"It is not that I do not love Madame Rosette, I love her very dearly; but I have reasons for not marrying, reasons which you would consider satisfactory if it were possible for me to tell you what they are.--By the way, matters have not gone as far as you might judge from appearances; beyond a kiss or two which a very warm friendship is sufficient to explain and justify, there is nothing between us to which exception can be taken, and your sister's virtue is as pure and unsullied as virtue can be.--I owe her that testimony.--Now, when shall we fight, Monsieur Alcibiades, and where?" "Here, and instantly!" cried Alcibiades, drunk with rage. "Can you think of such a thing? before Rosette!" "Draw your sword, villain, or I will murder you," he continued, brandishing his sword and whirling it around his head. "At least, let us go out of the room." "If you don't stand on guard, I will nail you to the wall like a bat, my handsome Celadon, and you will flap your wings in vain, for you won't release yourself, I warn you."--And he rushed at me with his sword in the air. [Illustration: Chapter XIV--_Rosette made a superhuman effort to throw herself between our swords, for both combatants were equally dear to her; but her strength failed her and she fell unconscious across the foot of the bed. Our blades struck fire, and made a noise like a hammer striking an anvil, for the small space we had at our disposals compelled us to fight at very close quarters._] I drew my rapier, for he would have done as he said, and contented myself at first with parrying the thrusts he aimed at me. Rosette made a superhuman effort to throw herself between our swords, for both combatants were equally dear to her; but her strength failed her and she fell unconscious across the foot of the bed. Our blades struck fire, and made a noise like a hammer striking an anvil, for the small space we had at our disposals compelled us to fight at very close quarters.