Милий друг
A Duel with an End
Hewasthirsty;herose,hefeltrestless
"AmIafraid?"heaskedhimself.
Whydidhisheartpalpitatesowildlyattheslightestsound?Hebegantoreasonphilosophicallyonthepossibilityofbeingafraid.No,certainlyhewasnot,sincehewasreadytofight.Stillhefeltsodeeplymovedthathewonderedifonecouldbeafraidinspiteofoneself.Whatwouldhappenifthatstateofthingsshouldexist?Ifheshouldtrembleorlosehispresenceofmind?Helightedhiscandleandlookedintheglass;hescarcelyrecognizedhisownface,itwassochanged.
Suddenlyhethought:"To-morrowatthistimeImaybedead."Heturnedtohiscouchandsawhimselfstretchedlifelessuponit.Hehastenedtothewindowandopenedit;butthenightairwassochillythatheclosedit,lightedafire,andbegantopacetheflooroncemore,sayingmechanically:"Imustbemorecomposed.Iwillwritetomyparents,incaseofaccident."Hetookasheetofpaperandafterseveralattemptsbegan:
"Mydearfatherandmother:"
"AtdaybreakIamgoingtofightaduel,andassomethingmighthappen—"
Hecouldwritenomore,herosewithashudder.Itseemedtohimthatnotwithstandinghisefforts,hewouldnothavethestrengthnecessarytofacethemeeting.Hewonderedifhisadversaryhadeverfoughtbefore;ifhewereknown?Hehadneverheardhisname.However,ifhehadnotbeenaremarkableshot,hewouldnothaveacceptedthatdangerousweaponwithouthesitation.
