(if you
accept either proposal), your servant with all my heart,

"LECOUR DE LINCY."

While he was hotly engaged in penning this letter to the father, the
incidents of his duels with the son Louis crowded before him--the
counsels of his friends, the choosing of the weapons, the deadly tension
of the combat, the look of furious contempt in his adversary's eyes. It
was only after he had sent off Madame's man-of-all-work with it that the
incongruousness of challenging so old a man struck him.

The Chevalier, on receiving the challenge, perceived at once the gravity
of his own situation. The code of the time demanded his acceptance. He
knew that, however a duel might be laughed at by boasters, the sober
truth was that it brought a man face to face with death, and that the
present cause of quarrel was not worth any such sacrifice. In short the
thing seemed to him foolish and unreasonable.

No time was to be lost. He had therefore recourse for advice to his boon
companion Panet, who pronounced it a bad business.

"Really," he said, moving nervously, "you must recognise, my dear de
Lery, that men of our stiffness and weight can have no chance pitted
against a young fellow from the fencing schools of Versailles. He has a
wrist as limber as a fish no doubt. Try to end the affair some way."

De Lery, annoyed and disappointed that the judge did not rise to the
occasion, and thrown back on his own resources, went to Lord Dorchester
himself, requesting his mediation.

The Governor read over the letters which had passed, especially that
sent by LeCour for signature.

"Tut, what a young fool. Tell LaNaudiere there to send for him," he
exclaimed.

So in about half an hour Germain appeared.

Guessing the state of the matter, he began by complaining of his wrongs
on the part of the de Lerys. He was listened to to the end by
Dorchester, who then, with the greatest politeness, but firmly, pointed
out the impossibility of any man of honour signing the proposed
confession.

"Do you both agree, gentlemen, to leave the form of the letter with me?"

Germain could not do otherwise.

The Governor sat down at a writing-desk, laid the epistle before him,
and produced the following:--

"MONSIEUR,--It is with great pleasure that I consent to testify in
your favour against certain injurious rumours affecting your
reputation and family name, which have been circulated by
unauthorised persons in the name