see if I would drink it. 'Well, sir,' said I, 'I will drink your toast
if you will drink mine in return.' 'Come on, then!' said he. So we
drank. 'Now, monsieur, let us have your toast,' said he. 'Fill your
glass, then,' said I. 'It is full now.' 'Well, then, here's to the
cannon-ball which carried off that arm!' In an instant I had a glass of
port wine running down my face, and within an hour a meeting had been
arranged. I shot him through the shoulder, and that night, when I came
to the little window, Eugenie plucked off some of the laurel leaves and
stuck them in my hair.

There were no legal proceedings about the duel, but it made my position
a little difficult in the town, and it will explain, with other things,
why I had no hesitation in accepting my unknown uncle's invitation, in
spite of the singular addition which I found upon the cover. If he had
indeed sufficient influence with the Emperor to remove the proscription
which was attached to our name, then the only barrier which shut me off
from my country would be demolished.

You must picture me all this time as sitting upon the side of the lugger
and turning my prospects and my position over in my head. My reverie
was interrupted by the heavy hand of the English skipper dropping
abruptly upon my arm.

'Now then, master,' said he, it's time you were stepping into the
dingey.'

I do not inherit the politics of the aristocrats, but I have never lost
their sense of personal dignity. I gently pushed away his polluting
hand, and I remarked that we were still a long way from the shore.