And who is this gentleman, who has thus slain one who had no mean reputation as a swordsman ?" "A young gentleman passing through Agen.

The quarrel arose through a rencontre in the street.

Count Raoul was, as was his nature, hasty, and put himself in the wrong.

The gentleman resented his language, and a meeting was at once arranged.

Count Louis and myself were with Raoul, and as his opponent was alone, and it was not desirable to draw others into the matter, I offered to act as his second; and he accepted it, at once.