[I wish I could confide enough in my French to write the dialogue in the language in which it passed; but I must not attempt it. The ideas however are tolerably strong in my memory, and they must suffice.] Clifton. _Oui da_--Califton--Monsieur Califton must give me satisfaction for the _sanglante_ affront I have received. But I cannot conceive, sir, how any man's thinking proper to kill himself can be an affront to another. _Comment, Monsieur? Peste!_ But it is, if he kill himself to prove me a coward! Then, sir, I am afraid there is not a madman in Bedlam who does not daily affront the whole world. How so, sir? By doing something which no man in his senses dare imitate. _Nom d'un Dieu! Monsieur_, I am a man of honour! The family of Beaunoir is renowned for its noble feats, it shall not be disgraced by me. I have been defied, and I will have satisfaction. But you were not defied to sword, or pistol. You were defied to leap. Well, sir? And before, as a man of honour, you can have any right to give a second challenge, you must answer the first. Is that your opinion, sir? Nay, I appeal to yourself. _Allons_!--If so, I must leap! Will you do me the favour to accompany me? I will order post-horses instantly. You shall be my witness that I perform the first condition. Can you swim? _Ventrebleu_! What a question! I am not heavy enough to sink. Besides, sir, I was born at Marseilles.--Yes, we will go together; you shall see me make the leap; after which I may then return and publish my defiance to the whole universe. No, sir! If you leap you will never publish your defiance! How so? You will be killed! The whole universe could not save you! _Comment, diable_! Look at me! Look at Monsieur Calif! I am as light as--! _Peste_! Yes; but you are not so strong as he: you cannot leap so far. His effort was prodigious! I have examined the place: and, had he fallen half a foot short of where he did, he must have been dashed to pieces. _Fer et feu_!--In that case, I must die!--Yes, I must die! There is no remedy! I must not dishonour my family! No man on earth must brave the Count de Beaunoir! I must die! And be laughed at? Laugh, sir! _Mort de ma vie_! Who will dare to laugh? When you are dead, of what should they be afraid? _Morbleu_! That's true. He would be a rash fool who should dare to laugh at you while you are living. _Foi d'un honnête homme, monsieur_, you are a man of honour: a gentleman. You are brave yourself, and know how to honour brave men, and I esteem you. Sir, if you really esteem me-- _Ventrebleu_! Sir, I esteem you more than any man on earth! Command my purse, my sword! I would serve you at the hazard of my life! Then let me prevail on you, sir, to consider well what I say. I solemnly assure you, I would not advise you to any thing which I would not do myself. _Pardieu_! _Monsieur_, I am sure you would not. You have too much honour. I have too much regard to truth. _C'est la même chose_[1].