He vouchsafed some remark to the effect that fighting duels was the natural amusement of young gentlemen, and that if one of them killed another there was at least one fool the less in society; after which he looked about him for some young beauty to whom he might reel off a score of compliments.

He knew all the time that he was making a great effort, that he felt unaccountably ill, and that he wished he had taken his wife's advice and stayed quietly at home.

But at the end of the evening he chanced to overhear a remark that Valdarno was making to Casalverde, who looked exceedingly pale and ill at ease.
"You had better make your will, my dear fellow," said Valdarno.

"Spicca is a terrible man with the foils." Astrardente turned quickly and looked at the speaker.

But both men were suddenly silent, and seemed absorbed in gazing at the crowd.