Year: 1878

should these gentlemen not fight II the.
want TO? A meeting is inevitable unles
you decline to ask satisfaction. VI. d'
Drieux assured us expressly that h


would make no apology. He has asked
us to be his seconds. We have accepted
that honor, and all We have now to do i
to settle the terms of meeting, provided
Count Stachevitch thinks it his due
We are ready to fight, and wait YOU
pleasure"


1 went away and gave them time tc
) reflect; then l had second interview
with these young fools, after which
went back to Stachovitch, and told him
how all my attempts at reconciliation
had failed.


Il knew they would fail beforehand,
he replied, "but my conscience tells me
| haYe now done all could to avoid this
unlucky duel. The blood that will be
shed must fall upon the head of him
who would not be reconciled."


The duel took place next morning at
daybreak in the forest of Vincennes. i
had been a little anxious lest Stachovitch
should show some nervousness upon the
ground, for in spite of my presence, he
seemed almost beside himself the night
before with anxiety. When 1 found my
self with him the next morning in a car
rage, he hastened to reassure me.


You need not be anxious" he said,
al know what have to do, and shall
give you no occasion to be ashamed of
me-"


His whole bearing was excellent. He
was grave, self contained, and perfectly
cool. As he stood sword in hand, after
taking off his coat and waistcoat and
untying his cravat, could not forbear
admiring the strength and supleness of
his wellknit figure. Drieux attacked
him vehemently. For some time all
Stachoyitch did was to parry the furious
assaults of his opponent, but by degrees
he warmed to his work and began to at
tack in his turn. More than once /
fancied that saw his sword touch the
chest of the Vicomte, but he did not
wound him. All of sudden he dropped
his arm. We ran up to him. He was
badly wounded through the right fore
arm. To continue the duel was imposs
ible. Drieux prepared slowly to leave
the ground, while his seconds earnestly
begged tc know if they could be Of any
use to me. thanked them, butdeclined
their help. After which, bowling low to
| us, they went away.


/ turned to Stachovitch, who was al
ready in the hands of the surgeon, and
was amazed TO see the look of perfect
happiness upon his countenance.


Thank God" be cried, "that it has
ended thus, If you only knew what a
weight has been taken off my mind"


This explosion of joy, on the part of a
man who had been badly wounded, was
at least surprising. l answered.


"As far as am concerned had rather
the Vicomte had been hit; however, as
you seem so charmed that it was you,
have no right to complain"


The wound having been dressed and
the surgeon sent away, / got into our
carriage with Stachovitch, and drove to
the Avenue Friedland. As we drove
along the young Russian seemed su-
premely happy. Every now and then
he fell into deep revery, but his rehec-
tons must have been agreeable, for a
smile of rest and satisfaction such as /
had never seen before upon his face
lighted up his features.


al feel as if had just got rid of an
ugly dream" he said. fam awake now,
and see that all that has been making
me unhappy was unreal. This very day
| Will go to Madame de Baudry's and
ask her nieceis hand l know she will
grant it me. l am full of happy hopes.
l have been wretched for so long. Now
my turn has come for being happy
Yes, / shall not be refused. will see
you this evening, dear friend. Congrat
ulate me. | am so happy"


could not in the least understand
this new excitement: but had no wish
to trouble my friends joy, so 1 said au
reg1ir, after having taken him back to
his Own rooms, and retired well satisfied
with the result of the duel.
The proposal of Stachovitch for the
hand of Marie de Massieux was accepted.
My friend appeared indeed happy
man. He was altogether changed. His
former sadness, of which he had never
told me the cause, gave place to almost
extravagant spirits and gaiety. l found
it hard to get accustomed to the altera-
ton; and it did nOt seem to me anything
so very extraordinary that Stachovitch
should be an excepted suitor. Madam
oiselle de Massieux was very charming
person, and my friends delight at his en-
gagement was to a certain extent natural;
yet it had been so obvious long before
that he was encouraged to address her,
that l could not imagine why his accept
snce should appear to him a matter of
surprise.


al am the happiest man that lives" he
was forever saying TO me. And / al
ways made answer


Il am very glad of it, mon cher; but it
is your own fault that your happiness
did not begin six months ago"


When spoke thus Staehovitch always
had strange way of looking at me, as if
he were half inclined to tell me some
thing. He never did, however, and l
remained as ill-informed about the
source Of his new happiness as 1 had
been about his former depression and
misery.


The Vicomte de Drieux had left Paris.
| heard accidently that he was travelling
in Greece.


81 wish him every good thing he can
possibly desire" said Stachoyitch, on
hearing this news. "I owe him all my
present happiness"


"Enigmas again" 1 cried. What pos
sible connection can there be between
De Drieux and your lifeIs happiness
Stachovitch smiled his most mysterious
smile, as If to say


Il know-and am perfectly sure oft"


This conversation ended like all the
rest. But after Boris had taken leave of
me ! began to ask myself, could any
thing be wrong in my young friends
brain?


A few days later the same idea recur-