He had a basket into which he dropped the cards of the visitors who called, answering each inquiry with the same unchanging words: "He is very ill, the signorino.

Do not make any noise." "Where is he hurt ?" the visitor would ask.

Whereupon Temistocle pointed to his throat.
"Will he live ?" was the next question; to which the man answered by raising his shoulders to his ears, elevating his eyebrows, and at the same time shutting his eyes, while he spread out the palms of his hands over his basket of cards--whereby he meant to signify that he did not know, but doubted greatly.

It being impossible to extract any further information from him, the visitor had nothing left but to leave his card and turn away.

Within, the wounded man was watched by a Sister of Mercy.
The surgeon had pronounced his recovery probable if he had proper care: the wound was a dangerous one, but not likely to prove mortal unless the patient died of the fever or of exhaustion.
The young gentlemen of leisure who thus obtained the news of the two duellists, lost no time in carrying it from house to house.