The horses are two rather large animals of equal pace,--horses well used to maneuvers of all kinds, for they wheeled round the barrier of the Rond-point together." "Well--and after ?" "The two cavaliers paused there for a minute, no doubt to arrange the conditions of the engagement; the horses grew restless and impatient.
One of the riders spoke, while the other listened and seemed to have contented himself by simply answering.

His horse pawed the ground, which proves that his attention was so taken up by listening that he let the bridle fall from his hand." "A hostile meeting did take place then ?" "Undoubtedly." "Continue; you are a very accurate observer." "One of the two cavaliers remained where he was standing, the one, in fact, who had been listening; the other crossed the open space, and at first placed himself directly opposite to his adversary.

The one who had remained stationary traversed the Rond-point at a gallop, about two-thirds of its length, thinking that by this means he would gain upon his opponent; but the latter had followed the circumference of the wood." "You are ignorant of their names, I suppose ?" "Completely so, sire.

Only he who followed the circumference of the wood was mounted on a black horse." "How do you know that ?" "I found a few hairs of his tail among the brambles which bordered the sides of the ditch." "Go on." "As for the other horse, there can be no trouble in describing him, since he was left dead on the field of battle." "What was the cause of his death ?" "A ball which had passed through his brain." "Was the ball that of a pistol or a gun ?" "It was a pistol-bullet, sire.

Besides, the manner in which the horse was wounded explained to me the tactics of the man who had killed it.
He had followed the circumference of the wood in order to take his adversary in flank.