After their departure Paul observed a little book lying on the floor of the balcony near the table where the two men had been sitting, and concluded that it had been unknowingly dropped by one of them. While he was wondering whether to let it lie, or to send it after them by a waiter, Noel Trevisa made his appearance, his long absence suggesting that he had had a very interesting time with his fair lady friend. He noticed the book and, moved by curiosity, picked it up and found it to be a pocket-edition of the poet Æschylus containing the Greek text of the seven plays without translation, note or comment. While casually turning over the leaves Trevisa suddenly stopped and knitted his brows in perplexity. "Now who has put himself to all this trouble, and what is the object of it?" he muttered. "My book, Sir Secretary." Looking up Trevisa caught the keen black eyes of the duke fixed suspiciously upon him. "I still keep up my knowledge of the classics, you perceive," remarked Bora, as the book was returned to him. "You study them very attentively, too, I observe," said the secretary; "it isn't every student that takes to counting the exact number of words in a Greek play." Bora stared hard at Trevisa as if detecting a hidden meaning in his reply, and then turned away, obviously ill at ease. Trevisa rejoined Paul, and catching sight of the red line on his friend's cheek he instantly inquired the cause. "The signature of John the Strong," replied Paul, grimly, proceeding to explain. In describing the recent fracas Paul, not wishing to refer to Castel Nuovo, suppressed the incident of the seal, making it appear that his non-salute of the duke was the cause of the quarrel. Trevisa listened with a look of the utmost consternation. "The damned savage!" he muttered. "Paul, you are rushing to certain death. The duke is mighty with the sabre. There is not his equal in all Czernova." "Small praise, seeing that Czernova is but small." "He has already fought thirty duels, seven of which ended fatally for his opponent." "He won't fight more than his thirty-first. And, Noel, you must be my second." "Dare I? The princess is sternly opposed to duelling. Under the late Prince Thaddeus it was frightfully prevalent; Poles and Muscovites were for ever challenging and fighting each other. After her accession Zabern carried a bill making the duels a penal offence." "And yet the duke, though aware of this, gives a challenge! Humph! law-maker, law-breaker! And what are the penalties for infringing the law?" "Imprisonment for principals and seconds alike. If one should fall the survivor is to be put on his trial for murder. You are between the devil and the deep sea, Paul. If the duke should win, you die; if you should win, you die all the same at the hands of the Czernovese law, unless you take to immediate flight."