come to him immediately.

Then he rang the bell and gave the note to his own groom, saying:

"Take this to Colonel Morris, at the _Trois Freres_, and wait an
answer."

The man took the message, bowed and hurried away.

The duke sank back in his chair with a deep sigh, and covered his face
with his hands, and so awaited the return of his messenger.

Half an hour crept slowly by, and then the groom came back, opened the
door, and announced:

"Colonel Morris."

The gallant colonel entered the room, looking as little like the dead
shot and notorious duellist he was reported to be, as any fine gentleman
could.

He was a tall, slight, fair and refined looking young man, exquisite in
dress, soft in speech, and suave in manners.

"You have guessed the reason why I have sent for you, Morris?" said the
duke, advancing to meet him, and plunging into the middle of his subject.

"Yes," murmured the colonel, sinking into the seat his host silently
offered him.

"You can go, Tompkins. I will ring when I want you," said the duke,
throwing himself into his own chair.

When the man had bowed himself out, and the duke and his visitor were
left alone, the former said:

"You know why I have sent for you here. Now what do you advise?"

"You must blow out the man's brains and break the woman's heart," softly
and sweetly replied the dandy duellist.

"The question arises whether the man has any brains to blow out, or the
woman any heart to break," grimly commented the duke. "However," he
added, "you are right, Morris, I must kill the man--divorce the woman.
You are with me?"

"To the death," answered the _elegant_, in the same easy tone in
which he ever uttered even the most ferocious words.

"You will take my challenge?"

"With much pleasure."

"I wonder where the fellow is to be found. At the Russian Embassy,
I suppose," observed the duke, as he turned to his writing-table.

"No, not there. The Count de Volaski has withdrawn or been dismissed from
the Embassy. It is not certainly known which. He is, meanwhile, at the
Trois Freres. He has the honor of being my fellow-lodger," suavely
observed the colonel.

"There," said the duke, as he folded and directed his note, "no time
should be lost in an affair of this sort. It is not yet ten o'clock. You
may even deliver this challenge to-night, if you will be so kind."

"Certainly," murmured the graceful colonel rising.

"I leave everything absolutely in your hands. Make