnotbequitepolite；
　　thesenowinthewindowsallhaveredhiltsorblue；
　　theywillbringinsomewithwhitehiltspresently，andthoseyoucanhandlefreely。"Whenaswordwasbrokeninthefirstduel，Iwantedapieceofit；butitshiltwasthewrongcolor，soitwasconsideredbestandpolitesttoawaitapropererseason。Itwasbroughttomeaftertheroomwascleared，andIwillnowmakea"life-size"
　　sketchofitbytracingalinearounditwithmypen，toshowthewidthoftheweapon。[Figure1]Thelengthoftheseswordsisaboutthreefeet，andtheyarequiteheavy。
　　One'sdispositiontocheer，duringthecourseoftheduelsorattheirclose，wasnaturallystrong，butcorpsetiquetteforbadeanydemonstrationsofthissort。
　　Howeverbrilliantacontestoravictorymightbe，nosignorsoundbetrayedthatanyonewasmoved。
　　Adignifiedgravityandrepressionweremaintainedatalltimes。
　　Whentheduelingwasfinishedandwewerereadytogo，thegentlemenofthePrussianCorpstowhomwehadbeenintroducedtookofftheircapsinthecourteousGermanway，andalsoshookhands；theirbrethrenofthesameordertookofftheircapsandbowed，butwithoutshakinghands；
　　thegentlemenoftheothercorpstreatedusjustastheywouldhavetreatedwhitecaps——theyfellapart，apparentlyunconsciously，andleftusanunobstructedpathway，butdidnotseemtoseeusorknowwewerethere。
　　Ifwehadgonethitherthefollowingweekasguestsofanothercorps，thewhitecaps，withoutmeaninganyoffense，wouldhaveobservedtheetiquetteoftheirorderandignoredourpresence。
　　[Howstrangelyarecomedyandtragedyblendedinthislife!
　　Ihadnotbeenhomeafullhalf-hour，afterwitnessingthoseplayfulsham-duels，whencircumstancesmadeitnecessaryformetogetreadyimmediatelytoassistpersonallyatarealone——aduelwithnoeffeminatelimitationinthematterofresults，butabattletothedeath。Anaccountofit，inthenextchapter，willshowthereaderthatduelsbetweenboys，forfun，andduelsbetweenmeninearnest，areverydifferentaffairs。]
　　CHAPTERVIII
　　TheGreatFrenchDuel[ISecondGambettainaTerrificDuel]
　　MuchasthemodernFrenchduelisridiculedbycertainsmartpeople，itisinrealityoneofthemostdangerousinstitutionsofourday。Sinceitisalwaysfoughtintheopenair，thecombatantsarenearlysuretocatchcold。
　　M。PauldeCassagnac，themostinveterateoftheFrenchduelists，hadsufferedsoofteninthiswaythatheisatlastaconfirmedinvalid；andthebestphysicianinParishasexpressedtheopinionthatifhegoesonduelingforfifteenortwentyyearsmore——unlessheformsthehabitoffightinginacomfortableroomwheredampsanddraughtscannotintrude——hewilleventuallyendangerhislife。
　　ThisoughttomoderatethetalkofthosepeoplewhoaresostubborninmaintainingthattheFrenchduelisthemosthealth-givingofrecreationsbecauseoftheopen-airexerciseitaffords。AnditoughtalsotomoderatethatfoolishtalkaboutFrenchduelistsandsocialist-hatedmonarchsbeingtheonlypeoplewhoareimmoral。
　　Butitistimetogetatmysubject。AssoonasIheardofthelatefieryoutbreakbetweenM。GambettaandM。FourtouintheFrenchAssembly，Iknewthattroublemustfollow。
　　IknewitbecausealongpersonalfriendshipwithM。Gambettarevealedtomethedesperateandimplacablenatureoftheman。Vastasarehisphysicalproportions，Iknewthatthethirstforrevengewouldpenetratetotheremotestfrontiersofhisperson。
　　Ididnotwaitforhimtocallonme，butwentatoncetohim。AsIhadexpected，IfoundthebravefellowsteepedinaprofoundFrenchcalm。IsayFrenchcalm，becauseFrenchcalmnessandEnglishcalmnesshavepointsofdifference。Hewasmovingswiftlybackandforthamongthedebrisofhisfurniture，nowandthenstavingchancefragmentsofitacrosstheroomwithhisfoot；
　　grindingaconstantgristofcursesthroughhissetteeth；
　　andhaltingeverylittlewhiletodepositanotherhandfulofhishaironthepilewhichhehadbeenbuildingofitonthetable。
　　Hethrewhisarmsaroundmyneck，bentmeoverhisstomachtohisbreast，kissedmeonbothcheeks，huggedmefourorfivetimes，andthenplacedmeinhisownarm-chair。
　　AssoonasIhadgotwellagain，webeganbusinessatonce。
　　IsaidIsupposedhewouldwishmetoactashissecond，andhesaid，"Ofcourse。"IsaidImustbeallowedtoactunderaFrenchname，sothatImightbeshieldedfromobloquyinmycountry，incaseoffatalresults。
　　Hewincedhere，probablyatthesuggestionthatduelingwasnotregardedwithrespectinAmerica。However，heagreedtomyrequirement。ThisaccountsforthefactthatinallthenewspaperreportsM。Gambetta'ssecondwasapparentlyaFrenchman。
　　First，wedrewupmyprincipal'swill。Iinsisteduponthis，andstucktomypoint。IsaidIhadneverheardofamaninhisrightmindgoingouttofightaduelwithoutfirstmakinghiswill。Hesaidhehadneverheardofamaninhisrightminddoinganythingofthekind。
　　Whenhehadfinishedthewill，hewishedtoproceedtoachoiceofhis"lastwords。"Hewantedtoknowhowthefollowingwords，asadyingexclamation，struckme:
　　"IdieformyGod，formycountry，forfreedomofspeech，forprogress，andtheuniversalbrotherhoodofman!"
　　Iobjectedthatthiswouldrequiretoolingeringadeath；
　　itwasagoodspeechforaconsumptive，butnotsuitedtotheexigenciesofthefieldofhonor。Wewrangledoveragoodmanyante-mortemoutburts，butIfinallygothimtocuthisobituarydowntothis，whichhecopiedintohismemorandum-book，purposingtogetitbyheart:
　　"IDIETHATFRANCEMIGHTLIVE。"
　　Isaidthatthisremarkseemedtolackrelevancy；buthesaidrelevancywasamatterofnoconsequenceinlastwords，whatyouwantedwasthrill。
　　Thenextthinginorderwasthechoiceofweapons。
　　Myprincipalsaidhewasnotfeelingwell，andwouldleavethatandtheotherdetailsoftheproposedmeetingtome。
　　ThereforeIwrotethefollowingnoteandcarriedittoM。Fourtou'sfriend:
　　Sir:M。GambettaacceptsM。Fourtou'schallenge，andauthorizesmetoproposePlessis-Piquetastheplaceofmeeting；tomorrowmorningatdaybreakasthetime；
　　andaxesastheweapons。
　　Iam，sir，withgreatrespect，MarkTwain。
　　M。Fourtou'sfriendreadthisnote，andshuddered。
　　Thenheturnedtome，andsaid，withasuggestionofseverityinhistone:
　　"Haveyouconsidered，sir，whatwouldbetheinevitableresultofsuchameetingasthis?"
　　"Well，forinstance，whatWOULDitbe?"
　　"Bloodshed!"
　　"That'saboutthesizeofit，"Isaid。"Now，ifitisafairquestion，whatwasyoursideproposingtoshed?"
　　Ihadhimthere。Hesawhehadmadeablunder，sohehastenedtoexplainitaway。Hesaidhehadspokenjestingly。
　　Thenheaddedthatheandhisprincipalwouldenjoyaxes，andindeedpreferthem，butsuchweaponswerebarredbytheFrenchcode，andsoImustchangemyproposal。
　　Iwalkedthefloor，turningthethingoverinmymind，andfinallyitoccurredtomethatGatling-gunsatfifteenpaceswouldbealikelywaytogetaverdictonthefieldofhonor。SoIframedthisideaintoaproposition。
　　Butitwasnotaccepted。Thecodewasinthewayagain。
　　Iproposedrifles；thendouble-barreledshotguns；
　　thenColt'snavyrevolvers。Thesebeingallrejected，Ireflectedawhile，andsarcasticallysuggestedbrickbatsatthree-quartersofamile。Ialwayshatetofoolawayahumorousthingonapersonwhohasnoperceptionofhumor；
　　anditfilledmewithbitternesswhenthismanwentsoberlyawaytosubmitthelastpropositiontohisprincipal。
　　Hecamebackpresentlyandsaidhisprincipalwascharmedwiththeideaofbrickbatsatthree-quartersofamile，butmustdeclineonaccountofthedangertodisinterestedpartiespassingbetweenthem。ThenIsaid:
　　"Well，Iamattheendofmystring，now。PerhapsYOU
　　wouldbegoodenoughtosuggestaweapon?Perhapsyouhaveevenhadoneinyourmindallthetime?"
　　Hiscountenancebrightened，andhesaidwithalacrity:
　　"Oh，withoutdoubt，monsieur!"
　　Sohefelltohuntinginhispockets——pocketafterpocket，andhehadplentyofthem——mutteringallthewhile，"Now，whatcouldIhavedonewiththem?"
　　Atlasthewassuccessful。HefishedoutofhisvestpocketacoupleoflittlethingswhichIcarriedtothelightandascertainedtobepistols。Theyweresingle-barreledandsilver-mounted，andverydaintyandpretty。
　　Iwasnotabletospeakforemotion。Isilentlyhungoneofthemonmywatch-chain，andreturnedtheother。
　　Mycompanionincrimenowunrolledapostage-stampcontainingseveralcartridges，andgavemeoneofthem。
　　Iaskedifhemeanttosignifybythisthatourmenweretobeallowedbutoneshotapiece。HerepliedthattheFrenchcodepermittednomore。Ithenbeggedhimtogoandsuggestadistance，formymindwasgrowingweakandconfusedunderthestrainwhichhadbeenputuponit。
　　Henamedsixty-fiveyards。Inearlylostmypatience。
　　Isaid:
　　"Sixty-fiveyards，withtheseinstruments?Squirt-gunswouldbedeadlieratfifty。Consider，myfriend，youandIarebandedtogethertodestroylife，notmakeiteternal。"
　　Butwithallmypersuasions，allmyarguments，Iwasonlyabletogethimtoreducethedistancetothirty-fiveyards；
　　andeventhisconcessionhemadewithreluctance，andsaidwithasigh，"Iwashmyhandsofthisslaughter；
　　onyourheadbeit。"
　　Therewasnothingformebuttogohometomyoldlion-heartandtellmyhumiliatingstory。WhenIentered，M。Gambettawaslayinghislastlockofhairuponthealtar。
　　Hesprangtowardme，exclaiming:
　　"Youhavemadethefatalarrangements——Iseeitinyoureye!"
　　"Ihave。"
　　Hisfacepaledatrifle，andheleaneduponthetableforsupport。Hebreathedthickandheavilyforamomentortwo，sotumultuouswerehisfeelings；thenhehoarselywhispered:
　　"Theweapon，theweapon!Quick!whatistheweapon?"
　　"This!"andIdisplayedthatsilver-mountedthing。
　　Hecastbutoneglanceatit，thenswoonedponderouslytothefloor。
　　Whenhecameto，hesaidmournfully:
　　"TheunnaturalcalmtowhichIhavesubjectedmyselfhastolduponmynerves。Butawaywithweakness!
　　IwillconfrontmyfatelikeamanandaFrenchman。"
　　Herosetohisfeet，andassumedanattitudewhichforsublimityhasneverbeenapproachedbyman，andhasseldombeensurpassedbystatues。Thenhesaid，inhisdeepbasstones:
　　"Behold，Iamcalm，Iamready；revealtomethedistance。"
　　"Thirty-fiveyards。"……
　　Icouldnotlifthimup，ofcourse；butIrolledhimover，andpouredwaterdownhisback。Hepresentlycameto，andsaid:
　　"Thirty-fiveyards——withoutarest?Butwhyask?Sincemurderwasthatman'sintention，whyshouldhepalterwithsmalldetails?Butmarkyouonething:inmyfalltheworldshallseehowthechivalryofFrancemeetsdeath。"
　　Afteralongsilenceheasked:
　　"Wasnothingsaidaboutthatman'sfamilystandingupwithhim，asanoffsettomybulk?Butnomatter；
　　Iwouldnotstooptomakesuchasuggestion；ifheisnotnobleenoughtosuggestithimself，heiswelcometothisadvantage，whichnohonorablemanwouldtake。"
　　Henowsankintoasortofstuporofreflection，whichlastedsomeminutes；afterwhichhebrokesilencewith:
　　"Thehour——whatisthehourfixedforthecollision?"
　　"Dawn，tomorrow。"
　　Heseemedgreatlysurprised，andimmediatelysaid:
　　"Insanity!Ineverheardofsuchathing。Nobodyisabroadatsuchanhour。"
　　"ThatisthereasonInamedit。Doyoumeantosayyouwantanaudience?"
　　"Itisnotimetobandywords。IamastonishedthatM。Fourtoushouldeverhaveagreedtosostrangeaninnovation。
　　Goatonceandrequirealaterhour。"
　　Irandownstairs，threwopenthefrontdoor，andalmostplungedintothearmsofM。Fourtou'ssecond。Hesaid:
　　"Ihavethehonortosaythatmyprincipalstrenuouslyobjectstothehourchosen，andbegsyouwillconsenttochangeittohalfpastnine。"
　　"Anycourtesy，sir，whichitisinourpowertoextendisattheserviceofyourexcellentprincipal。Weagreetotheproposedchangeoftime。"
　　"Ibegyoutoacceptthethanksofmyclient。"Thenheturnedtoapersonbehindhim，andsaid，"Youhear，M。Noir，thehourisalteredtohalfpastnine。"WhereuponM。Noirbowed，expressedhisthanks，andwentaway。
　　Myaccomplicecontinued:
　　"Ifagreeabletoyou，yourchiefsurgeonsandoursshallproceedtothefieldinthesamecarriageasiscustomary。"
　　"Itisentirelyagreeabletome，andIamobligedtoyouformentioningthesurgeons，forIamafraidIshouldnothavethoughtofthem。HowmanyshallIwant?Isupposedtwoorthreewillbeenough?"
　　"Twoisthecustomarynumberforeachparty。Ireferto'chief'surgeons；butconsideringtheexaltedpositionsoccupiedbyourclients，itwillbewellanddecorousthateachofusappointseveralconsultingsurgeons，fromamongthehighestintheprofession。Thesewillcomeintheirownprivatecarriages。Haveyouengagedahearse?"
　　"Blessmystupidity，Ineverthoughtofit!"Iwillattendtoitrightaway。Imustseemveryignoranttoyou；
　　butyoumusttrytooverlookthat，becauseIhaveneverhadanyexperienceofsuchaswellduelasthisbefore。
　　IhavehadagooddealtodowithduelsonthePacificcoast，butIseenowthattheywerecrudeaffairs。Ahearse——sho!
　　weusedtoleavetheelectedlyingaroundloose，andletanybodycordthemupandcartthemoffthatwantedto。
　　Haveyouanythingfurthertosuggest?"
　　"Nothing，exceptthattheheadundertakersshallridetogether，asisusual。Thesubordinatesandmuteswillgoonfoot，asisalsousual。Iwillseeyouateighto'clockinthemorning，andwewillthenarrangetheorderoftheprocession。Ihavethehonortobidyouagoodday。"
　　Ireturnedtomyclient，whosaid，"Verywell；
　　atwhathouristheengagementtobegin?"
　　"Halfpastnine。"
　　"Verygoodindeed。；Haveyousentthefacttothenewspapers?"
　　"SIR!Ifafterourlongandintimatefriendshipyoucanforamomentdeemmecapableofsobaseatreachery——"
　　"Tut，tut!Whatwordsarethese，mydearfriend?HaveI
　　woundedyou?Ah，forgiveme；Iamoverloadingyouwithlabor。
　　Thereforegoonwiththeotherdetails，anddropthisonefromyourlist。Thebloody-mindedFourtouwillbesuretoattendtoit。OrImyself——yes，tomakecertain，Iwilldropanotetomyjournalisticfriend，M。Noir——"
　　"Oh，cometothinkofit，youmaysaveyourselfthetrouble；