At last, Arthur came out from behind his screen, and saluted his adversary with all the ease of a man of the world, saying: "Now I am at your service." "Very good, monsieur. Doubtless you are well acquainted with this quarter, this neighborhood. It is entirely unfamiliar to me. Is there any spot hereabout where we can fight comfortably--without having to travel a couple of leagues to Vincennes or the Bois de Boulogne?" "Wait a moment, while I think. We could go behind the Buttes Saint-Chaumont; there are some quarries there, where no one would see us. But it's rather hard to get there in a carriage; and then, too, the ground's rather uneven, and sometimes there are some low-lived rascals prowling about. But, pardieu! we have just what we want, close at hand. In the next street there's a large vacant lot, on which they're going to build, but the building isn't begun yet. No one ever passes through that street; we shall be as retired as we should be in our own house." "But can we get into the lot?" "Yes, indeed. On the street there's nothing but a board fence, and there's a gate in it. If there's anyone there, we'll say we are architects; that will make it all right." "And it's not far from here?" "We shall be there in five minutes." "In that case, monsieur, let us go. We will let my cabriolet follow us." "That's right; and as we must avoid making a noise and attracting attention, we will fight with swords, if you choose." "With pleasure, monsieur." Monleard and Cherami went down the stairs together. Madame Louchard, who was standing at the hall-door, was very much puzzled when she saw her tenant leave the house with the fashionably dressed owner of the cabriolet; but she dared not ask him a question. Instead of turning toward the main street of Belleville, the two men took a street which ran behind the theatre of that suburb. Walking side by side with the individual with whom he was to fight, Monleard, more and more amazed by his adversary's courteous manners and by his use of language which denoted familiarity with good society, said to him after a while: "We are going to fight a duel, monsieur; that is a settled thing, which neither you nor I, I am sure, have any intention of avoiding." "I agree with you, monsieur." "But, before the duel takes place, will you not do me the favor to tell me where you knew the lady whom I have married, and how long you have known her?" "It will give me very great pleasure to answer you. I have not the slightest acquaintance with your wife, and I never saw her until yesterday. First, when she alighted from her carriage at Deffieux's restaurant; and again, when you were taking her away last night, and I met you." "But, in that case, monsieur, how do you explain the words you uttered: 'There's the faithless Fanny'? Was it a bet? Was it an insult?--And, again, how did you know my wife's Christian name, since you did not know her?"