You are my elder and my superior: tell me if I am not right.' He was a quiet-mannered old fellow, and patted me with three fingers on the back.

'_C'est bien_, _mon enfant_,' says he, and returned to his committee.
Goguelat was no more accommodating than myself.

'I do not like apologies nor those that make them,' was his only answer.

And there remained nothing but to arrange the details of the meeting.

So far as regards place and time we had no choice; we must settle the dispute at night, in the dark, after a round had passed by, and in the open middle of the shed under which we slept.