"He thinks the distance much too great."

"He may be mistaken," said the Captain, half sneeringly. "My friend is
'de la premiere force.'"

"That must be something impudent, from your looks, Mr. Trevanion. Isn't
it a thousand pities I can't speak French?"

"What say you, then, to twelve paces? Fire together, and two shots each,
if the first fire be inconclusive," said Trevanion.

"And if necessary," added the Frenchman, carelessly, "conclude with
these"--touching the swords with his foot as he spoke.

"The choice of the weapon lies with us, I opine," replied Trevanion.
"We have already named pistols, and by them we shall decide this matter."

It was at length, after innumerable objections, agreed upon that we
should be placed back to back, and at a word given each walk forward to a
certain distance marked out by a stone, where we were to halt, and at the
signal, "une," "deux," turn round and fire.

This, which is essentially a French invention in duelling, was perfectly
new to me, but by no means to Trevanion, who was fully aware of the
immense consequence of not giving even a momentary opportunity for aim to
my antagonist; and in this mode of firing the most practised and deadly
shot is liable to err--particularly if the signal be given quickly.

While Trevanion and the Captain were measuring out the ground, a little
circumstance which was enacted near me was certainly not over calculated