"This insult must be avenged with blood!" roared the Duke of Illyria.

"I have already drawn it," says I, "with my spurs."

"Malheur et malediction!" roared the Marshal.

"Hadn't you better settle your wig?" says I, offering it to him on the
tip of my cane, "and we'll arrange time and place when you have put your
jasey in order." I shall never forget the look of revenge which he cast
at me, as I was thus turning him into ridicule before his mistress.

"Lady Blanche," I continued bitterly, "as you look to share the Duke's
coronet, hadn't you better see to his wig?" and so saying, I cocked my
hat, and walked out of the Marquis's place, whistling "Garryowen."

I knew my man would not be long in following me, and waited for him in
the Place Vendome, where I luckily met Eugene too, who was looking
at the picture-shop in the corner. I explained to him my affair in a
twinkling. He at once agreed to go with me to the ground, and commended
me, rather than otherwise, for refusing the offer which had been made
to me. "I knew it would be so," he said, kindly; "I told my father you
wouldn't. A man with the blood of the Fogarties, Phil my boy, doesn't
wheel about like those fellows of yesterday." So, when Cambaceres came
out, which he did presently, with a more furious air than before, I
handed him at once over to Eugene, who begged him to name a friend, and
an early hour for the meeting to take place.

"Can you make it before eleven, Phil?" said Beauharnais. "The Emperor
reviews the troops in the Bois de Boulogne at that hour, and we might
fight there handy before the review."