"Yes, that is a fact," said Sir John, "the English people understand
comfort, but the French people are much more curious and
amusing--postilion, to Vaucluse!"




CHAPTER IV

THE DUEL

The road was passable only from Avignon to l'Isle. They covered
the nine miles between the two places in an hour. During this
hour Roland, as he resolved to shorten the time for his travelling
companion, was witty and animated, and their approach to the
duelling ground only served to redouble his gayety. To one
unacquainted with the object of this drive, the menace of dire
peril impending over this young man, with his continuous flow of
conversation and incessant laughter, would have seemed incredible.

At the village of l'Isle they were obliged to leave the carriage.
Finding on inquiry that they were the first to arrive, they entered
the path which led to the fountain.

"Oh! oh!" exclaimed Roland, "there ought to be a fine echo here."
And he gave one or two cries to which Echo replied with perfect
amiability.

"By my faith!" said the young man, "this is a marvellous echo.
I know none save that of the Seinonnetta, at Milan, which can