At the same time, the hedges, which seemed conscious of the approaching storm, the thirsty plants, the drooping branches of the trees, exhaled a thousand aromatic odors, which revived in the mind tender recollections, thoughts of youth, endless life, happiness, and love.

"How fresh the earth smells," said De Wardes; "it is a piece of coquetry to draw us to her." "By the by," replied De Guiche, "several ideas have just occurred to me; and I wish to have your opinion upon them." "Relative to--" "Relative to our engagement." "It is quite some time, in fact, that we should begin to arrange matters." "Is it to be an ordinary combat, and conducted according to established custom ?" "Let me first know what your established custom is." "That we dismount in any particular open space that may suit us, fasten our horses to the nearest object, meet, each without our pistols in our hands, and afterwards retire for a hundred and fifty paces, in order to advance on each other." "Very good; that is precisely the way in which I killed poor Follivent, three weeks ago, at Saint-Denis." "I beg your pardon, but you forgot one circumstance." "What is that ?" "That in your duel with Follivent you advanced towards each other on foot, your swords between your teeth, and your pistols in your hands." "True." "While now, on the contrary, as you cannot walk, you yourself admit that we shall have to mount our horses again, and charge; and the first who wishes to fire will do so." "That is the best course, no doubt; but it is quite dark; we must make allowances for more missed shots than would be the case in the daytime." "Very well; each will fire three times; the pair of pistols already loaded, and one reload." "Excellent! Where shall our engagement take place ?" "Have you any preference ?" "No." "You see that small wood which lies before us ?" "The wood which is called Rochin ?" "Exactly." "You know it ?" "Perfectly." "You know that there is an open glade in the center ?" "Yes." "Well, this glade is admirably adapted for such a purpose, with a variety of roads, by-places, paths, ditches, windings, and avenues.

We could not find a better spot." "I am perfectly satisfied, if you are so.

We are at our destination, if I am not mistaken." "Yes.

Look at the beautiful open space in the center.