"But what was the reason of the duel ?" "Oh, the reason of it was entirely childish," said the Duke.

"I was in a bad temper; and De Relzieres said something that annoyed me." "Then it wasn't about me; and if it wasn't about me, it wasn't really worth while fighting," said Germaine in a tone of acute disappointment.
The mocking light deepened a little in the Duke's eyes.
"Yes.

But if I had been killed, everybody would have said, 'The Duke of Charmerace has been killed in a duel about Mademoiselle Gournay-Martin.' That would have sounded very fine indeed," said the Duke; and a touch of mockery had crept into his voice.
"Now, don't begin trying to annoy me again," said Germaine pettishly.
"The last thing I should dream of, my dear girl," said the Duke, smiling.
"And De Relzieres?
Is he wounded ?" said Germaine.
"Poor dear De Relzieres: he won't be out of bed for the next six months," said the Duke; and he laughed lightly and gaily.
"Good gracious!" cried Germaine.
"It will do poor dear De Relzieres a world of good.

He has a touch of enteritis; and for enteritis there is nothing like rest," said the Duke.
Sonia was not getting on very quickly with the wedding-cards.

Germaine was sitting with her back to her; and over her shoulder Sonia could watch the face of the Duke--an extraordinarily mobile face, changing with every passing mood.