"I know it, monsieur. Pardieu! you cannot teach me how affairs are managed in duels; this isn't the first time I have fought." "In that case, monsieur," queried the younger man, with a smile, "why did you select seconds who apparently have no understanding of what is going on?" "Because I found no others at hand, in all probability," retorted Cherami, biting his lips wrathfully. "Come, messieurs, let us come to terms. Is it such a difficult matter, pray, to tell us where, when, and how the count proposes to fight?" "I beg your pardon, monsieur," observed Monsieur de Maugrille; "but, as I, for my part, insist that everything shall be done in accordance with the established etiquette of duels, I will tell your seconds, and no one else." "Tell my concierge, if you choose; it makes confounded little difference to me, after all." "What does that tone mean, monsieur?" "It means that you make me very weary with all your nonsense; and if you're not satisfied with the tone I adopt, why, I'll give you satisfaction as soon as I have done with the count; or before, if you choose." "Monsieur!" The discussion was on the verge of ending in a quarrel, when the Auvergnat, seeing that things seemed to be approaching a crisis, shouted in stentorian tones: "Very well, _fouchtra!_ very well! We agree, I say!" This outburst was delivered in such unique fashion by the water-carrier, that the younger of the count's seconds roared with laughter again, and Cherami himself could not keep a sober face. He turned his back and put his handkerchief to his mouth. The old gentleman alone retained an air of displeasure; but his young companion said to him earnestly: "Come, Monsieur de Maugrille, let us not have trouble over an affair which really seems to me quite simple.--Monsieur de la Beriniere selects swords; he wishes to fight to-morrow, about nine o'clock, in Vincennes Forest; we will meet at the entrance to the forest, near Porte Saint-Mande, on the highroad. Those are our conditions, messieurs; are they satisfactory to you?" Then or never was the time for the water-carrier to repeat the phrase he had been taught; but, just as it frequently happens on the stage, that, when an actor has begun his lines too soon, he is silent when he ought to speak, so did the Auvergnat look stolidly at the others and utter never a word. Cherami, who was gazing at him impatiently, at last walked up behind him and struck him in the side, crying: "Well, Monsieur de Saint-Michel, have you suddenly lost your voice?" "Ah! bless my soul! what was I thinking about?--Very well, very well! We agree to everything," said the water-carrier. Thereupon the young man took his companion's arm and led him from the room, laughing still, and saying in his ear: "I think that we may retire, now that everything is settled." Cherami saluted them, and escorted them to the door.