Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/270

 challenge, leaving him the choice of arms. My friend generously chose pistols.

Time and place being fixed, the count took leave of Caroline, who by her paleness seemed to prognosticate some mishap, as she rose from the sopha and gave him her hand to imprint on it the parting kiss. My Jealousy arose at this scene, and both herself and my friend seemed to notice it.

On the day appointed, we went on horseback to the ground, where we found the baron in readiness. As the combat was to last till the death of either of the parties, each of them brought with him two braces of pistols, which the respective seconds loaded and exchanged.

We then measured the ground, and each took his post. Five rounds were fired, and none of the combatants was wounded. "The baron proved so bad a marksman, as to have almost shot me, though I stood: at the distance of ten or twelve yards from the count. At the sixth discharge, I called out, "For shame baron, how can you thus tremble," He was now more lucky than my friend,