第92章

"MyLord，——Yesterdayeveningyourexcellencyinsultedmewithalightheart，withoutmyhavinggivenyouanycauseorreasonfordoingso。

Thisseemstoindicatethatyouhateme，andwouldgladlyeffacemefromthelandoftheliving。Ibothcanandwillobligeyouinthismatter。Bekindenough，therefore，todrivemeinyourcarriagetoaplacewheremydeathwillnotsubjectyourlordshiptothevengeanceofthelaw，incaseyouobtainthevictory，andwhereIshallenjoythesameadvantageifGodgivemegracetokillyourlordship。I

shouldnotmakethisproposalunlessIbelieveyourlordshiptobeofanobledisposition。

"Ihavethehonourtobe，etc。"

Isentthisletteranhourbeforeday—breaktoBranicki’slodginginthepalace。Mymessengerhadorderstogivetheletterintothecount’sownhands，towaitforhimtorise，andalsoforananswer。

InhalfanhourIreceivedthefollowinganswer:

"Sir，——Iacceptyourproposal，andshallbegladifyouwillhavethekindnesstoinformmewhenIshallhavethehonourofseeingyou。

"Iremain，sir，etc。"

Iansweredthisimmediately，informinghimIwouldcallonhimthenextday，atsixo’clockinthemorning。

Shortlyafter，Ireceivedasecondletter，inwhichhesaidthatI

mightchoosethearmsandplace，butthatourdifferencesmustbesettledinthecourseoftheday。

Isenthimthemeasureofmysword，whichwasthirty—twoincheslong，tellinghimhemightchooseanyplacebeyondtheban。Inreply，I

hadthefollowing:

"Sir，——Youwillgreatlyobligemebycomingnow。Ihavesentmycarriage。

"Ihavethehonourtobe，etc。"

IrepliedthatIhadbusinessalltheday，andthatasIhadmadeupmymindnottocalluponhim，exceptforthepurposeoffighting，I

beggedhimnottobeoffendedifItookthelibertyofsendingbackhiscarriage。

AnhourlaterBranickicalledinperson，leavinghissuiteatthedoor。Hecameintotheroom，requestedsomegentlemenwhoweretalkingwithmetoleaveusalone，lockedthedoorafterthem，andthensatdownonmybed。IdidnotunderstandwhatallthismeantsoItookupmypistols。

"Don’tbeafraid，"saidhe，"Iamnotcometoassassinateyou，butmerelytosaythatIacceptyourproposal，onconditiononlythattheduelshalltakeplaceto—day。Ifnot，never！"

"Itisoutofthequestion。Ihaveletterstowrite，andsomebusinesstodofortheking。"

"Thatwilldoafterwards。Inallprobabilityyouwillnotfall，andifyoudoIamsurethekingwillforgiveyou。Besides，adeadmanneedfearnoreproaches。"

"Iwanttomakemywill。"

"Come，come，youneedn’tbeafraidofdying；itwillbetimeenoughforyoutomakeyourwillinfiftyyears。"

"Butwhyshouldyourexcellencynotwaittilltomorrow？"

"Idon’twanttobecaught。"

"Youhavenothingofthekindtofearfromme。"

"Idaresay，butunlesswemakehastethekingwillhaveusbotharrested。"

"Howcanhe，unlessyouhavetoldhimaboutourquarrel？"

"Ah，youdon’tunderstand！Well，Iamquitewillingtogiveyousatisfaction，butitmustbeto—dayornever。"

"Verygood。Thisduelistoodeartomyheartformetoleaveyouanypretextforavoidingit。Callformeafterdinner，forIshallwantallmystrength。"

"Certainly。FormypartIlikeagoodsupperafter，betterthanagooddinnerbefore。"

"Everyonetohistaste。"

"True。Bytheway，whydidyousendmethelengthofyoursword？I

intendtofightwithpistols，forIneveruseswordswithunknownpersons。"

"Whatdoyoumean？Ibegofyoutorefrainfrominsultingmeinmyownhouse。Idonotintendtofightwithpistols，andyoucannotcompelmetodoso，forIhaveyourlettergivingmethechoiceofweapons。"

"Strictlyspeaking，nodoubtyouareintheright；butIamsureyouaretoopolitenottogiveway，whenIassureyouthatyouwilllaymeunderagreatobligationbydoingso。Veryoftenthefirstshotisamiss，andifthatisthecasewithbothofus，Ipromisetofightwithswordsaslongasyoulike。Willyouobligemeinthematter？"

"Yes，forIlikeyourwayofasking，though，inmyopinion，apistolduelisabarbarousaffair。Iaccept，butonthefollowingconditions:Youmustbringtwopistols，chargetheminmypresence，andgivemethechoice。Ifthefirstshotisamiss，wewillfightwithswordstillthefirstbloodortothedeath，whicheveryouprefer。Callformeatthreeo’clock，andchoosesomeplacewhereweshallbesecurefromthelaw。"

"Verygood。Youareagoodfellow，allowmetoembraceyou。Givemeyourwordofhonournottosayawordaboutittoanyone，forifyoudidweshouldbearrestedimmediately。"

"Youneednotbeafraidofmytalking；theprojectistoodeartome。"

"Good。Farewelltillthreeo’clock。"

Assoonasthebravebraggarthadleftme，IplacedthepapersIwasdoingforthekingapart，andwenttoCampioni，inwhomIhadgreatconfidence。

"Takethispackettotheking，"Isaid，"ifIhappentobekilled。

Youmayguess，perhaps，whatisgoingtohappen，butdonotsayawordtoanyone，oryouwillhavemeforyourbitterestenemy，asitwouldmeanlossofhonourtome。"

"Iunderstand。Youmayreckononmydiscretion，andIhopetheaffairmaybeendedhonourablyandprosperouslyforyou。Buttakeapieceoffriendlyadvice——don’tspareyouropponent，wereitthekinghimself，foritmightcostyouyourlife。Iknowthatbyexperience。"

"Iwillnotforget。Farewell。"

Wekissedeachother，andIorderedanexcellentdinner，forIhadnomindtobesenttoPlutofasting。Campionicameintodinneratoneo’clock，andatdessertIhadavisitfromtwoyoungcounts，withtheirtutor，Bertrand，akindlySwiss。TheywerewitnessestomycheerfulnessandtheexcellentappetitewithwhichIate。Athalf—

pasttwoIdismissedmycompany，andstoodatthewindowtobereadytogodowndirectlyBranicki’scarriageappeared。Hedroveupinatravellingcarriageandsix；twogrooms，leadingsaddle—horses，wentinfront，followedbyhistwoaide—de—campsandtwohussars。Behindhiscarriagestoodfourservants。Ihastenedtodescend，andfoundmyenemywasaccompaniedbyalieutenant—generalandanarmedfootman。Thedoorwasopened，thegeneralgavemehisplace，andI

orderedmyservantsnottofollowmebuttoawaitmyordersatthehouse。

"Youmightwantthem，"saidBranicki；"theyhadbettercomealong。"

"IfIhadasmanyasyou，Iwouldcertainlyagreetoyourproposition；butasitisIshalldostillbetterwithoutanyatall。

Ifneedbe，yourexcellencywillseethatIamtendedbyyourownservants。"

Hegavemehishand，andassuredmetheyshouldwaitonmebeforehimself。

Isatdown，andwewentoff。

ItwouldhavebeenabsurdifIhadaskedwhereweweregoing，soI

heldmytongue，foratsuchmomentsamanshouldtakeheedtohiswords。Branickiwassilent，andIthoughtthebestthingIcoulddowouldbetoengagehiminatrivialconversation。

"DoesyourexcellencyintendspendingthespringatWarsaw？"

"Ihadthoughtofdoingso，butyoumaypossiblysendmetopassthespringsomewhereelse。"

"Oh，Ihopenot！"

"Haveyouseenanymilitaryservice？"

"Yes；butmayIaskwhyyourexcellencyasksmethequestion，for——"

"Ihadnoparticularreason；itwasonlyforthesakeofsayingsomething。"

Wehaddrivenabouthalfanhourwhenthecarriagestoppedatthedoorofalargegarden。Wegotdownand，followingthepostoli，reachedagreenarbourwhich，bytheway，wasnotatallgreenonthat5thofMarch。Initwasastonetableonwhichthefootmanplacedtwopistols，afootandhalflong，withapowderflaskandscales。Heweighedthepowder，loadedthemequally，andlaidthemdowncrosswiseonthetable。

Thisdone，Branickisaidboldly，"Chooseyourweapon，sir。"

Atthisthegeneralcalledout，"Isthisaduel，sir？"

"Yes。"

"Youcannotfighthere；youarewithintheban。"

"Nomatter。"

"Itdoesmatter；andI，atallevents，refusetobeawitness。Iamonguardatthecastle，andyouhavetakenmebysurprise。"

"Bequiet；Iwillanswerforeverything。Iowethisgentlemansatisfaction，andImeantogiveithimhere。"

"M。Casanova，"saidthegeneral，"youcannotfighthere。"

"ThenwhyhaveIbeenbroughthere？IshalldefendmyselfwhereverI

amattacked。"

"Laythewholematterbeforetheking，andyoushallhavemyvoiceinyourfavour。"

"Iamquitewillingtodoso，general，ifhisexcellencywillsaythatheregretswhatpassedbetweenuslastnight。"

Branickilookedfiercelyatme，andsaidwrathfullythathehadcometofightandnottoparley。

"General，"saidI，"youcanbearwitnessthatIhavedoneallinmypowertoavoidthisduel。"

Thegeneralwentawaywithhisheadbetweenhishands，andthrowingoffmycloakItookthefirstpistolthatcametomyhand。Branickitooktheother，andsaidthathewouldguaranteeuponhishonourthatmyweaponwasagoodone。

"Iamgoingtotryitsgoodnessonyourhead，"Ianswered。

Heturnedpaleatthis，threwhisswordtooneofhisservants，andbaredhisthroat，andIwasobliged，tomysorrow，tofollowhisexample，formyswordwastheonlyweaponIhad，withtheexceptionofthepistol。Ibaredmychestalso，andsteppedbackfiveorsixpaces，andhedidthesame。

AssoonaswehadtakenupourpositionsItookoffmyhatwithmylefthand，andbeggedhimtofirefirst。

Insteadofdoingsoimmediatelyhelosttwoorthreesecondsinsighting，aiming，andcoveringhisheadbyraisingtheweaponbeforeit。Iwasnotinapositiontolethimkillmeathisease，soI

suddenlyaimedandfiredonhimjustashefiredonme。ThatIdidsoisevident，asallthewitnesseswereunanimousinsayingthattheyonlyheardonereport。IfeltIwaswoundedinmylefthand，andsoputitintomypocket，andIrantowardsmyenemywhohadfallen。Allofasudden，asIkneltbesidehim，threebareswordswereflourishedovermyhead，andthreenobleassassinspreparedtocutmedownbesidetheirmaster。Fortunately，Branickihadnotlostconsciousnessorthepowerofspeaking，andhecriedoutinavoiceofthunder，——

"Scoundrels！havesomerespectforamanofhonour。"

Thisseemedtopetrifythem。Iputmyrighthandunderthepistoli’sarmpit，whilethegeneralhelpedhimontheotherside，andthuswetookhimtotheinn，whichhappenedtobenearathand。

Branickistoopedashewalked，andgazedatmecuriously，apparentlywonderingwhereallthebloodonmyclothescamefrom。

Whenwegottotheinn，Branickilaidhimselfdowninanarm—chair。

Weunbuttonedhisclothesandlifteduphisshirt，andhecouldseehimselfthathewasdangerouslywounded。Myballhadenteredhisbodybytheseventhribontherighthand，andhadgoneoutbythesecondfalseribontheleft。Thetwowoundswereteninchesapart，andthecasewasofanalarmingnature，astheintestinesmusthavebeenpierced。Branickispoketomeinaweakvoice，——

"Youhavekilledme，somakehasteaway，asyouareindangerofthegibbet。Theduelwasfoughtintheban，andIamahighcourtofficer，andaKnightoftheWhiteEagle。Solosenotime，andifyouhavenotenoughmoneytakemypurse。"

Ipickedupthepursewhichhadfallenout，andputitbackinhispocket，thankinghim，andsayingitwouldbeuselesstome，forifI

wereguiltyIwascontenttolosemyhead。"Ihope，"Iadded，"thatyourwoundwillnotbemortal，andIamdeeplygrievedatyourobligingmetofight。"

WiththesewordsIkissedhimonhisbrowandlefttheinn，seeingneitherhorsesnorcarriage，norservant。Theyhadallgoneofffordoctor，surgeon，priest，andthefriendsandrelativesofthewoundedman。

Iwasaloneandwithoutanyweapon，inthemidstofasnow—coveredcountry，myhandwaswounded，andIhadnottheslightestideawhichwasthewaytoWarsaw。

Itooktheroadwhichseemedmostlikely，andafterIhadgonesomedistanceImetapeasantwithanemptysleigh。

"Warszawa？"Icried，shewinghimaducat。

Heunderstoodme，andliftedacoarsemat，withwhichhecoveredmewhenIgotintothesleigh，andthensetoffatagallop。

AllatonceBiniski，Branicki’sbosom—friend，camegallopingfuriouslyalongtheroadwithhisbareswordinhishand。Hewasevidentlyrunningafterme。HappilyhedidnotglanceatthewretchedsleighinwhichIwas，orelsehewouldundoubtedlyhavemurderedme。IgotatlasttoWarsaw，andwenttothehouseofPrinceAdamCzartoryskitobeghimtoshelterme，buttherewasnobodythere。WithoutdelayIdeterminedtoseekrefugeintheConventoftheRecollets，whichwashandy。

Irangatthedoorofthemonastery，andtheporterseeingmecoveredwithbloodhastenedtoshutthedoor，guessingtheobjectofmyvisit。ButIdidnotgivehimthetimetodoso，buthonouringhimwithaheartykickforcedmywayin。Hiscriesattractedatroopoffrightenedmonks。Idemandedsanctuary，andthreatenedthemwithvengeanceiftheyrefusedtograntit。Oneoftheirnumberspoketome，andIwastakentoalittledenwhichlookedmorelikeadungeonthananythingelse。Iofferednoresistance，feelingsurethattheywouldchangetheirtunebeforeverylong。Iaskedthemtosendformyservants，andwhentheycameIsentforadoctorandCampioni。

BeforethesurgeoncouldcomethePalatinofPolduchiawasannounced。

Ihadneverhadthehonourofspeakingtohim，butafterhearingthehistoryofmyduelhewassokindastogivemealltheparticularsofaduelhehadfoughtinhisyouthfuldays。SoonaftercamethePalatinofKalisch，PrinceJablenowski。PrinceSanguska，andthePalatinofWilna，whoalljoinedinachorusofabuseofthemonkswhohadlodgedmesoscurvily。ThepoorreligiousexcusedthemselvesbysayingthatIhadill—treatedtheirporter，whichmademynoblefriendslaugh；butIdidnotlaugh，formywoundwasverypainful。

HoweverIwasimmediatelymovedintotwooftheirbestguest—rooms。

Theballhadpiercedmyhandbythemetacarpusundertheindexfinger，andhadbrokenthefirstphalanges。Itsforcehadbeenarrestedbyametalbuttononmywaistcoat，andithadonlyinflictedaslightwoundonmystomachclosetothenavel。However，thereitwasandithadtobeextracted，foritpainedmeextremely。AnempiricnamedGendron，thefirstsurgeonmyservantshadfound，madeanopeningontheoppositesideofmyhandwhichdoubledthewound。

WhilehewasperformingthispainfuloperationItoldthestoryofthedueltothecompany，concealingtheanguishIwasenduring。Whatapowervanityexercisesonthemoralandphysicalforces！IfIhadbeenaloneIshouldprobablyhavefainted。

AssoonastheempiricGendronwasgone，thepalatin’ssurgeoncameinandtookchargeofthecase，callingGendronalowfellow。AtthesametimePrinceLubomirski，thehusbandofthepalatin’sdaughter，arrived，andgaveusallasurprisebyrecountingthestrangeoccurrenceswhichhadhappenedaftertheduel。BininskicametowhereBranickiwaslying，andseeinghiswoundrodeofffuriouslyonhorseback，swearingtostrikemedeadwhereverhefoundme。HefanciedIwouldbewithTomatis，andwenttohishouse。HefoundTomatiswithhismistress，PrinceLubomirski，andCountMoszczinski，butnoCasanovawasvisible。HeaskedwhereIwas，andonTomatisreplyingthathedidnotknowhedischargedapistolathishead。AtthisdastardlyactionCountMoszczinckiseizedhimandtriedtothrowhimoutofthewindow，butthemadmangotloosewiththreecutsofhissabre，oneofwhichslashedthecountonthefaceandknockedoutthreeofhisteeth。

"Afterthisexploit，"PrinceLubomirskicontinued，"heseizedmebythethroatandheldapistoltomyhead，threateningtoblowoutmybrainsifIdidnottakehiminsafetytothecourtwherehishorsewas，sothathemightgetawayfromthehousewithoutanyattackbeingmadeonhimbyTomatis’sservants；andIdidsoimmediately。

Moszczinskiisinthedoctor’shands，andwillbelaidupforsometime。

"AssoonasitwasreportedthatBranickiwaskilled，hisUhlansbegantorideaboutthetownswearingtoavengetheircolonel，andtoslaughteryou。Itisveryfortunatethatyoutookrefugehere。

"Thechiefmarshalhashadthemonasterysurroundedbytwohundreddragoons，ostensiblytopreventyourescape，butinrealitytodefendyoufromBranicki’ssoldiers。

"Thedoctorssaythatthepostoliisingreatdangeriftheballhaswoundedtheintestines，butifnottheyanswerforhisrecovery。Hisfatewillbeknowntomorrow。Henowliesatthelordchamberlain’s，notdaringtohavehimselfcarriedtohisapartmentsatthepalace。

Thekinghasbeentoseehim，andthegeneralwhowaspresenttoldhismajestythattheonlythingthatsavedyourlifewasyourthreattoaimatBranicki’shead。Thisfrightenedhim，andtokeepyourballfromhisheadhestoodinsuchanawkwardpositionthathemissedyourvitalparts。Otherwisehewouldundoubtedlyhaveshotyouthroughtheheart，forhecansplitabulletintotwohalvesbyfiringagainstthebladeofaknife。ItwasalsoaluckythingforyouthatyouescapedBininski，whoneverthoughtoflookingforyouinthewretchedsleigh。"

"Mylord，themostfortunatethingformeisthatIdidnotkillmymanoutright。OtherwiseIshouldhavebeencuttopiecesjustasI

wenttohishelpbythreeofhisservants，whostoodovermewithdrawnswords。However，thepostoliorderedthemtoleavemealone。

"IamsorryforwhathashappenedtoyourhighnessandCountMoszczinski；andifTomatiswasnotkilledbythemadmanitisonlybecausethepistolwasonlychargedwithpowder。"

"That’swhatIthink，fornooneheardthebullet；butitwasamerechance。"

"Quiteso。"

Justthenanofficerofthepalatin’scametomewithanotefromhismaster，whichranasfollows:

"Readwhatthekingsaystome，andsleepwell。"

Theking’snotewasthusconceived:

"Branicki，mydearuncle，isdangerouswounded。Mysurgeonsaredoingalltheycanforhim，butIhavenotforgottenCasanova。Youmayassurehimthatheispardoned，evenifBranickishoulddie。"

Ikissedthelettergratefully，andshewedittomyvisitors，wholaudedthisgenerousmantrulyworthyofbeingaking。

AfterthispleasantnewsIfeltinneedofrest，andmylordsleftme。Assoonastheyweregone，Campioni，whohadcomeinbeforeandhadstoodinthebackground，cameuptomeandgavemebackthepacketofpapers，andwithtearsofjoycongratulatedmeonthehappyissueoftheduel。

NextdayIhadshoalsofvisitors，andmanyofthechiefsofthepartyopposedtoBranickisentmepursesfullofgold。Thepersonswhobroughtthemoneyonbehalfofsuchalordorlady，saidthatbeingaforeignerImightbeinneedofmoney，andthatwastheirexcuseforthelibertytheyhadtaken。Ithankedandre