e, that it was only those
who never soiled their jackets in the affair of the other day, and
looked fresh and smart."

A burst of laughter from the rest interrupted the major's speech, for
its impertinence was quite sufficient to secure it many admirers.

"I believe, sir," said I, angrily, "I can show you some reasons against
the selection of certain persons."

As I got thus far, an officer whispered something into the major's ear,
who, with a roar of laughing, exclaimed,--

"A thousand pardons! ten thousand, _parbleu!_ I did n't know you. It was
monsieur pinked Francois, the maitre d'armes? Yes, yes; don't deny it,"
said he, as I made no reply whatever to a question I believed quite
irrelevant to the occasion,--"don't deny it. That lunge over the guard
was a thing to be proud of; and, by Jove! you shall not practise it at
my expense."

This speech excited great amusement among the party, who seemed to
coincide perfectly with the reasoning of the speaker; while I myself
remained silent, unable to decide whether I ought to be annoyed or the
reverse.

"Come, Monsieur," resumed the major, addressing me with courtesy, "I
ask-pardon for the liberty of my speech. By Saint Denis! if all the
_compagnie d'elite_ have the same skill of fence, I 'll not question
their appointment."

The candor of the avowal was too much for my gravity, and I now joined
in the mirth of his companions.

If I have mentioned so trivial an incident as this here, it is because I
wish to mark, even thus passingly, a trait of French military life. The
singular confession of a man who regretted his impertinence because he
discovered his adversary was a better swordsman, would, under any other
code or in any other country, have argued poltroonery. Not so here;
no one for a moment suspected his comrade's courage, nor could any
circumstance arise to make it doubtful save an actual instance of
cowardice. The inequality of the combat was reason enough for not
engaging in it: the odds were unfair, because duelling was like a game
where each party was to have an equal chance; and hence no shame was
felt at declining a contest where this inequality existed.

Such a system, it is obvious, could not have prevailed in communities
where duelling was only resorted to in extreme cases; but here it was
an every-day occurrence, and often formed but a brief interval, scarce
interrupting the current of an old friendship. Any resentful spirit,
any long-continued