CHAPTER XX.

 LUCIEN’S appearance created quite a sensation in consequence of his remarkable¹ likeness² to his brother.

 

The news of Louis’ death had gone abroad—not, perhaps, in all its details, but it was known, and Lucien’s appearance astonished many.

 

I requested a private room, saying that we were expecting the Baron³ Giordano, and we got a room at the end.

 

Lucien began to read the papers carelessly, as if he were oblivious⁴ of everything.

 

While we were seated at breakfast Giordano arrived.

 

The two young men had not met for four or five years, nevertheless, a firm clasp of the hand was the only demonstration⁵ they permitted themselves.

 

“Well, everything is settled,” he said.

 

“Then M. de Chateau⁶ Renaud has accepted?”

 

“Yes, on condition, however, that after he has fought you he shall be left in peace.”

 

“Oh, he may be quite easy; I am the last of the de Franchi. Have you seen him, or his seconds?”

 

“I saw him; he will notify MM. de Boissy and de Chateaugrand. The weapons, the hour and the place will be the same.”

 

“Capital, sit down and have some breakfast.”

 

The Baron seated himself, and we spoke⁷ on indifferent topics.

 

After breakfast Lucien begged us to introduce him to the Commissioner⁸ of Police, who had sealed up his brother’s property, and to the proprietors⁹ of the house at which his brother had lived, for he wished to sleep that night, the last night that separated him from his vengeance¹⁰, in Louis’ room.

 

All these arrangements took up time, so it was not till five o’clock that Lucien entered his brother’s apartment. Respecting his grief, we left him there alone.

 

We had arranged to meet him again next morning at eight o’clock, and he begged me to bring the same pistols, and to buy them if they were for sale.

 

I went to Devismes and purchased the weapons. Next morning, at eight o’clock I was with Lucien.

 

When I entered, he was seated writing at the same table, where his brother had sat writing. He smiled when he saw me, but he was very pale.

 

“Good morning,” he said, “I am writing to my mother.”

 

“I hope you will be able to write her a less doleful letter than poor Louis wrote eight days ago.”

 

“I have told her that she may rest happy, for her son is avenged¹¹.”

 

“How are you able to speak with such certainty?”

 

“Did not my brother announce to you his own approaching death? Well, then, I announce to you the death of M. de Chateau Renaud.”

 

He rose as he spoke, and touching¹² me on the temple, said—

 

“There, that’s where I shall put my bullet.”

 

“And yourself?”

 

“I shall not be touched.”

 

“But, at least, wait for the issue of the duel¹³, before you send your letter.”

 

“It would be perfectly¹⁴ useless.”

 

He rang, the servant appeared.

 

“Joseph,” said he, “take this letter to the post.”

 

“But have you seen your dead brother?”

 

“Yes,” he answered.

 

It is a very strange thing the occurrence of these two duels¹⁵ so close together, and in each of which one of the two combatants was doomed¹⁶. While we were talking the Baron Giordano arrived. It was eight o’clock, so we started.

 

Lucien was very anxious to arrive first, so we were on the field ten minutes before the hour.

 

Our adversaries¹⁷ arrived at nine o’clock punctually. They came on horseback, followed by a groom¹⁸ also on horseback.

 

M. de Chateau Renaud had his hand in the breast of his coat. I at first thought he was carrying his arm in a sling¹⁹.

 

The gentlemen dismounted twenty paces from us, and gave their bridles²⁰ to the groom.

 

Monsieur de Chateau Renaud remained apart, but looked steadfastly²¹ at Lucien, and I thought he became paler. He turned aside and amused himself knocking off the little flowers with his riding whip.

 

“Well, gentlemen, here we are!” said MM. de Chateaugrand and de Boissy, “but you know our conditions. This duel is to be the last, and no matter what the issue may be, M. de Chateau Renaud shall not have to answer to any one for the double result.”

 

“That is understood,” we replied. Then Lucien bowed assent²².

 

“You have the weapons, gentlemen?” said the Viscount.

 

“Here are the same pistols.”

 

“And they are unknown to M. de Franchi?”

 

“Less known to him than to M. de Chateau Renaud who has already used them once. M. de Franchi has not even seen them.”

 

“That is sufficient, gentlemen. Come, Chateau Renaud!”

 

We immediately entered the wood, and each one felt, as he revisited the fatal spot, that a tragedy more terrible still was about to be enacted²³.

 

We soon arrived in the little dell.

 

M. de Chateau Renaud, thanks to his great self-command, appeared quite calm, but those who had seen both encounters could appreciate the difference.

 

From time to time he glanced under his lids at Lucien, and his furtive²⁴ looks denoted a disquietude approaching to fear.

 

Perhaps it was the great resemblance between the brothers that struck him, and he thought he saw in Lucien the avenging²⁵ shade of Louis.

 

While they were loading the pistols I saw him draw his hand from the breast of his coat. The fingers were enveloped²⁶ in a handkerchief as if to prevent their twitching²⁷.

 

Lucien waited calmly, like a man who was sure of his vengeance.

 

Without being told, Lucien walked to the place his brother had occupied, which compelled Chateau Renaud to take up his position as before.

 

Lucien received his weapon with a joyous²⁸ smile.

 

When Chateau Renaud took his pistol he became deadly pale. Then he passed his hand between his cravat²⁹ and his neck as if he were suffocating³⁰.

 

No one can conceive with what feelings of terror I regarded this young man, handsome, rich, and elegant, who but yesterday believed he had many years still before him, and who to-day, with the sweat on his brow and agony at his heart, felt he was condemned³¹.

 

“Are you ready, gentlemen?” asked M. de Chateaugrand.

 

“Yes,” replied Lucien.

 

M. de Chateau Renaud made a sign in the affirmative.

 

As for me I was obliged to turn away, not daring to look upon the scene.

 

I heard the two successive clappings of the hands, and at the third the simultaneous reports of the pistols. I turned round.

 

Chateau Renaud was lying on the ground, stark³² dead; he had not uttered a sound nor made a movement.

 

I approached the body, impelled³³ by that invincible³⁴ curiosity which compels one to see the end of a catastrophe³⁵.

 

The bullet had entered the dead man’s temple, at the very spot that Lucien had indicated to me previously³⁶.

 

I ran to him, he was calm and motionless, but seeing me coming towards him he let fall the pistol, and threw himself into my arms.

 

“Ah, my brother, my poor brother!” he cried as he burst into a passion of sobs³⁷.

 

These were the first tears that the young man had shed.
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1 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

2 likeness   

n.相像，相似（之处）

参考例句：

• I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
• She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。

3 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。

4 oblivious   

adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的

参考例句：

• Mother has become quite oblivious after the illness.这次病后，妈妈变得特别健忘。
• He was quite oblivious of the danger.他完全没有察觉到危险。

5 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

6 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。

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

9 proprietors   

n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These little proprietors of businesses are lords indeed on their own ground. 这些小业主们，在他们自己的行当中，就是真正的至高无上的统治者。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Many proprietors try to furnish their hotels with antiques. 许多经营者都想用古董装饰他们的酒店。 来自辞典例句

10 vengeance   

n.报复，报仇，复仇

参考例句：

• He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
• For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。

11 avenged   

v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复

参考例句：

• She avenged her mother's death upon the Nazi soldiers. 她惩处了纳粹士兵以报杀母之仇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Indians avenged the burning of their village on〔upon〕 the settlers. 印第安人因为村庄被焚毁向拓居者们进行报复。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

13 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。

14 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。

15 duels   

n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争

参考例句：

• That's where I usually fight my duels. 我经常在那儿进行决斗。” 来自英语晨读30分（初三）
• Hyde Park also became a favourite place for duels. 海德公园也成了决斗的好地方。 来自辞典例句

16 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

17 adversaries   

n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
• Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句

18 groom   

vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁

参考例句：

• His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。
• George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作，乔治已在接受专门的培训。

19 sling   

vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓

参考例句：

• The boy discharged a stone from a sling.这个男孩用弹弓射石头。
• By using a hoist the movers were able to sling the piano to the third floor.搬运工人用吊车才把钢琴吊到3楼。

20 bridles   

约束( bridle的名词复数 )； 限动器； 马笼头； 系带

参考例句：

• The horses were shod with silver and golden bridles. 这些马钉着金银做的鉄掌。

21 steadfastly   

adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝

参考例句：

• So he sat, with a steadfastly vacant gaze, pausing in his work. 他就像这样坐着，停止了工作，直勾勾地瞪着眼。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• Defarge and his wife looked steadfastly at one another. 德伐日和他的妻子彼此凝视了一会儿。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

22 assent   

v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
• The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。

23 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

24 furtive   

adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的

参考例句：

• The teacher was suspicious of the student's furtive behaviour during the exam.老师怀疑这个学生在考试时有偷偷摸摸的行为。
• His furtive behaviour aroused our suspicion.他鬼鬼祟祟的行为引起了我们的怀疑。

25 avenging   

adj.报仇的，复仇的v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 )；为…报复

参考例句：

• He has devoted the past five years to avenging his daughter's death. 他过去5年一心报丧女之仇。 来自辞典例句
• His disfigured face was like some avenging nemesis of gargoyle design. 他那张破了相的脸，活象面目狰狞的复仇之神。 来自辞典例句

26 enveloped   

v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was enveloped in a huge white towel. 她裹在一条白色大毛巾里。
• Smoke from the burning house enveloped the whole street. 燃烧着的房子冒出的浓烟笼罩了整条街。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 twitching   

n.颤搐

参考例句：

• The child in a spasm kept twitching his arms and legs. 那个害痉挛的孩子四肢不断地抽搐。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My eyelids keep twitching all the time. 我眼皮老是跳。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

28 joyous   

adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的

参考例句：

• The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
• They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。

29 cravat   

n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结

参考例句：

• You're never fully dressed without a cravat.不打领结，就不算正装。
• Mr. Kenge adjusting his cravat,then looked at us.肯吉先生整了整领带，然后又望着我们。

30 suffocating   

a.使人窒息的

参考例句：

• After a few weeks with her parents, she felt she was suffocating.和父母呆了几个星期后，她感到自己毫无自由。
• That's better. I was suffocating in that cell of a room.这样好些了，我刚才在那个小房间里快闷死了。

31 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

32 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

33 impelled   

v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He felt impelled to investigate further. 他觉得有必要作进一步调查。
• I feel impelled to express grave doubts about the project. 我觉得不得不对这项计划深表怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

34 invincible   

adj.不可征服的，难以制服的

参考例句：

• This football team was once reputed to be invincible.这支足球队曾被誉为无敌的劲旅。
• The workers are invincible as long as they hold together.只要工人团结一致，他们就是不可战胜的。

35 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

36 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

37 sobs   

啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She was struggling to suppress her sobs. 她拼命不让自己哭出来。
• She burst into a convulsive sobs. 她突然抽泣起来。