“I had opened the audience of the _capitainerie_, when I saw M. le duc de Chaulnes arrive with the most bewildered air that could be imagined and he said aloud that he had something very pressing to communicate to me and that I must come out at once. ‘I cannot, Monsieur le duc, the service of the public forces me to terminate decently what I have begun.’ I had a seat brought for him; he insisted; everyone was astonished at his air and tone. I began to fear that his object would be suspected and I suspended the audience for a moment and passed with him into a cabinet. There he told me with all the force of the language _des halles_, that he wished to kill me at once and to drink my blood, for which he was thirsty. “‘Oh, is it only that, Monsieur le duc? Permit then, that business go before pleasure.’ I wished to return; he stopped me, saying that he would tear out my eyes before all the world if I did not instantly go out with him. “‘You will be lost, Monsieur, if you are rash enough to attack me publicly.’ “I re-entered the audience chamber assuming a cold manner. “Surrounded as I was by the officers and guards of the _capitainerie_, after seating le duc de Chaulnes, I opposed during the two hours of the audience, a perfect _sang-froid_ to the petulant and insane perturbation with which he walked about troubling the audience and asking of all, ‘Will this last much longer?’ “Finally the audience was over and I put on my street costume. In descending, I asked M. de Chaulnes, what could be his grievance against a man whom he had not seen for six months. “‘No explanation,’ he said to me, ‘let us go instantly and fight it out.’ “‘At least,’ I said, ‘you will permit me to go home and get a sword? I have only a mourning sword with me in the carriage.’ “‘We are passing the house of M. le Comte de Turpin, who will lend you one and who will serve as witness.’ “He sprang into my carriage. I got in after him, while his equipage followed ours. He did me the honor of assuring me that this time I would not escape him, ornamenting his sentences with those superb imprecations which are so familiar in his speech. The coolness of my replies augmented his rage. “We arrived as M. de Turpin was leaving his home. He mounted on the box of my carriage. “‘M. le duc,’ I said, ‘is carrying me off. I do not know why he wants us to cut one another’s throats, but in this strange adventure he hopes that you will wish to serve as witness of our conduct.’ “M. de Turpin replied that a pressing matter forced him to go at once to the Luxembourg and would detain him there until four o’clock in the afternoon. I perceived that M. de Turpin had for his object to allow time for the rage of Monsieur le duc to calm itself. He left us. M. de Chaulnes wished to take me to his home. ‘No, thank you,’ I replied, and ordered my coachman to drive to mine. “‘If you descend I will poniard you at your own door.’