It was a duel..." Andre-Louis interrupted him.

"It is no more a duel than if it had been fought with pistols of which only M.le Marquis's was loaded.

He invited Philippe to discuss the matter further, with the deliberate intent of forcing a quarrel upon him and killing him.

Be patient with me, monsieur my god-father.

I am not telling you of what I imagine but what M.le Marquis himself admitted to me." Dominated a little by the young man's earnestness, M.de Kercadiou's pale eyes fell away.