Милий друг
A Duel with an End
Heatethattheymightnotthinkhewasfrightened,andwentintheafternoonwithBoisrenardtotheoffice,whereheworkedinanabsent,mechanicalmanner.Beforeleaving,JacquesRivalshookhandswithhimandwarnedhimthatheandBoisrenardwouldcallforhiminacarriagethenextmorningatseveno’clocktorepairtothewoodatVesinet,wherethemeetingwastotakeplace.
Allhadbeensettledwithouthissayingaword,givinghisopinion,acceptingorrefusing,withsuchrapiditythathisbrainwhirledandhescarcelyknewwhatwastakingplace.Hereturnedhomeaboutnineo’clockintheeveningafterhavingdinedwithBoisrenard,whohadnotlefthimallday.Whenhewasalone,hepacedthefloor;hewastooconfusedtothink.Onethoughtalonefilledhismindandthatwas:aduelto-morrow!Hesatdownandbegantomeditate.Hehadthrownuponhistablehisadversary’scardbroughthimbyRival.Hereaditforthetwentiethtimethatday:
"LouisLANGREMONT,176RueMontmartre."
Nothingmore!Whowastheman?Howoldwashe?Howtall?Howdidhelook?Howodiousthatatotalstrangershouldwithoutrhymeorreason,outofpurecaprice,annoyhimthusonaccountofanold,woman’squarrelwithherbutcher!Hesaidaloud:"Thebrute!"andglaredangrilyatthecard.
Hebegantofeelnervous;thesoundofhisvoicemadehimstart;hedrankaglassofwaterandlaiddown.Heturnedfromhisrightsidetohisleftuneasily.
