Милий друг
A Duel with an End
"
Thesamevoicecommanded:"Fire!"
Duroyheardnothingmore,sawnothingmore;heonlyknewthatheraisedhisarmandpressedwithallhisstrengthuponthetrigger.Soonhesawalittlesmokebeforehim;hisopponentwasstillstandinginthesameposition,andtherewasasmallwhitecloudabovehishead.Theyhadbothfired.Allwasover!Hissecondandthedoctorfelthim,unbuttonedhisgarments,andaskedanxiously:"Areyouwounded?"Hereplied:"No,Ithinknot."
Langremontwasnotwoundedeither,andJacquesRivalmuttereddiscontentedly:"Thatisalwaysthewaywiththosecursedpistols,oneeithermissesorkillsone’sopponent"
Duroywasparalyzedwithsurpriseandjoy.Allwasover!Hefeltthathecouldfighttheentireuniverse.Allwasover!Whatbliss!Hefeltbraveenoughtoprovokeanyone.Thesecondsconsultedseveralmoments,thentheduelistsandtheirfriendsenteredthecarriagesanddroveoff.Whentheofficialreportwasdrawnup,itwashandedtoDuroywhowastoinsertitinthe"Echoes."Hewassurprisedtofindthattwoballshadbeenfired.
HesaidtoRival:"Weonlyfiredonce!"
Thelattersmiled:"Yes—once—onceeach—thatmakestwice!"
AndDuroy,satisfiedwiththatexplanation,askednomorequestions.M.Walterembracedhim.
