to see a man! And by my faith you are a
man!'

'But, sir,' I said, staring at him in the utmost bewilderment, 'we have
no quarrel.'

'Quarrel?' he cried in his loud, ringing voice. 'Heaven forbid! Why
should we? I love a man, however, and when I see one I say to him, "I am
Crillon! Fight me!" But I see you are not yet rested. Patience! There is
no hurry. Berthon de Crillon is proud to wait your convenience. In the
meantime, gentlemen,' he continued, turning with a grand air to the
spectators, who viewed this sudden BOULEVERSEMENT with unbounded
surprise, 'let us do what we can. Take the word from me, and cry all,
"VIVE LE ROI, ET VIVE L'INCONNU!"'

Like people awaking from a dream--so great was their astonishment the
company complied and with the utmost heartiness. When the shout died
away, someone cried in turn, 'Vive Crillon!' and this was honoured with
a fervour which brought the tears to the eyes of that remarkable man,
in whom bombast was so strangely combined with the firmest and most
reckless courage. He bowed again and again, turning himself about in the
small space between the tables, while his face shone with pleasure and
enthusiasm. Meanwhile I viewed him with perplexity. I comprehended that
it was his voice I had heard behind the settle; but I had neither the
desire to fight him nor so great a reserve of strength after my illness
as to be able to enter on a fresh contest with equanimity. When he
turned to me, therefore, and again asked, 'Well, sir, are you ready?'
I could think of no better answer than that I had already made to him,
'But, sir, I have no quarrel with you.'

'Tut, tut!' he answered querulously, 'if that is all, let us engage.'

'That is not all, however,' I said, resolutely putting up my sword. 'I
have not only no quarrel with M. de Crillon, but I received at his hands
when I last saw him a considerable service.'

'Then now is the time to return it,' he answered briskly, and as if
that settled the matter.

I could not refrain from laughing. 'Nay, but I have still an excuse,'
I said. 'I am barely recovered from an illness, and am weak. Even so,
I should be loth to decline a combat with some; but a better man than I
may give the wall to M. de Crillon and suffer no disgrace.'

'Oh, if you put it that way--enough said,' he answered in a tone of
disappointment. 'And, to be sure, the light is almost gone. That is a
comfort. But you will not refuse to drink a cup of wine with me? Your
voic