"That is very easy to say, my friend, but you have to play for your life, and you leave to us and before your family the responsibility of the result."
"Ah, as to that you may make your mind quite easy, I know my mother and brother well enough; they would only ask whether I had conducted myself as a brave man, and if you replied in the affirmative they would be satisfied."
"But, hang it, we must know which arm you prefer."
"Well, if they propose pistols, accept them at once."
"That is my advice, also," said the Baron.
"Very well, then, the pistol be it," I replied, "since that is the advice of both of you, but the pistol is a horrible weapon."
"Have I time to learn to fence between this and tomorrow?"
"No, unless, perhaps, you studied Grissier, and then you might learn enough to defend yourself."
Louis smiled.
"Believe me," said he, "that what will happen tomorrow is already written on high, and whatever we may do we cannot alter that."
We then shook hands with him and went downstairs.
Our first visit was naturally to the nearer of the two gentlemen who had called on behalf of our adversary.
We, therefore, visited Monsieur René de Chateaugrand, who lived, as we have said, at 12, Rue de la Paix.
Any other visitors were forbidden while we were calling, and we were at once introduced to his presence.
We found Monsieur de Chateaugrand a perfect man of the worldhe would not for one moment give us the trouble of calling upon Monsieur de Boissyhe sent his own servant for him.
While we were waiting his appearance, we spoke of everything but the subject which had brought us thither, and in about ten minutes Monsieur de Boissy arrived.
The two gentlemen did not advance any pretensions to the choice of arms, the sword or pistol was equally familiar to M. de Chateau Renaud. They were quite willing to leave the selection to M. de Franchi, or to toss up. A louis was thrown into the air, face for sword, reverse for pistols. The coin came down reverse.
So it was decided. The combat was arranged to take place next morning at nine o'clock, in the wood of Vincennes, where the adversaries would be placed at twenty paces, and after the third signal given by clapping the hands they were to fire.
We returned to convey this decision to Louis de Franchi.
We returned to convey this decision to Louis de Franchi.
On my return home the same evening, I found the cards of MM. de Chateaugrand and de Boissy.
Chapter XVI
AT eight o'clock that evening I called upon M. Louis de Franchi, to inquire whether he had anything to confide to me. But he begged me to wait till next morning, saying:
"The night will bring counsel with it."
Next morning, therefore, instead of calling at eight, which would have given us plenty of time to go to the meeting, I called at halfpast seven.
Louis was already writing in his study.
He looked up as I entered, and I noticed how very pale he was.
"Excuse me," he said, "I am writing to my mother. You will find the morning papers there; if you can amuse yourself with them you will see a charming feuilleton by M. Mèry in the Presse."
I took the paper thus indicated, and contrasted the livid pallor of the speaker with his calm and sweet voice.
I endeavoured to read, but I could not fix my attention, the letters brought no meaning with them.
In about five minutes Louis said,
"There, I have finished." And he rang for his valet.
"Joseph," said he, "I am at home to no one, not even to the Baron Giordano. If he calls, ask him to wait in the salon. I wish to be alone with this gentlemen for ten minutes."
The valet shut the door and disappeared.
"Now, my dear Alexander, listen. Giordano is a Corsican, and has Corsican ideas. I cannot, therefore, confide all I desire to him. I will ask him to keep the secret, that's all. But as regards yourself, I wish you, if you will permit me, to request that you will promise to observe my instructions."
"Certainly. Is not that the duty of a second?"
"A duty more real than you imagine, for you can save our family a second misfortune if you will."
"A second misfortune!" I exclaimed.
"Wait. Read this letter."
I took the letter addressed to Madame de Franchi, and read as follows, with growing astonishment:
"MY DEAREST MOTHER,
"If I did not know that you possessed Spartan fortitude allied with Christian submission, I would have used means to prepare you for the blow in store for youfor when you receive this letter you will have but one son!
"Lucien, my dear brother, love our mother for both in future.
"For some time I have been suffering from brain fever. I paid no attention to the premonitory symptomsthe doctor came too late. Darling mother, there is no hope for me now. I cannot be saved but by a miracle, and what right have I to suppose that Providence will work a miracle on my behalf?
"I am writing to you in a lucid interval. If I die, this letter will be posted immediately after my death; for in the selfishness of my love for you I wish that you should know that I am dead without regretting anything in the world except your tenderness and my brother's.
"Adieu, mother!
"Do not weep for me. It is the soul that lives, not the body, and when the latter perishes the former will still live and love you.
"Adieu, Lucien! Never leave our mother; and remember that she has you only to look to now.
"Your Son,
"Your Brother,
"LOUIS DE FRANCHI."
When I had finished the letter I turned to the writer and said
"Well, and what does this mean?"
"Do you not understand?" he said.
"No!"
"I am going to be shot at ten minutes past nine."
"You are going to be shot?"
"Yes."
"You are mad! Why, what has put such an idea into your head?"
"I am not mad, my dear friend. I have been warnedthat's all."
"Warned! By whom?"
"My brother has already told you, I think, that the male members of our family enjoy a singular privilege?"
"True," I replied, shuddering, in spite of myself. "He spoke to me about apparitions."
"Quite so. Well, then, my father appeared to me last night. That is why you find me so pallid. The sight of the dead pales the living!"
I gazed at him with astonishment, not unmixed with terror.
"You saw your father last night, you say?"
"Yes."
"And he spoke to you?"
"He announced my death!"
"Oh, it was some terrible dream!"
"It was a terrible reality."
"You were asleep, my friend."
"I was wide awake. Do you not believe that a father can appear to his son?"
I hung my head, for at the bottom of my heart I did believe in the possibility.
"What passed between you?" I asked.
"It is a very simple and very natural story. I was reading, expecting my fatherfor I knew if any danger threatened that he would appear to meand at midnight the lamp burnt low, the door opened slowly, and my father appeared."
"In what form?" I asked.
"Just as if he were alivedressed in his usual manneronly he was very pale, and his eyes were without expression."
"Good heavens!" I ejaculated.
"He slowly approached my bed. I raised myself with my elbow, and said, 'You are welcome, father.'
"He came close, and regarded me fixedly, and it then appeared to me as if some sort of paternal solicitude was expressed in his face."
"Go on," I said; "this is terrible!"
"Then his lips moved, and, though I could hear no sound, I seemed to hear his words distinctly, though distant as an echo."
"What did he say?"
"'Think of God, my son!'
"'I shall be killed in this duel, then?' I asked.
"I saw the tears roll down the pallid visage of the spectre.
"'And at what hour?'
"He pointed towards the timepiece. I followed the direction of his finger. The clock showed ten minutes past nine.
"'So be it, my father,' I said; 'God's will be done. I leave my mother, but I rejoin you.'
"Then a faint smile passed over his face, he waved me a sign of farewell and glided away.
"The door opened as he advanced towards it, and when he had disappeared it shut of its own accord."
This recital was so simply and so naturally told, that it was evident to me the event had occurred just as de Franchi had related it, or he was the victim of an illusion, which he had believed to be real in consequence of the preoccupation of his mind, and was therefore all the more terrible.
I wiped the perspiration from my forehead.
"Now," continued Louis; "you know my brother, don't you?"
"Yes."
"What do you think he will do when he learns that I have been killed in a duel?"
"He will leave Sullacaro at once to challenge the man who has killed you."
"Just so, and if he is killed in his turn, my mother will be thrice a widow; widowed by the loss of her husband, widowed by the loss of her two sons."
"Ah! I understand. This is fearful!"
"Well, this must be avoided, and that is why I have written this letter. Believing that I have died from brain fever my brother will not seek to avenge me, and my mother will be the more easily consoled, knowing it was the will of God, and that I did not fall by the hand of man. At least"
"At least what?" I repeated.
"Oh, nothing," replied Louis. "I hope that will not come to pass."
I saw that he was referring to some personal fear, and I did not insist farther.
At this moment the door opened, and the Baron de Giordano entered.
"My dear de Franchi," he said, "I respect your privacy more than anything, but it is past eight, and the meeting is appointed for nine; we have quite a league and a half to drive, and we should start at once."
"I am ready, my dear fellow," said Louis. "I have told my friend here all I had to say to him."
He put his finger on his lips as our eyes met.
"For you, my friend," he continued, turning to the table and taking up a sealed letter, "there is this; if anything should happen to me read this letter, and I pray you to carry out my request contained in it."
"To the very letter," replied the Baron.
"You were to provide the arms," said Louis.
"Yes," I replied, "but just as I was coming away I found that one of the dogs did not bark properly, so we shall be obliged to get a case of pistols from Devisme."
Louis looked at me, smiled, and held out his hand. He knew quite well that I did not wish to see him killed with my pistols.
"Have you a carriage?" he asked; "if not I will send Joseph for one."