_Septmonts_--I believe I am one of the best fencers in Paris. But another friend on whom I could count is one of those men of the world who discuss all the details of an affair, and with whom the preliminaries of such a meeting might last several days. I want to get through with the matter at once. _Clarkson_--Ah! The fact is, you _do_ give an importance and a solemnity to such things in France that we don't understand, we Americans, who settle the question in five minutes on the first corner of the street, in the sight of everybody. _Septmonts_--That is just the reason that I allowed myself to apply to you, Mr. Clarkson. Now, are you disposed to be present as my second? _Clarkson_--Bless me, with all my heart! Besides, when I mentioned your letter to Mrs. Clarkson she told me to do all I could to serve you. Have you and my wife known each other long? _Septmonts_--About four years; and I owe your wife a great deal, morally speaking. I have no desire to conceal the fact. I was not yet married when I met Mrs. Clarkson. One day I had lost a large sum at play,--a hundred and fifty thousand francs,--which I did not have, and tried in vain to procure; for at that time I was completely ruined. Mrs. Clarkson very generously lent me the sum, and I repaid it, with interest equivalent to the capital. _Clarkson_--But as you were ruined, duke, how could you pay this large capital and this large interest? Did your father or mother die? In France the death of parents is a great resource, I know. _Septmonts_--No. I was an orphan, and I had no expectations. I married. _Clarkson_--Ah, true! You French people make much of marriages for money! It's a great advantage over us Americans, who only marry for love. Now with us, in such a case as yours, a man goes into some business or other; he goes to mining; he works. But every country has its own customs. I beg your pardon for interrupting you. After all, it doesn't concern me. Come back to our duel. _Septmonts_--I have a letter here in my hands-- _Clarkson_--Ah! You have a letter in your hands-- _Septmonts_--A letter which compromises my wife-- _Clarkson_--Ah! I am completely at your service. I belong to the sort of men who do not admit any compromises in matters of that kind. _Septmonts_--I may be killed--one has to look ahead. If I lose my life, I lose it by having been so injured by my wife that I intend to be revenged on her. _Clarkson_--And how? _Septmonts_--I wish that the contents of this letter, which I have in my possession, shall become public property if I am killed. _Clarkson_ [_coldly_]--Ah! And how can I serve you as to that? _Septmonts_--I will intrust this sealed letter to you. [_He takes the letter from his pocket._] Here it is. _Clarkson_ [_still more coldly_]--Very well.