Yes, I did. Directly I left my guard, I
saw that I was caught. But 'tis you who
don't expect what is going to happen."

During this little dialogue, one of the
speakers played the part of naturalist, the
other the part of butterfly.

"Well, let us see what is likely to happen."

"The moment you stir, I shall give you
a thrust in the belly. You are a dead man."

"I will ward your thrust."

"Impossible."

"I won't stir my sword an inch. I will
keep you pinned till you throw down your
sword."

"Do you know that this is a very
disagreeable position? " said Fournier.

"For you especially. Throw down your
sword, and I will allow you to quit it."

"No: I intend to kill you."

Fortunately, the noise which the two
generals made, was heard by the officers,
who came and separated the combatants.

Dupont, the more reasonable of the two,
now and then thought of the absurdity of a
quarrel, which still went on after so many
struggles, and asked himself whether he
should not be doing right in killing Fournier,
to make an end of the matter. Besides that,
he was going to get married. One morning
he called on Fournier.

"Are you come to fix a day for a match?"
inquired the latter, on seeing him enter.

"Perhaps I am; but first of all, let us talk
a little. Listen to this; I intend to get
married; and before I enter the serious state
of matrimony, I should like to have done
with you."

"Oh! oh!"

"Our quarrel has now lasted for nineteen
years. I do not wish to continue a style of
life which my wife might consider not exactly
comfortable; and therefore, in virtue of the
fourth article of our treaty, I am come to
propose a change in the mode of combat, and
so to have a final meeting, the result of
which shall be decisive. We will fight with
pistols."

"You don't think of such a thing!" cried
Fournier, in astonishment.

"I know that that is your strong point;
but, to equal the chances, we will do this, if
you like. One of my friends has, at Neuilly,
an inclosure planted with trees, and
completely surrounded with walls; there are two
doors to it, one at each end. On a day, and
at an hour to be agreed upon, we will go to
the inclosure separately, armed with our two
holster-pistols ready loaded, to take a single
shot with each. We will try which can find
the other, and whoever catches sight of the
other, shall fire."

"That's a droll idea."

"Does it suit you ? "

"Ten o'clock on Thursday morning—will
that do?"

"That's it; agreed. Adieu, till Thursday."

The hour and the day determined on, they
were punctual at their rendezvous. As soon
as they were inside the inclosure, the two
antagonists sought after each other cautiously,
halting to listen at every step. They advanced
slowly, with their cocked pistols in
their hands, eye on the watch, and ear
all attention. At the turn of an alley they
perceived each other; by a rapid motion
they threw themselves behind the trunks
of a couple of trees; in this position they
remained for a considerable time, when
Dupont resolved to act. At first he gently
waved the tail of his coat just outside the
tree which protected him; he then protruded
half the thickness of the fleshy part of his
arm, drawing it back again instantly. It was
lucky for him that he did so; for,
immediately afterwards, a bullet sent a large piece
of bark flying. Fournier had lost a shot.

In the course of a few minutes, Dupont
recommenced the same manœuvre on the
opposite side of the tree-trunk, and he
embellished his original idea by showing the tip
of his pistol-barrel, as if he in turn were
watching for an opportunity to fire. Holding
his hat in his right hand, he displayed it as
far as the rim. In a twinkling, the hat was
blown away; fortunately, there was no head
inside it. Fournier, therefore, had wasted his
second bullet.

Dupont then sallied from his fortress, and
marched up to his adversary, who awaited
him in the attitude of a brave man for whom
there is no further hope. When Dupont was
within a couple of paces of his enemy, he said:

"I can kill you, if I like; it is my right and
my privilege; but I cannot fire at a human
creature in cold blood. I spare your life."

"As you please."

"I spare it to-day, you understand clearly;
but I remain the master of my own property,
of which I allow you the provisional enjoyment.
But if ever you give me any trouble,
if ever you try to pick a quarrel with me, I
shall take the liberty of reminding you that
I am the lawful owner of a couple of bullets
specially destined to be lodged in your skull;
and we will resume the affair exactly at the
point where I think proper to leave it
to-day."

So ended a duel which began in seventeen
hundred and ninety-four, and only finished in
eighteen hundred and thirteen.

MY LADY LUDLOW.

CHAPTER THE FIFTH.

"In the hurry of the moment I scarce
knew what I did. I bade the housekeeper
put up every delicacy she had, in order to
tempt the invalid, whom yet I hoped to bring
back with me to our house. When the
carriage was ready, I took the good woman
with me to show us the exact way, which
my coachman professed not to know; for,
indeed, they were staying at but a poor kind
of place at the back of Leicester Square, of