eemed stretched out upon a rack of torture, until the four
hours extended to forty; for from the moment he had lain down he had not
slept an instant, until he was startled by a rap at his bedroom door, and
the voice of his valet calling:

"If you please, your grace, the clock has struck five; the coffee is
ready, and the cab is at the door."

"Then come in and dress me quickly," answered the duke, rising, as the
prompt servant entered and handed a dressing-gown.

The toilet of the duke was quickly made.

When he passed into the next room, he found the breakfast table laid and
the colonel waiting for him.

"Good-morning, Duke. I hope you slept well. The day promises to be
delightful. We have no time to lose, however, if we are to be on the
ground at sunrise. Shall we have our coffee?" serenely inquired the
second.

"Certainly--Tompkins, touch the bell," replied the duke.

The obedient valet rang, and a waiter entered with the breakfast-tray,
which he set upon the table and proceeded to arrange.

"Take this case of pistols down very carefully, and place it in the cab,
and put in a railway rug also," quietly directed the colonel, after the
waiter had completed the arrangement of the breakfast table.

"What possible use can we make of a railway rug on such a mild morning as
this?" gloomily inquired the duke.

The colonel looked calmly at the questioner, and quietly replied:

"To cover the body of the fallen man, whoever he may happen to be. I am
so used to these affairs that I know what will be wanted beforehand.
Shall we sit down to breakfast?"

Now the duke was a courageous man, but he shuddered at the coolness of
his second, as he assented.

They sat down to the table and drank their coffee in silence.

Then with the assistance of the obsequious Mr. Tompkins, they drew on
light overcoats suitable to the autumnal morning, and went down stairs,
caps and gloves in hand, and entered the carriage that was to take them
to the appointed place.

On their way they stopped at the Rue du Bains and took the surgeon who
had been engaged to attend them.

Dr. Legare was a young graduate who had just commenced practice, and was
eager for the fray.

He came into the carriage, bringing a rather ostentatious looking case of
instruments and roll of bandages.

On being introduced by the second, he bowed to the duke and took his
seat.

The carriage started again.

It was yet dark.

After an hour's ride they reached