Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: September 2, 2025
But what impressed Roland the most was that the man he had followed through the night, and whose name and retreat he had just discovered, was none other than the second of Alfred de Barjols, whom he himself had killed in a duel near the fountain of Vaucluse; and that that second was, in all probability, the man who had played the part of ghost at the Chartreuse of Seillon.
The aspect harmonized with the terrible solemnity of the scene about to take place. Nothing was visible to Roland's right and to M. de Barjols' left, except the mountain's swift incline and gigantic peak. But on the other side, that is to say, to M. de Barjols' right and Roland's left, it was a far different thing. The horizon stretched illimitable.
Then handing the card to the Englishman, he said: "Here, this concerns you; it is unnecessary for me to see this monsieur since we are no longer citizens M. de Valensolle is M. de Barjols' second; you are mine. Arrange this affair between you. Only," added the young man, pressing the Englishman's hand and looking fixedly at him, "see that it holds a chance of certain death for one of us.
It is that of getting a glimpse of these gentlemen of Jehu near at hand." "Ah, yes, I understand. As you failed to get yourself killed by M. de Barjols, you want to try your chance of being killed by M. Morgan."
"Pardon me, gentlemen," replied Roland; "but you will, I hope, permit me to be the judge of the time and manner of retaliating. Since I have felt M. de Barjols' shot, I have a few words to say to him which I could not say before." Then, turning to the young aristocrat, who was pale and calm, he said: "Sir, perhaps I was somewhat too hasty in our discussion this morning." And he waited.
"I give it in all its simplicity: 'Francesi non sono tutti ladroni, ma buona parte'; which means: 'All Frenchmen are not thieves, but " "A good part are?" concluded Roland. "Yes, 'Buonaparte," replied Alfred de Barjols. Scarcely had these insolent words left the young aristocrat's lips than the plate with which Roland was playing flew from his hands and struck De Barjols full in the face.
Sir John drew the little key from his pocket and opened the box. Then approaching M. de Barjols he offered it to him open. The latter wished to yield the choice of weapons to his opponent; but with a wave of his hand Roland refused, saying in a tone almost feminine in its sweetness: "After you, M. de Barjols. Although you are the insulted party, you have, I am told, renounced your advantages.
As for him we are speaking of the citizen Alfred de Barjols his attitude, like that of the abbe who had given the Biblical explanation about Jehu, King of Israel, and his mission from Elisha, his attitude, we say, was that of a man who not only experiences no fear, but who even expects the event in question, however unexpected it may be.
I am ready now." Then, a smile on his lips, his hair lifted by the evening breeze, unconcerned as if this were an ordinary promenade, while his opponent, on the contrary, took all the precaution usual in such a case, Roland advanced straight toward M. de Barjols. Sir John's face, despite his ordinary impassibility, betrayed a profound anxiety. The distance between the opponents lessened rapidly.
"M. de Barjols, as much in your interest as in his own, asked permission to bring a surgeon, one of his friends." "What for?" harshly demanded Roland, frowning. "Why, in case either one of you was wounded. A man's life can often be saved by bleeding him promptly." "Sir John," exclaimed Roland, ferociously, "I don't understand these delicacies in the matter of a duel.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking