not according to his intelligence and courage, and begged him
to excuse his impatience and to shake hands in sign that all
was forgotten.

But Louis shook his head.

"I heard my father, who is a colonel, say once," he replied,
"that he who receives a blow and does not fight is a coward.
The first time I see my father I shall ask him if he who strikes
the blow and then apologizes to avoid fighting is not more of
a coward than he who received it."

The young fellows looked at each other. Still the general opinion
was against a duel which would resemble murder, and all, Bonaparte
included, were unanimously agreed that the child must be satisfied
with what Valence had said, for it represented their common opinion.
Louis retired, pale with anger, and sulked with his great friend,
who, said he, with imperturbable gravity, had sacrificed his
honor.

The morrow, while the Grands were receiving their lesson in
mathematics, Louis slipped into the recitation-room, and while
Valence was making a demonstration on the blackboard, he approached
him unperceived, climbed on a stool to reach his face, and returned
the slap he had received the preceding day.

"There," said he, "now we are quits, and I have your apologies
to boot; as for me, I shan't make any, you may be quite sure
of that."