“You have fixed upon the ground?” inquired Alexander, as he brushed his hair, calmly and carefully, as for an evening party, for he had suddenly recovered all his self-possession. “Yes; it is a small secluded spot at the foot of Noirmont Heights, to which I shall conduct you.” “And the time?” “Six. The carriage is ordered at half-past five.” “Very well. There are but a few moments left; so much the better,” said Alexander, as he finished his toilet. When they went into their private parlor, they found hot coffee waiting them, thanks to the careful forethought of Francis Tredegar. When they had finished their coffee the carriage was announced, and they arose. “I have laid the train so that the coachman, and even the servants, think we are a party of geologists going to the mountain to search for geological specimens. They will take our pistol-case for a box of tools and think all right,” explained Francis Tredegar, as they descended the stairs. “Then, to complete the ruse, we must leave the cab at some short distance from the dueling ground.” “Of course. And still more to guard against suspicion and interruption, Prince Ernest and his attendants start as if for a journey, make a slight detour, and approach the place of meeting from another direction,” answered Francis. The morning was fresh and bright. The sun was, perhaps, an hour high when Alexander Lyon and Francis Tredegar entered their carriage. Simms, the valet, mounted the box and seated himself beside the coachman. And in this manner they were driven out towards Noirmont Heights. When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, Francis Tredegar ordered the carriage to draw up. “Give me that box of tools, Simms. We shall find some valuable specimens of sienites on the other side of the mountain,” said Francis Tredegar, in a rather loud voice intended to be heard by the coachman, as the party alighted from the carriage. “Wait for us here. We may be gone some hours, but don’t leave the spot,” he added, as he led the way, followed by Alexander and his servant, around a projecting rock, to a retired spot, shut off from observation by surrounding precipices. As they entered the place at one end, Prince Ernest and his party were seen to come in at the other. Each adversary, with his attendants, paused. The prince was attended by his second, his surgeon and his servant. Alexander had only his friend and his valet.