"And now," said the widow, "how do you propose to restore the count's health and good-humor?" "Never fear, madame," replied Beau Arthur; "that is my business; the count needs to be set up mentally, as well as physically. He's like an old clock that won't go; but as long as the mainspring isn't broken, there's a way out of the difficulty; I'll set him going." On leaving Fanny, Cherami took a cab and drove to the Palais-Royal, where he went into Corselet's and purchased a half-bottle of the finest chartreuse; then he removed the label, the seal, and everything which could lead to the identification of the liqueur, put the bottle in his pocket, and repaired to Rue de la Ville-l'Eveque, saying to himself: "It comes high; but one cannot make too many sacrifices when it's a question of ensuring a friend's happiness. I have only a hundred and fifty francs left of Gustave's thousand; but I will spend them with the best will in the world, if I can by that means induce our elderly lover to marry the little widow." Monsieur de la Beriniere was informed that Monsieur Cherami craved the favor of an interview. "Show him in," said the count. Cherami, fashionably dressed and perfumed as in his halcyon days, presented himself before the count, who stepped forward to meet him. "I beg you, monsieur le comte, do not rise! I understand that you are still weak; and I am too fortunate in being allowed to pay my respects to you and to offer my apologies for my insane behavior toward you." "Let us say no more about it, Monsieur Cherami; you wanted a duel with me, and you had it--it's all over with now. Pray be seated, and just tell me, between ourselves, who those two individuals were who acted as your seconds? You will agree that their aspect--their whole manner--was very comical; and I would stake my head that it was the first time they were ever present at a duel." "Faith! that's the truth, monsieur le comte; but what would you have? Everybody that I relied upon failed me, and I had no choice; I persuaded, albeit with much difficulty, those two men of business to attend me on the field of honor." "Who were the fellows?" "The elder, monsieur le comte, deals in water from Mont-Dore on a large scale; the younger is his clerk." "Are they Auvergnats?" "Yes, monsieur le comte." "I would have bet anything on it. However, the younger one is as strong as an ox, apparently, for they tell me that he carried me in his arms to my carriage." "That is true; he is very strong.--Is monsieur le comte's wound entirely cured?" "Yes, it has cicatrized. But our meeting was six weeks ago, and my strength doesn't come back." "Monsieur le comte, will you allow me to make you an offer?" "What sort of an offer is it?" "I have fought duels quite often in the course of my life." "Oh! I believe it." "I have been wounded several times." "You fence very well, however; but one sometimes thrusts awkwardly."