Romance?
See: you only get square justice out of a wise autocrat, not out of your 'twelve true men'; and duelling is the last decent relic of autocracy.
Suppose the wronged man does get killed; that is all right: it wasn't merely blood he was after, but the right to hit a man in the eye for a wrong done.

What is all this hullaballoo--about saving human life?
There's as much interest--and duty--in dying as living, if you go the way your conscience tells you." A couple of hours later, Gaston, after having seen to his horse, stood alone in the drawing-room with his grandfather and grandmother.

As yet Lady Belward had spoken not half a dozen words to him.

Sir William presently said to him: "Are you too tired to join us in the library ?" "I'm as fresh as paint, sir," was the reply.
Lady Belward turned without a word, and slowly passed from the room.
Gaston's eyes followed the crippled figure, which yet had a rare dignity.

He had a sudden impulse.