CHAPTER XVII.

 WE reached Vincennes at five minutes to nine.

 

Another carriage, that of Chateau¹ Renaud, arrived at the same time.

 

We proceeded into the wood by different paths. Our carriages were to await us in the broad avenue. A few minutes later we met at the rendezvous².

 

“Gentlemen,” said Louis, “recollect that no arrangement is possible now.”

 

“Nevertheless——,” I said

 

“Oh, my dear sir,” he replied, “after what I have told you, you should be the last person to think that any reconciliation³ is possible.”

 

I bowed before this absolute will, which for me was supreme⁴.

 

We left Louis near the carriages, and advanced towards M. de Boissy and M. de Chateaugrand.

 

The Baron⁵ de Giordano carried the case of pistols.

 

The seconds exchanged salutes⁶.

 

“Gentlemen,” said the Baron, “under these circumstances the shortest compliments are the best, for we may be interrupted any moment. We were requested to provide weapons—here they are. Examine them if you please. We have just procured⁷ them from the gunsmith, and we give you our word of honour that M. Louis de Franchi has not even seen them.”

 

“Such an assurance is unnecessary, gentlemen,” replied Chateaugrand, “we know with whom we have to deal,” and taking one pistol, while M. de Boissy took the other, the seconds examined the bore.

 

“These are ordinary pistols, and have never been used,” said the Baron; “now the question is, how shall the principals fire.”

 

“My advice,” said M. de Boissy, “is that they should fire just as they are accustomed to do, together.”

 

“Very well,” said the Baron Giordano, “then all chances are equalized.”

 

“Will you advise M. de Franchi, then, and we will tell M. de Chateau Renaud, monsieur.”

 

“Now that is settled, will you have the goodness to load the pistols?”

 

Each one took a pistol, measured carefully the charges of powder, took two bullets at hazard, and rammed⁸ them home.

 

While the weapons were being loaded, I approached Louis, who received me with a smile.

 

“You won’t forget what I asked you?” he said, “and you will obtain from Giordano a promise that he will say nothing to my mother, or even to my brother. Will you take care, also, that this affair does not get into the papers, or, if it does, that no names are mentioned.”

 

“You are still of opinion, then, this duel⁹ will prove fatal to you?” I said.

 

“I am more than ever convinced of it,” he replied, “but you will do me this justice at least, that I met death like a true Corsican.”

 

“My dear de Franchi, your calmness is so astounding¹¹ that it gives me hopes that you yourself are not convinced on this point.”

 

Louis took out his watch.

 

 

“I have but seven minutes to live,” he said; “here is my watch, keep it, I beg of you, in remembrance of me.” I took the watch, and shook my friend’s hand.

 

“In eight minutes I hope to restore it to you,” I said.

 

“Don’t speak of that,” he replied. “See, here are the others.”

 

“Gentlemen,” said the Viscount de Chateaugrand, “a little distance from here, on the right, is an open space where I had a little practice of my own last year; shall we proceed thither—we shall be less liable to interruption.”

 

“If you will lead the way,” said the Baron Giordano, “we will follow.”

 

The Viscount preceded us to the spot indicated. It was about thirty paces distant, at the bottom of a gentle slope surrounded on all sides by a screen of brushwood, and seemed fitted by nature as the theatre of such an event as was about to take place.

 

“M. Martelli,” said the Viscount, “will you measure the distance by me?” The Baron assented¹², and thus side by side he and M. de Chateaugrand measured twenty ordinary paces.

 

I was then left for a few seconds alone with M. de Franchi.

 

“Apropos,” he said, “you will find my will on the table where I was writing when you came in this morning.”

 

“Good,” I replied, “you may rest quite easy on that score.”

 

“When you are ready, gentlemen,” said the Viscount de Chateaugrand.

 

“I am here,” replied Louis. “Adieu, dear friend! thank you for all the trouble you have taken for me, without counting all you will have to do for me later on.” I pressed his hand. It was cold, but perfectly¹³ steady.

 

“Now,” I said, “forget the apparition¹⁴ of last night, and aim your best.”

 

“You remember de Freyschutz?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Well, you know, then, that every bullet has its billet. Adieu!”

 

He met the Baron Giordano, who handed him the pistol; he took it, and, without looking at it, went and placed himself at the spot marked by the handkerchief.

 

M. de Chateau Renaud had already taken up his position.

 

There was a moment of mournful silence, during which the young men saluted¹⁵ their seconds, then their adversary’s seconds, and finally each other.

 

M. de Chateau Renaud appeared perfectly accustomed to these affairs, and was smiling like a man sure of success; perhaps, also, he was aware that Louis de Franchi never had fired a pistol in his life.

 

Louis was calm and collected, his fine head looked almost like a marble bust¹⁶.

 

“Well, gentlemen,” said Chateau Renaud, “you see we are waiting.”

 

Louis gave me one last glance, and smiling, raised his eyes to heaven.

 

“Now, gentlemen, make ready,” said Chateaugrand. Then, striking his hands one against the other, he cried—

 

“One! Two! Three!”

 

The two shots made but one detonation¹⁷.

 

An instant afterwards I saw Louis de Franchi turn round twice and then fall upon one knee.

 

M. de Chateau Renaud remained upright. The lappel of his coat had been shot through.

 

I rushed towards Louis de Franchi.

 

“You are wounded?” I said.

 

He attempted to reply, but in vain. A red froth appeared upon his lips.

 

At the same moment he let fall his pistol, and pressed his hand against his right side.

 

On looking closely, we perceived a tiny hole not large enough for the point of a little finger.

 

I begged the Baron to hasten to the barracks, and bring the surgeon of the regiment¹⁸.

 

But de Franchi collected all his strength, and stopping Giordano, signed that all assistance would be useless. This exertion¹⁹ caused him to fall on both knees.

 

M. de Chateau Renaud kept at a distance, but his seconds now approached the wounded man.

 

Meanwhile, we had opened his coat and torn away his waistcoat and shirt.

 

The ball had entered the right side, below the sixth rib²⁰, and had come out a little above the left hip²¹.

 

At each breath the wounded man drew, the blood welled out. It was evident he was mortally hurt.

 

“M. de Franchi,” said the Viscount de Chateaugrand, “we regret extremely the issue of this sad affair. We trust you bear no malice²² against M. de Chateau Renaud.”

 

“Yes, yes,” murmured the wounded man, “I forgive him.”

 

Then turning towards me with an effort he said,

 

“Remember your promise!”

 

“I swear to you I will do all you wish.”

 

“And now,” he said, smiling, “look at the watch!”

 

He breathed a long sigh, and fell back. That sigh was his last.

 

I looked at the watch, it was exactly ten minutes past nine.

 

I turned to Louis de Franchi—he was dead.

 

We took back the body to the Rue¹⁰ de Helder, and while the Baron went to make the usual declaration to the Commissary of Police, I went upstairs with Joseph.

 

The poor lad was weeping bitterly.

 

As I entered, my eyes unconsciously turned towards the timepiece; it marked ten minutes past nine.

 

No doubt he had forgotten to wind it, and it had stopped at that hour.

 

The Baron Giordano returned almost immediately with the officers, who put the seals on the property.

 

The Baron wished to advise the relatives and friends of the affair, but I begged him, before he did so, to read the letter that Louis had handed to him before we set out that morning.

 

The letter contained his request that the cause of his death should be concealed²³ from his brother, and that his funeral should be as quiet as possible.

 

The Baron Giordano charged himself with these details, and I sought MM. de Boissy and de Chateaugrand, to request their silence respecting the unhappy affair, and to induce Chateau Renaud to leave Paris for a time, without mentioning my reason for this last suggestion.

 

They promised me to do all they could to meet my views, and as I walked to Chateau Renaud’s house I posted the letter to Madame de Franchi, informing her that her son had died of brain fever.

1 chateau   

n.城堡，别墅

参考例句：

• The house was modelled on a French chateau.这房子是模仿一座法国大别墅建造的。
• The chateau was left to itself to flame and burn.那府第便径自腾起大火燃烧下去。

2 rendezvous   

n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇

参考例句：

• She made the rendezvous with only minutes to spare.她还差几分钟时才来赴约。
• I have a rendezvous with Peter at a restaurant on the harbour.我和彼得在海港的一个餐馆有个约会。

3 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

4 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

5 baron   

n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王

参考例句：

• Henry Ford was an automobile baron.亨利·福特是一位汽车业巨头。
• The baron lived in a strong castle.男爵住在一座坚固的城堡中。

6 salutes   

n.致敬，欢迎，敬礼( salute的名词复数 )v.欢迎，致敬( salute的第三人称单数 )；赞扬，赞颂

参考例句：

• Poulengey salutes, and stands at the door awaiting orders. 波仑日行礼，站在门口听侯命令。 来自辞典例句
• A giant of the world salutes you. 一位世界的伟人向你敬礼呢。 来自辞典例句

7 procured   

v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条

参考例句：

• These cars are to be procured through open tender. 这些汽车要用公开招标的办法购买。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• A friend procured a position in the bank for my big brother. 一位朋友为我哥哥谋得了一个银行的职位。 来自《用法词典》

8 rammed   

v.夯实（土等）( ram的过去式和过去分词 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输

参考例句：

• Two passengers were injured when their taxi was rammed from behind by a bus. 公共汽车从后面撞来，出租车上的两位乘客受了伤。
• I rammed down the earth around the newly-planted tree. 我将新栽的树周围的土捣硬。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 duel   

n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争

参考例句：

• The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。
• Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。

10 rue   

n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔

参考例句：

• You'll rue having failed in the examination.你会悔恨考试失败。
• You're going to rue this the longest day that you live.你要终身悔恨不尽呢。

11 astounding   

adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词)

参考例句：

• There was an astounding 20% increase in sales. 销售量惊人地增加了20%。
• The Chairman's remarks were so astounding that the audience listened to him with bated breath. 主席说的话令人吃惊，所以听众都屏息听他说。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 assented   

同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
• "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对，”汤姆表示赞同地说，“他们不杀女人——真伟大！

13 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

14 apparition   

n.幽灵，神奇的现象

参考例句：

• He saw the apparition of his dead wife.他看见了他亡妻的幽灵。
• But the terror of this new apparition brought me to a stand.这新出现的幽灵吓得我站在那里一动也不敢动。

15 saluted   

v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂

参考例句：

• The sergeant stood to attention and saluted. 中士立正敬礼。
• He saluted his friends with a wave of the hand. 他挥手向他的朋友致意。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 bust   

vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部

参考例句：

• I dropped my camera on the pavement and bust it. 我把照相机掉在人行道上摔坏了。
• She has worked up a lump of clay into a bust.她把一块黏土精心制作成一个半身像。

17 detonation   

n.爆炸；巨响

参考例句：

• A fearful detonation burst forth on the barricade.街垒传来一阵骇人的爆炸声。
• Within a few hundreds of microseconds,detonation is complete.在几百微秒之内，爆炸便完成了。

18 regiment   

n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制

参考例句：

• As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活，所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
• They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。

19 exertion   

n.尽力，努力

参考例句：

• We were sweating profusely from the exertion of moving the furniture.我们搬动家具大费气力，累得大汗淋漓。
• She was hot and breathless from the exertion of cycling uphill.由于用力骑车爬坡，她浑身发热。

20 rib   

n.肋骨，肋状物

参考例句：

• He broke a rib when he fell off his horse.他从马上摔下来折断了一根肋骨。
• He has broken a rib and the doctor has strapped it up.他断了一根肋骨，医生已包扎好了。

21 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

22 malice   

n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋

参考例句：

• I detected a suggestion of malice in his remarks.我觉察出他说的话略带恶意。
• There was a strong current of malice in many of his portraits.他的许多肖像画中都透着一股强烈的怨恨。

23 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。