The latter wished to yield the choice of weapons to his opponent; but with a wave of his hand Roland refused, saying in a tone almost feminine in its sweetness: "After you, M.de Barjols.

Although you are the insulted party, you have, I am told, renounced your advantages.

The least I can do is to yield you this one, if for that matter it is an advantage." M.de Barjols no longer insisted.

He took one of the two pistols at random.

Sir John offered the other to Roland, who took it, and, without even examining its mechanism, cocked the trigger, then let it fall at arm's-length at his side.
During this time M.de Valensolle had measured forty paces, staking a cane as a point of departure.
"Will you measure after me ?" he asked Sir John.
"Needless, sir," replied the latter: "M.