What can you do with the small sword, for they have rapiers at the mill ?" "Nothing whatever; I have not fenced since I was a boy." "N'importe--then we'll fight at a barriere.

I know they're not prepared for that from Englishmen; so just step on one side now, and leave me to talk it over." As the limited nature of the ground did not permit me to retire to a distance, I became involuntarily aware of a dialogue, which even the seriousness of the moment could scarcely keep me from laughing at outright.
It was necessary, for the sake of avoiding any possible legal difficulty in the result, that O'Leary should give his assent to every step of the arrangement; and being totally ignorant of French, Trevanion had not only to translate for him, but also to render in reply O'Leary's own comments or objections to the propositions of the others.
"Then it is agreed--we fight at a barriere," said the Captain Derigny.
"What's that, Trevanion ?" "We have agreed to place them at a barriere," replied Trevanion.
"That's strange," muttered O'Leary to himself, who, knowing that the word meant a "turnpike," never supposed it had any other signification.
"Vingt quatre pas, n'est pas," said Derigny.
"Too far," interposed Trevanion.
"What does he say now ?" asked O'Leary.
"Twenty-four paces for the distance." "Twenty-four of my teeth he means," said O'Leary, snapping his fingers.
"What does he think of the length of Sackville-street?
Ask him that, will ye ?" "What says Monsieur ?" said the Frenchman.
"He thinks the distance much too great." "He may be mistaken," said the Captain, half sneeringly.

"My friend is 'de la premiere force.'" "That must be something impudent, from your looks, Mr.Trevanion.

Isn't it a thousand pities I can't speak French ?" "What say you, then, to twelve paces?
Fire together, and two shots each, if the first fire be inconclusive," said Trevanion.
"And if necessary," added the Frenchman, carelessly, "conclude with these"-- touching the swords with his foot as he spoke.
"The choice of the weapon lies with us, I opine," replied Trevanion.
"We have already named pistols, and by them we shall decide this matter." It was at length, after innumerable objections, agreed upon that we should be placed back to back, and at a word given each walk forward to a certain distance marked out by a stone, where we were to halt, and at the signal, "une," "deux," turn round and fire.
This, which is essentially a French invention in duelling, was perfectly new to me, but by no means to Trevanion, who was fully aware of the immense consequence of not giving even a momentary opportunity for aim to my antagonist; and in this mode of firing the most practised and deadly shot is liable to err--particularly if the signal be given quickly.
While Trevanion and the Captain were measuring out the ground, a little circumstance which was enacted near me was certainly not over calculated to strengthen my nerve.

The stranger who had led us to the ground had begun to examine the pistols, and finding that one of them was loaded, turned towards my adversary, saying, "De Haultpenne, you have forgotten to draw the charge.