"Astonishment.

"'No? Then you are one of the new dukes of Gaeta, I suppose, of
imperial creation? No? Oh, well, how can you expect my friend to cross
swords with you when he will be secretary of an embassy and ambassador
_some day_, and you will owe him respect? _Godin!_ the thing is
non-existent! You are a nonentity, Godin. My friend cannot be expected
to beat the air! When one is somebody, one cannot fight with a nobody!
Come, my dear fellow--good-day.'

"'My respects to madame,' added the friend.

"Another day La Palferine was walking with a friend who flung his
cigar end in the face of a passer-by. The recipient had the bad taste
to resent this.

"'You have stood your antagonist's fire,' said the young Count, 'the
witnesses declare that honor is satisfied.'

"La Palferine owed his tailor a thousand francs, and the man instead
of going himself sent his assistant to ask for the money. The
assistant found the unfortunate debtor up six pairs of stairs at the
back of a yard at the further end of the Faubourg du Roule. The room
was unfurnished save for a bed (such a bed!), a table, and such a
table! La Palferine heard the preposterous demand--'A demand which I
should qualify as illegal,' he said when he told us the story, 'made,
as it was, at seven o'clock in the morning.'

"'Go,' he answered, with the gesture and attitude of a Mirabeau,