450 THE FKENCH CONVULSIVES. 



aim. You may kill your man, instead of wounding him.' ' Here he is !' 

 said the seconds, as they heard the noise of a carriage and a travelling 

 calash and four soon made its appearance. ' What an original idea !' cried 

 the adversary of Raphael; ' he is come to be shot enposte.' In a duel, as 

 at play, the slightest incidents influence the imagination of the actors 

 strongly interested in the success of either party. Thus it was, that the 

 young man awaited, with uneasiness, the arrival of that carriage. 



" The aged Jonathan was the first to dismount. His motions were awk- 

 ward and heavy. He assisted Raphael to alight, and the spectators expe- 

 rienced a profound emotion, as they beheld the latter approach the spot, 

 leaning upon the arm of his servant. Pale and exhausted, he walked as if 

 he was afflicted with the gout held down his head, and said not a word. 

 They were two old men, reduced to decay ; the one by time, the other by 

 thought. The first had his age written upon his grey hair ; the younger had 

 no longer any determinate age. 



" ' I have not slept, sir,' said Raphael to his adversary. This freezing 

 expression, and the terrible look which accompanied it, caused the giver of 

 the provocation to shudder. He felt a secret shame for his misconduct. The 

 attitude, the voice, the gesture of Raphael, revealed something strange. The 

 Marquis paused, and the others imitated his silence. Anxiety and attention 

 were at their highest. ' It is yet time,' said he, ' to give me a slight satis- 

 faction : but give it me, or else you are a dead man ! You are confident, 

 even now, in your skill without shrinking from the idea of a contest in 

 which you deem the advantage entirely your own. Well, I am generous. 

 I forewarn you of my superiority. I possess a terrific power, that shall an- 

 nihilate your skill, dim your sight, shake your hand and heart ; nay, that 

 .shall kill you. I have only to wish I do not desire to exercise my power 

 twice ; its exercise costs me too much ! If, then, you refuse me an apo- 

 logy > y ur ball shall take the direction of the lake, spite of your practice in 

 assassination mine will go straight to your heart/ 



" Here Raphael was interrupted by confused exclamations. While pro- 

 nouncing those words, he had directed full upon his adversary the insupport- 

 able brilliancy of his fixed eye. He then drew himself up, exhibiting a coun- 

 tenance impassive, implacable; similar to that of a fool, who is coolly 

 wicked. ' Stop him !' cried the young man to his second ; ' his voice 

 wrings my bowels/ ' No more, sir, your words are useless/ said the 

 surgeon and seconds to Raphael. ' I fulfil a duty. Has this young man 

 any affairs to settle ?' ' Enough enough/ The Marquis then remained 

 upright, immoveable, without for an instant taking his eyes off his adver- 

 sary, who, overcome by an almost magic power, was like a bird before a ser- 

 pent ; constrained to bear that homicidal look, he avoided it, and returned 

 to it unceasingly. ' Some water/ said he to his second ; ' I feel thirsty/ 

 ' Are you afraid ?' ' Yes/ replied he, ' the eye of that man is burning, and 

 it fascinates me/ ' Will you make him an apology ?' ' 'Tis too late/ 



" The principals were placed at a distance of ten paces from each other. 

 The pistols were handed to them, and they awaited the signal. ' What are 

 you doing, Charles ?' said the second to Raphael's adversary ; ' you are 

 putting in the ball before the powder/ ' I am a dead man/ murmured the 

 other, ' you have placed me opposite the sun/ ' It is behind you/ said the 

 Marquis, in a deep and solemn voice ; and he continued slowly charging his 

 pistol, indifferent to the signal given, and the studied aim of his adversary. 

 There was something appalling in this supernatural confidence, which com- 

 municated itself to the two postillions, whom a cruel curiosity had attracted 

 to the spot. Sporting with his power, or wishing to put it to the proof, 

 Raphael continued speaking to Jonathan, and looking towards him, at the 

 moment Us adversary fired. His ball struck the little willow, and skimmed 

 the water of the lake ; while that of Raphael pierced his heart. Without 



