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Updated: May 8, 2025
But M. Dubuis crushed him with his enormous weight and kept punching him without taking breath or knowing where his blows fell. Blood flowed down the face of the German, who, choking and with a rattling in his throat, spat out his broken teeth and vainly strove to shake off this infuriated man who was killing him. The Englishmen had got on their feet and came closer in order to see better.
The Englishmen, quite interested, immediately asked: "Ha! and what is the name of this village?" The Prussian replied: "Pharsbourg." He added: "We caught those French scoundrels by the ears." And he glanced toward M. Dubuis, laughing conceitedly into his mustache. The train rolled on, still passing through hamlets occupied by the victorious army.
The Englishmen at once began staring, at him with smiles of newly awakened interest, while M. Dubuis made a show of reading a newspaper. He sat concealed in his corner like a thief in presence of a gendarme. The train started again.
They remained standing, full of mirth and curiosity, ready to bet for, or against, either combatant. Suddenly M. Dubuis, exhausted by his violent efforts, rose and resumed his seat without uttering a word. The Prussian did not attack him, for the savage assault had terrified and astonished the officer as well as causing him suffering.
And gravely, one after the other, they extended their right hands to M. Dubuis and then went back and sat down in their own corner. ORIGINAL SHORT STORIES, Vol. 2. GUY DE MAUPASSANT ORIGINAL SHORT STORIES Translated by ALBERT M. C. McMASTER, B.A. A. E. HENDERSON, B.A. MME. QUESADA and Others
And he put out his hand toward the Frenchman's face. The Englishmen stared at them, retaining their previous impassive manner. The German had already pulled out a few hairs, and was still tugging at the mustache, when M. Dubuis, with a back stroke of his hand, flung aside the officer's arm, and, seizing him by the collar, threw him down on the seat.
And suddenly he placed his boots against the thigh of M. Dubuis, who turned away his eyes, reddening to the roots of his hair. The Englishmen seemed to have become indifferent to all that was going on, as if they were suddenly shut up in their own island, far from the din of the world. The officer took out his pipe, and looking fixedly at the Frenchman, said: "You haven't any tobacco have you?"
They remained standing, full of mirth and curiosity, ready to bet for, or against, either combatant. Suddenly M. Dubuis, exhausted by his violent efforts, rose and resumed his seat without uttering a word. The Prussian did not attack him, for the savage assault had terrified and astonished the officer as well as causing him suffering.
M. Dubuis, who was puffing as hard as the engine, said to the Englishmen: "Will you be my seconds?" They both answered together: "Oh, yes!" And the train stopped. In a minute the Prussian had found two comrades, who brought pistols, and they made their way toward the ramparts.
When he was able to breathe freely, he said: "Unless you give me satisfaction with pistols I will kill you." M. Dubuis replied: "Whenever you like. I'm quite ready." The German said: "Here is the town of Strasbourg. I'll get two officers to be my seconds, and there will be time before the train leaves the station."
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