_Clarkson_--I tell you to your face that to squander your inheritance--to have gambled away money you did not have--to borrow it from a woman without knowing when or how you could return it--to marry in order to pay your debts and continue your dissipations--to revenge yourself now on an innocent woman--to steal letters--to misapply your skill in arms by killing a brave man--why, I tell you to your face that all that is the work of a rascal, and that therefore a rascal you are. Oh, what astonishes me is that fifty people haven't told you so already, and that I have had to travel three thousand leagues to inform you on the subject! For you don't seem to have ever suspected it, and you don't look thoroughly convinced even now. _Septmonts_ [_controlling himself with the greatest difficulty_]--Mr. Clarkson, you know that I cannot call you to account until I have settled with your friend M. Gérard. You take a strange advantage of the fact, sir. But we shall meet again. Please return me the paper you have had from me. _Clarkson_--Your wife's letter? Never in the world! As it was addressed to M. Gérard, it belongs to M. Gérard. I intend to give it to M. Gérard. If _he_ wants to return it to you, I won't stand in the way; but I doubt whether he will return it. _Septmonts_--You will fight me, then, you mean? _Clarkson_--Oh! as for that; yes, fight as much as you like. _Septmonts_--Very well; when I have finished with the other, you and I will have our business together. _Clarkson_--Say the day after to-morrow, then? _Septmonts_--The day after to-morrow. _Clarkson_--Stop; I must start off by to-morrow night, at the latest. _Septmonts_--You can wait. And while waiting, leave me! _Clarkson_--Duke, do I look like a man to whom to say "leave" in that tone, and who goes? Now look at me; it isn't hard to see what I have decided. I don't mean you to fight with Gérard before you have fought with me. If Gérard kills you, I shan't have the pleasure of crossing swords with "one of the first fencers in Paris," which it will amuse me to do. If you kill him, you cause irreparable misfortunes. If you think I'm going to let you kill a man who has saved me twenty-five per cent. in the cost of washing gold, you are mistaken! Come, prove you are brave, even when you aren't sure of being the stronger! Go and get a good pair of swords from your room (since the sword is your favorite weapon--mine, too, for the matter of that), and follow me to those great bare grounds back of your house. On my way here I was wondering why in goodness's name they were not utilized. In the heart of the city they must be worth a good deal! We will prove it. As for seconds, umpires of the point of honor, we'll have the people who pass by in the street--if any do pass. [_Septmonts rushes in a fury toward the door, but when there stretches his hand toward the bell. Clarkson throws himself between him and the bell._]