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THE INCONSISTENCY OF AN OLD CHOUAN.
While the madman, Boleslas, hastened to Ardea to ask his cooperation in the most unreasonable of encounters, with a species of savage delight, Florent Chapron was possessed by only one thought: at any price to prevent his brother-in-law from suspecting his quarrel with Madame Steno's former lover and the duel which was to be the result.

His passionate friendship for Lincoln was so strong that it prevented the nervousness which usually precedes a first duel, above all when he who appears upon the ground has all his life neglected practising with the sword or pistol.

To a fencer, and to one accustomed to the use of firearms, a duel means a number of details which remove the thought of danger.

The man conceives the possibilities of the struggle, of a deed to be bravely accomplished.