much! I no longer had the strength to carry on the struggle; I came away, fully determined to part from you forever. But you would not have it so; it is I whom you love. Ah! my friend, my bliss at this moment more than makes up for all the torture I have endured!" For more than an hour we abandoned ourselves to the ecstatic joy of two hearts which for the first time have declared their mutual love. But suddenly Frédérique's brow darkened, and she looked sadly into my face, crying: "Mon Dieu! my happiness has made me forget. It is not a dream--you are to fight to-morrow!" "Yes, I am to fight to-morrow, at ten o'clock. But that fact cannot prevent my being the happiest of men to-night." "Is there no way of enjoying perfect happiness on earth? I was so happy, so happy! And you are to fight to-morrow!" "I shall be the victor, and I shall have avenged you! My happiness will be even greater--if that is possible!" "Oh! yes, yes, we must hope so! With what weapons do you fight?" "Swords." "Ah! Saint-Bergame chose that weapon, of course. I have often heard him boast of his fine swordsmanship." "I struck him, so he had the choice of weapons." "True; but are you a good fencer?" "I know how to defend myself." "We will see about that." She left me and went into her dressing-room, whence she soon returned with a pair of buttoned foils and handed one to me. "Let us see, my friend, if you really know how to defend yourself," she said. "What! can you handle a sword?" "Very well, according to Grisier, who was my teacher. Didn't I tell you that I received a man's education? Come, monsieur, on guard, and look out for yourself!" I took the foil. I thought, at first, that all I needed to do was to parry carelessly a thrust or two. But Frédérique soon undeceived me; she was sharp and persistent in attack, quick in parrying. Twice I was touched, and she exclaimed: "Ah! so that's how you defend yourself, is it? Why, poor fellow, you will let him kill you! Attack--attack, I say!" These words recalled me to myself; my self-esteem was aroused. We continued for some time, and at last I touched her. She dropped her foil and embraced me, saying: "That's all right! that will do! But you must be careful; you must not be taken unawares. Whom shall you have with you to-morrow?" "You remind me. I shall get Balloquet. I can rely upon him, and I must go this evening and leave a letter for him. But I must have another second. Those fellows insist on having three on a side. Whom in the devil shall I get?" "Don't cudgel your brains, my friend. Your other second will be at your rooms at nine o'clock to-morrow." "Do you know of someone?" "Yes." "Ah! I'll wager that you are thinking of Baron von Brunzbrack?" "Perhaps so. However, I'll be responsible for your second. Now, write to Balloquet at once. Do you know the long-bearded individual who was with Saint-Bergame?"