Was he to be pestered with this fellow for ever&mdash;the fellow who had an infernal knack of getting round people somehow? And yet it was difficult to refuse point blank that mediation sanctioned by the code of honour. </p> <p> He met the difficulty by an attitude of grim reserve. He twisted his moustache and used vague words. His case was perfectly clear. He was not ashamed to state it before a proper Court of Honour, neither was he afraid to defend it on the ground. He did not see any reason to jump at the suggestion before ascertaining how his adversary was likely to take it. </p> <p> Later in the day, his exasperation growing upon him, he was heard in a public place saying sardonically, &ldquo;that it would be the very luckiest thing for Lieut. D&rsquo;Hubert, because the next time of meeting he need not hope to get off with the mere trifle of three weeks in bed.&rdquo; </p> <p> This boastful phrase might have been prompted by the most profound Machiavellism. Southern natures often hide, under the outward impulsiveness of action and speech, a certain amount of astuteness. </p> <p> Lieut. Feraud, mistrusting the justice of men, by no means desired a Court of Honour; and the above words, according so well with his temperament, had also the merit of serving his turn. Whether meant so or not, they found their way in less than four-and-twenty hours into Lieut. D&rsquo;Hubert&rsquo;s bedroom. In consequence Lieut. D&rsquo;Hubert, sitting propped up with pillows, received the overtures made to him next day by the statement that the affair was of a nature which could not bear discussion. </p> <p> The pale face of the wounded officer, his weak voice which he had yet to use cautiously, and the courteous dignity of his tone had a great effect on his hearers. Reported outside all this did more for deepening the mystery than the vapourings of Lieut. Feraud. This last was greatly relieved at the issue. He began to enjoy the state of general wonder, and was pleased to add to it by assuming an attitude of fierce discretion. </p> <p> The colonel of Lieut. D&rsquo;Hubert&rsquo;s regiment was a grey-haired, weather-beaten warrior, who took a simple view of his responsibilities. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t,&rdquo; he said to himself, &ldquo;let the best of my subalterns get damaged like this for nothing. I must get to the bottom of this affair privately. He must speak out if the devil were in it. The colonel should be more than a father to these youngsters.&rdquo; And indeed he loved all his men with as much affection as a father of a large family can feel for every individual member of it. If human beings by an oversight of Providence came into the