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The Frenchmen had barely taken their departure by one door； when
Romayne entered by another。
〃I have heard it all；〃 he said； quietly。 〃Accept the challenge。〃
I declare solemnly that I left no means untried of opposing my
friend's resolution。 No man could have felt more strongly
convinced
than I did； that nothing could justify the course he was taking。
My remonstrances were completely thrown away。 He was deaf to
sense and reason； from the moment when he had heard an imputation
on his courage suggested as a possible result of any affair in
which he was concerned。
〃With your views；〃 he said； 〃I won't ask you to accompany me to
the ground。 I can easily find French seconds。 And mind this； if
you attempt to prevent the meeting； the duel will take place
elsewhereand our friendship is at an end from that moment。〃
After this； I suppose it is needless to add that I accompanied
him to the ground the next morning as one of his seconds。
V。
WE were punctual to the appointed houreight o'clock。
The second who acted with me was a French gentleman； a relative
of one of the officers who had brought the challenge。 At his
suggestion； we had chosen the pistol as our weapon。 Romayne； like
most Englishmen at the present time； knew nothing of the use of
the sword。 He was almost equally inexperienced with the pistol。
Our opponents were late。 They kept us waiting for more than ten
minutes。 It was not pleasant weather to wait in。 The day had
dawned damp and drizzling。 A thick white fog was slowly rolling
in on us from the sea。
When they did appear； the General was not among them。 A tall；
well…dressed young man saluted Romayne with stern courtesy； and
said to a stranger who accompanied him： 〃Explain the
circumstances。〃
The stranger proved to be a surgeon。 He entered at once on the
necessary explanation。 The General was too ill to appear。 He had
been attacked that morning by a fitthe consequence of the blow
that he had received。 Under these circumstances； his eldest son
（Maurice） was now on the ground to fight the duel on his father's
behalf； attended by the General's seconds； and with the General's
full approval。
We instantly refused to allow the duel to take place； Romayne
loudly declaring that he had no quarrel with the General's son。
Upon this； Maurice broke away from his seconds； drew off one of
his gloves； and stepping close up to Romayne； struck him on the
face with the glove。 〃Have you no quarrel with me now？〃 the young
Frenchman asked。 〃Must I spit on you； as my father did？〃 His
seconds dragged him away； and apologized to us for the outbreak。
But the mischief was done。 Romayne's fiery temper flashed in his
eyes。 〃Load the pistols；〃 he said。 After the insult publicly
offered to him； and the outrage publicly threatened； there was no
other course to take。
It had been left to us to produce the pistols。 We therefore
requested the seconds of our opponent to examine and to load
them。 While this was being done； the advancing sea…fog so
completely enveloped us that the duelists were unable to see each
other。 We were obliged to wait for the chance of a partial
clearing in the atmosphere。 Romayne's temper had become calm
again。 The generosity of his nature spoke in the words which he
now addressed to his seconds。 〃After all；〃 he said； 〃the young
man is a good sonhe is bent on redressing what he believes to
be his father's wrong。 Does his flipping his glove in my face
matter to me？ I think I shall fire in the air。〃
〃I shall refuse to act as your second if you do；〃 answered the
French gentleman who was assisting us。 〃The General's son is
famous for his skill with the pistol。 If you didn't see it in his
face just now； I didhe means to kill you。 Defend your life；
sir！〃 I spoke quite as strongly； to the same purpose； when my
turn came。 Romayne yieldedhe placed himself unreservedly in our
hands。
In a quarter of an hour the fog lifted a little。 We measured the
distance； having previously arranged （at my suggestion） that the
two men should both fire at the same moment； at a given signal。
Romayne's composure； as they faced each other； was； in a man of
his irritable nervous temperament； really wonderful。 I placed him
sidewise； in a position which in some degree lessened his danger；
by lessening the surface exposed to the bullet。 My French
colleague put the pistol into his hand； and gave him the last
word of advice。 〃Let your arm hang loosely down； with the barrel
of the pistol pointing straight to the ground。 When you hear the
signal； only lift your arm as far as the elbow； keep the elbow
pressed against your sideand fire。〃 We could do no more for
him。 As we drew asideI own itmy tongue was like a cinder in
my mouth； and a horrid inner cold crept through me to the marrow
of my bones。
The signal was given； and the two shots were fired at the same
time。
My first look was at Romayne。 He took off his hat； and handed it
to me with a smile。 His adversary's bullet had cut a piece out of
the brim of his hat； on the right side。 He had literally escaped
by a hair…breadth。
While I was congratulating him； the fog gathered again more
thickly than ever。 Looking anxiously toward the ground occupied
by our adversaries； we could only see vague； shadowy forms
hurriedly crossing and recrossing each other in the mist。
Something had happened！ My French colleague took my arm and
pressed it significantly。 〃Leave _me_ to inquire；〃 he said。
Romayne tried to follow； I held him backwe neither of us
exchanged a word。
The fog thickened and thickened； until nothing was to be seen。
Once we heard the surgeon's voice； calling impatiently for a
light to help him。 No light appeared that _we_ could see。 Dreary
as the fog itself； the silence gathered round us again。 On a
sudden it was broken； horribly broken； by another voice； strange
to both of us； shrieking hysterically through the impenetrable
mist。 〃Where is he？〃 the voice cried； in the French language。
〃Assassin！ Assassin！ where are you？〃 Was it a woman？ or was it a
boy？ We heard nothing more。 The effect upon Romayne was terrible
to see。 He who had calmly confronted the weapon lifted to kill
him； shuddered dumbly like a terror…stricken animal。 I put my arm
round him； and hurried him away from the place。
We waited at the hotel until our French friend joined us。 After a
brief interval he appeared； announcing that the surgeon would
follow him。
The duel had ended fatally。 The chance course of the bullet；
urged by Romayne's unpracticed hand； had struck the General's son
just above the right nostrilhad penetrated to the back of his
neckand had communicated a fatal shock to the spinal marrow。 He
was a dead man before they could take him back to his father's
house。
So far； our fears were confirmed。 But there was something else to
tell； for which our worst presentiments had not prepared us。
A younger brother of the fallen man （a boy of thirteen years old）
had secretly followed the dueling party； on their way from his
father's househad hidden himselfand had seen the dreadful
end。 The seconds only knew of it when he burst out of his place
of concealment； and fell on his knees by his dying brother's
side。 His were the frightful cries which we had heard from
invisible lips。 The slayer of his brother was the 〃assassin〃 whom
he had vainly tried to discover through the fathomless obscurity
of the mist。
We both looked at Romayne。 He silently looked back at us； like a
man turned to stone。 I tried to reason with him。
〃Your life was at your opponent's mercy；〃 I said。 〃It was _he_
who was skilled in the use of the pistol； your risk was
infinitely greater than his。 Are you responsible for an accident？
Rouse yourself； Romayne！ Think of the time to come； when all this
will be forgotten。〃
〃Never；〃 he said； 〃to the end of my life。〃
He made that reply in dull； monotonous tones。 His eyes looked
wearily and vacantly straight before him。 I spoke to him again。
He remained impenetrably silent； he appeared not to hear； or not
to understand me。 The surgeon came in； while I was still at a
loss what to say or do next。 Without waiting to be asked for his
opinion； he observed Romayne attentively； and then drew