"No man could be more prudent than yourself, sir," said he, laughing,
"to come to a rendezvous in a carriage; truly, that is a wise and, I
think on this occasion, well-grounded precaution."

"A forethought which I have exercised on your account," said the baron,
gravely. "You, sir, will require a carriage, and knowing you, as a
stranger, had no carriage in Berlin, I brought mine. It shall be at your
service."

"Vraiment! you are too good! I hope, however, not to make use of your
offer."

Now, according to custom, Ranuzi drew near the baron to make a last
attempt at reconciliation. He answered sternly: "You know that I am not
to blame, and therefore will take no step in this matter. I suppose,
Count Belleville is as little disposed as myself to make apologies."

"I intend to prove to you, sir baron, that I am a nobleman and a brave
one; and as to the nuts which I cracked behind the queen, my only regret
is, that they, like every thing else in your detested Berlin, were
hollow--"

"No, sir, they were not at all hollow," said Baron Marshal, drawing up
the cock of his pistol; "in one of those nuts I saw a death-worm, which
will soon bore into your flesh."

He bowed to Belleville and took the place pointed out by his second. The
second of Belleville then drew near, and led him to the outermost point
of the line.

The Frenchman laughed aloud. "How," said he, "you will take me to the
end of the world to secure me from the ball of my enemy?"

"Sir," said the grave and solemn voice of the baron, "you will still be
too near me."

"Well, sir baron, I give you precedence," said Belleville, laughing,
"though, I believe, I have the right; but age must have the
precedence--fire, sir."

"No, young man," said Marshal, sadly; "I will grant you one more glance
at the glad sun and the fresh, green earth; you shall fire first, and I
council you to lay aside your levity; let your hand be firm and your aim
steady; if you fail, you are lost. I am a good shot, and I am without
mercy."

There was something so convincing, so gloomy in his tone, that
Belleville was involuntarily affected by it. For the first time his brow
was clouded, and a slight pallor took possession of his cheek; but he
forced back this prophetic shudder quickly, and raised his pistol with a
firm hand.

Far away, in the still park, sounded the echo of his shot; but opposite
to him stood his adversary, firm and calm as before, with his eye fixed
steadily upon