"Mon Dieu! my happiness has made me forget. It is not a dream--you are to fight to-morrow!"
"Yes, I am to fight to-morrow, at ten o"clock. But that fact cannot prevent my being the happiest of men to-night."
"Is there no way of enjoying perfect happiness on earth? I was so happy, so happy! And you are to fight to-morrow!"
"I shall be the victor, and I shall have avenged you! My happiness will be even greater--if that is possible!"
"Oh! yes, yes, we must hope so! With what weapons do you fight?"
"Swords."
"Ah! Saint-Bergame chose that weapon, of course. I have often heard him boast of his fine swordsmanship."
"I struck him, so he had the choice of weapons."
"True; but are you a good fencer?"
"I know how to defend myself."
"We will see about that."
She left me and went into her dressing-room, whence she soon returned with a pair of b.u.t.toned foils and handed one to me.
"Let us see, my friend, if you really know how to defend yourself," she said.
"What! can you handle a sword?"
"Very well, according to Grisier, who was my teacher. Didn"t I tell you that I received a man"s education? Come, monsieur, on guard, and look out for yourself!"
I took the foil. I thought, at first, that all I needed to do was to parry carelessly a thrust or two. But Frederique soon undeceived me; she was sharp and persistent in attack, quick in parrying. Twice I was touched, and she exclaimed:
"Ah! so that"s how you defend yourself, is it? Why, poor fellow, you will let him kill you! Attack--attack, I say!"
These words recalled me to myself; my self-esteem was aroused. We continued for some time, and at last I touched her. She dropped her foil and embraced me, saying:
"That"s all right! that will do! But you must be careful; you must not be taken unawares. Whom shall you have with you to-morrow?"
"You remind me. I shall get Balloquet. I can rely upon him, and I must go this evening and leave a letter for him. But I must have another second. Those fellows insist on having three on a side. Whom in the devil shall I get?"
"Don"t cudgel your brains, my friend. Your other second will be at your rooms at nine o"clock to-morrow."
"Do you know of someone?"
"Yes."
"Ah! I"ll wager that you are thinking of Baron von Brunzbrack?"
"Perhaps so. However, I"ll be responsible for your second. Now, write to Balloquet at once. Do you know the long-bearded individual who was with Saint-Bergame?"
"Oh! yes, I know him! And if I could fight with him too, it would be an additional gratification."
"Why, what has he done to you?"
"Nothing to me. But I told you, did I not, that Mignonne was vilely insulted and then abandoned by her seducer? Well, it was that dastard, that low-lived scoundrel, that Fouvenard, in short, who was with Saint-Bergame at the Opera this evening."
"Go, my friend, and carry the note to Balloquet; make sure of him, and I will answer for the other second. Then go home and rest. Until to-morrow!"
"You will come to my rooms to learn the result of the duel?"
"Yes, you will see me. Until to-morrow!"
I pressed her to my heart. I was proud of her courage. She continued to smile as she looked after me. I found Balloquet"s abode, not without difficulty, gave my letter to the concierge, and went home to bed. She loved me! I was so happy, that I had not a thought to spare for my duel.
XLIX
A DOUBLE DUEL
I woke early. It seemed to me that the events of the preceding night were a dream. But, no--she loved me, she was mine, and I was to fight a duel!
At half-past eight, Balloquet arrived, all out of breath.
"What"s up, my dear Rochebrune?" he cried. "You wrote me not to fail you, to drop everything--and here I am! Is there a duel on the carpet, by any chance?"
"Just that! I have a duel on hand for this morning, at ten o"clock, at Porte Maillot. I tell you beforehand, my dear Balloquet, that the affair cannot be adjusted; I struck my opponent at the Opera last night."
"The devil! it"s a serious business, then. What caused the quarrel?"
"It is about a lady, my friend."
"A lady! I understand! that is to say, it"s for her lovely eyes."
"If I should tell you her name, I"ll be bound that you also would fight for her."
"Oho! do I know her, pray?"
"Madame Dauberny."
"Madame Dauberny! _Fichtre!_ But, tell me, are you in love with her now?"
"I have always been, my dear Balloquet; but I dared not confess it to myself, or tell her, for fear I should be repulsed."
"Like me! But it would seem that you haven"t been repulsed. I was in love with her for a moment, after a good dinner. She sent me about my business, and I haven"t given her a thought for a long time. But I am none the less enchanted that you have chosen me for your second. She"s a charming woman, and, although she didn"t listen to my nonsense, "pon my honor! I"d be very glad to fight for her."
"Give me your hand, Balloquet. I expected nothing less from you."