"Why defer?" said Alexis, "we are no longer watched, let us go down to
the river-side; there none will hinder us."

We set out in silence, and having descended a steep path, we stopped at
the water's edge and crossed swords. Alexis was more skillful than I
in the use of arms, but I was stronger and bolder. Mons. Beaupre, who
had been, amongst other things, a soldier, had taught me fencing.
Alexis did not expect to find in me an adversary of so dangerous
a character.

For some minutes neither gained any advantage over the other, but
at last noticing that Alexis was growing weak, I attacked him
energetically, and almost drove him backward into the river, when
suddenly I heard my name pronounced in a high voice. Turning my
head rapidly, I saw Saveliitch running toward me down the path. As
I turned my head, I felt a sharp thrust in the breast under the right
shoulder, and I fell, unconscious.




V. LOVE.


When I came to myself, I neither knew what had happened nor where I
was. I felt very weak; the room was strange, there was Saveliitch
standing before me, a light in his hand, and some one arranging the
bandages that bound my chest and shoulder. Gradually I recalled my
duel, and easily divined that I had been wounded. The door at this