"Ten thousand devils! Don't talk about money! You fine gentlemen think you have done everything, when you have undone the strings of your purse. I tell you that marriage, and nothing else, can undo the wrong you have done. Your father felt it, for he gave his consent to the marriage. So you see, monsieur, there's nothing to prevent it." "Yes," said Albert, with some irritation, "I know that you have seen my father and extorted his consent; furthermore, I will not deny that, when I came home last night, after embracing me, he told me of the promise he had given you; but I told him what my intentions were, and swore that nothing would induce me to change them." "Nothing!" muttered Sans-Cravate; "nothing! Not even if I should tell you that you are a father--that my sister is carrying a child--that she implores you to give it its father's name? and that is the truth!" Albert lowered his eyes; he was deeply moved, and tried in vain to conceal his emotion. Sans-Cravate walked toward him. "Well! will you cast off that innocent creature?" Albert was silent for some moments. At last he replied, in a low voice: "I will provide for the child as well as the mother. But I cannot--it is impossible for me to marry Adeline, for such a marriage would cover me with ridicule." "That is your last word, monsieur?" "Yes, Sans-Cravate." The messenger took from his pocket the pistols Madame Baldimer had given him, and called Albert's attention to them. "Then this is my last word," he said. "I am ready when you are." The young man seemed more surprised than alarmed. "What's this? do you want to fight me, Sans-Cravate?" he said, glancing at the weapons. "That surprises you, does it? You thought that I would allow myself to be dishonored and say nothing; that I would be satisfied with your excuses? No, no, I must have something more than that. Come, I am waiting for you, monsieur." "I am sorry, Sans-Cravate, that I cannot give you the satisfaction you ask; but it is out of the question. A young man in my position doesn't fight duels with a messenger!" "Then a man of your position is content to be a coward and a blackguard. Then he prefers to be struck and beaten and strangled; and that's what I'll do to you, if you refuse to fight me." As he spoke, Sans-Cravate, beside himself with rage, sprang at Albert, seized him by the collar, shook him violently, and struck him across the face with the butt of one of his pistols. The young man turned purple, and shouted: "I will fight you, monsieur; yes, you are right; we must fight." "Ah! that's very lucky!" said the messenger, relaxing his grasp. "Shall it be right away? I'm in a hurry, you see!" "One always has some arrangements to make before fighting, monsieur." "I haven't got any." "I will be ready in two hours. It isn't nine o'clock yet; at eleven, at the latest, be----" "Behind Romainville Forest, on the slope from Pantin; there are some quarries near there, and we shan't be disturbed."