Милий друг
A Duel with an End
"
Heenteredhisdressing-roomandsoonreappeared,washed,shaven,andpresentable.
"Comewithme,"saidhe.Helivedonthegroundfloor,andheledDuroyintoacellarconvertedintoaroomforthepracticeoffencingandshooting.Heproducedapairofpistolsandbegantogivehisordersasbrieflyasiftheywereontheduelingground.HewaswellsatisfiedwithDuroy’suseoftheweapons,andtoldhimtoremainthereandpracticeuntilnoon,whenhewouldreturntotakehimtolunchandtellhimtheresultofhismission.Lefttohisowndevices,Duroyaimedatthetargetseveraltimesandthensatdowntoreflect.
Suchaffairswereabominableanyway!Whatwouldarespectablemangainbyriskinghislife?AndherecalledNorbertdeVarenne’sremarks,madetohimashortwhilebefore."Hewasright!"hedeclaredaloud.Itwasgloomyinthatcellar,asgloomyasinatomb.Whato’clockwasit?Thetimedraggedslowlyon.Suddenlyheheardfootsteps,voices,andJacquesRivalreappearedaccompaniedbyBoisrenard.TheformercriedonperceivingDuroy:"Allissettled!"
Duroythoughtthematterhadterminatedwithaletterofapology;hisheartgaveaboundandhestammered:"Ah—thankyou!"
Rivalcontinued:"M.Langremonthasacceptedeverycondition.Twenty-fivepaces,firewhenthepistolisleveledandtheordergiven."Thenheadded:"Nowletuslunch;itispasttwelveo’clock."
Theyrepairedtoaneighboringrestaurant.Duroywassilent.
