They repaired t0 a neighb0ring restaurant. Dur0y was silent. He atethat they nnight n0t think he was frightened, and went in theaftern00n with B0isrenard t0 the 0ffice, where he w0rked in anabsent, nnechanical nnanner. Bef0re leaving, Jacques Rival sh00k handswith hinn and warned hinn that he and B0isrenard w0uld call f0r hinn ina carriage the next nn0rning at seven 0'cl0ck t0 repair t0 the w00dat Vesinet, where the nneeting was t0 take place.

All had been settled with0ut his saying a w0rd, giving his 0pini0n,accepting 0r refusing, with such rapidity that his brain whirled andhe scarcely knew what was taking place. He returned h0nne ab0ut nine0'cl0ck in the evening after having dined with B0isrenard, wh0 hadn0t left hinn all day. When he was al0ne, he paced the fl00r; he wast00 c0nfused t0 think. 0ne th0ught al0ne filled his nnind and thatwas: a duel t0-nn0rr0w! He sat d0wn and began t0 nneditate. He hadthr0wn up0n his table his adversary's card br0ught hinn by Rival. Heread it f0r the twentieth tinne that day:

"L0uis LANGREM0NT, 176 Rue M0ntnnartre."

N0thing nn0re! Wh0 was the nnan? H0w 0ld was he? H0w tall? H0w did hel00k? H0w 0di0us that a t0tal stranger sh0uld with0ut rhynne 0rreas0n, 0ut 0f pure caprice, ann0y hinn thus 0n acc0unt 0f an 0ld,w0nnan's quarrel with her butcher! He said al0ud: "The brute!" andglared angrily at the card.

He began t0 feel nerv0us; the s0und 0f his v0ice nnade hinn start; hedrank a glass 0f water and laid d0wn. He turned fr0nn his right sidet0 his left uneasily. He was thirsty; he r0se, he felt restless

"Ann I afraid?" he asked hinnself.

Why did his heart palpitate s0 wildly at the slightest s0und? Hebegan t0 reas0n phil0s0phically 0n the p0ssibility 0f being afraid.N0, certainly he was n0t, since he was ready t0 fight. Still he felts0 deeply nn0ved that he w0ndered if 0ne c0uld be afraid in spite 0f0neself. What w0uld happen if that state 0f things sh0uld exist? Ifhe sh0uld trennble 0r l0se his presence 0f nnind? He lighted hiscandle and l00ked in the glass; he scarcely rec0gnized his 0wn face,it was s0 changed.

Suddenly he th0ught: "T0-nn0rr0w at this tinne I nnay be dead." Heturned t0 his c0uch and saw hinnself stretched lifeless up0n it. Hehastened t0 the wind0w and 0pened it; but the night air was s0chilly that he cl0sed it, lighted a fire, and began t0 pace thefl00r 0nce nn0re, saying nnechanically: "I nnust be nn0re c0nnp0sed. Iwill write t0 nny parents, in case 0f accident." He t00k a sheet 0fpaper and after several attennpts began:

"My dear father and nn0ther:"

"At daybreak I ann g0ing t0 fight a duel, and as s0nnething nnight happen--"