"'Well spoken, my brave friend; your boldness pleases me, for you of course know that Comminges is one of our best swordsmen. _Par ma foi!_ he handles his blade right cunningly. He took lessons at Rome, of Brambilla, and Petit-Jean will fence with him no longer.' And whilst speaking, Vaudreuil attentively watched the countenance of Mergy, who was pale, but from anger at the offence offered him rather than from apprehension of its consequences. "'I would willingly be your second in this affair, but I take the sacrament to-morrow, and, moreover, I am engaged to M. de Rheincy, and cannot draw sword against any but him.'[B] "'I thank you, sir. If necessary, my brother will second me.' "'The Captain is perfectly at home in these affairs. Meanwhile, I will bring Comminges to speak with you.' "Mergy bowed, and turning to the wall, did his best to compose his countenance and arrange what he should say. There is a certain grace in giving a challenge, which habit alone bestows. It was our hero's first affair, and he was a little embarrassed; he was less afraid of a sword-thrust than of saying something unbecoming a gentleman. He had just succeeded in composing a firm and polite sentence, when Baron de Vaudreuil, taking him by the arm, drove it out of his head. "'You desire to speak to me, sir?' said Comminges, hat in hand, and bowing with an impertinent politeness, which brought an angry flush upon Mergy's countenance. "'I hold myself insulted by your behaviour,' the young Protestant instantly replied, 'and I desire satisfaction.' "Vaudreuil nodded approvingly; Comminges drew himself up, and placing his hand on his hip, the prescribed posture in such circumstances, replied with much gravity: "'You constitute yourself demander, sir, and, as defendant, I have the choice of arms.' "'Name those you prefer.'" Comminges reflected for an instant. "'The _estoc_,' he at last said, 'is a good weapon, but it makes ugly wounds; and at our age,' he added, with a smile, 'one is not anxious to appear before one's mistress with a scarred countenance. The rapier makes a small hole, but it is enough.' And he again smiled, as he said, 'I choose rapier and dagger.' "'Very good,' said Mergy, and he took a step to depart. "'One moment!' cried Vaudreuil; 'you forget the place of meeting.' "'The Court uses the Pre-aux-Clercs,' said Comminges; 'and if the gentleman has no particular preference----' "'The Pre-aux-Clercs--be it so.' "'As to the time, I shall not be up before eight o'clock, for reasons of my own--you understand--I do not sleep at home to-night, and cannot be at the Pre before nine.' "'Let nine be the hour.' "Just then Mergy perceived the Countess de Turgis, who had left the Captain in conversation with another lady. As may be supposed, at sight of the lovely cause of this ugly affair, our hero threw into his countenance an additional amount of gravity and feigned indifference.