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 got to tell him before lie took his pipe from his mouth, and seemed to take it very serious.

"I'm coming along with you now," said he; and then he asked me a minute after, "Does he know any thing about pistols?"

"The devil a bit, sir," said I; "he can't abide 'em." "And he's worse than a cow with a sword," said he next.

"Never had one in his hand that I know of, sir," I answered.

"Well," said he, "it's a bad job, and if he's alive this time to-morrow, he's a lucky man. Help me on with my coat, will you, now?"

I did as he asked me and we hurried back to the Hôtel de Lille. Sir Nicolas was pacing up and down the courtyard, and directly he caught sight of Mr. Ames, he began to talk to him.

"Jack," cried he, "ye've heard the news that I'm to go out with him?"

"Truth, I have; and a pretty mess you seem to have made of it."

"Mess, d'ye call it? Didn't he come here and strike me in the face? 'Tis lucky for him that I forgot to twist his neck."

"Then there's no question of apology?"

"Be hanged to your apology! Is it a coward ye think I am—me that would fight any man in France?"

"But what will Carlotta say?"