"I went as you know. I found my domino at the place at the hour indicated. She confirmed what I had already heard respecting Chateau Renaud and Emily, and if I wished proof, she would give it me, for Chateau Renaud had made a bet that he would take his new mistress to supper at M. D----'s house that evening. "Chance revealed to me that you knew M. D----, you suggested that I should accompany you. I accepted, you know the rest." "Now, what more could I do but await and accept the proposals that were made to me?" "But," I said, at length, as a sensation of fear crossed my mind, "I am afraid I heard your brother say that you had never handled a sword or a pistol." "That is quite true!" "Then you are absolutely at the mercy of your adversary!" "I cannot help it. I am in the hands of Providence." CHAPTER XV. AS Louis was speaking, the servant announced the Baron Giordano Martelli. He was a young Corsican from Sartène. He had served in the 11th Regiment, in which his gallantry had secured him promotion at the age of twenty-three. "Well," he said, after having bowed to me, "so things have come to a crisis, and no doubt you will soon have a visit from the seconds of Monsieur de Chateau Renaud." "They have been here already." "I suppose they have left their names and addresses?" "Here are their cards." "Good." "Well, your servant has just told me that breakfast is waiting. Suppose we sit down, and after breakfast we can return their visit." We entered the _salle à manger,_ and put aside all business for the present. During the meal Louis questioned me closely concerning my journey in Corsica, and I told him all the incidents with which the reader is acquainted. He made me repeat, over and over again, all that his mother and brother had said. He was quite touched, knowing the true Corsican instincts of Lucien, with the care he had taken to reconcile the Orlandi and the Colona. The clock struck twelve. "I do not wish to hurry you, gentlemen," said Louis, "but I think you should return the visit of those gentlemen. It will not do to put ourselves in the wrong." "Oh, you may be quite easy on that point," I said, "we have plenty of time before us." "No matter," said the Baron Giordano, "Louis is right." "Now," said I, "we must know whether you prefer to fight with sword or pistol?" "Ah," he replied, "it is all the same to me; I know as little about one as the other. Besides, Monsieur de Chateau Renaud will save me all trouble in choosing; he looks upon himself, no doubt, as the offended party, and as such will retain the choice of weapons." "However, the offence is doubtful, you only offered your arm, as you were asked to do." "My opinion is," said Louis, "that all discussion should tend towards a peaceable arrangement of this matter. My tastes are not warlike, as you know. Far from being a duellist, this is the first affair of the kind I have had, and just for this very reason I wish to come well out of it."