I shrugged my shoulders.

"Be it so; only, bethink you that one of us
will infallibly be killed."

"I hope it will be you" . . .

"And I am so convinced of the contrary" . . .

He became confused, turned red, and then
burst out into a forced laugh.

The captain took his arm and led him aside;
they whispered together for a long time. I had
arrived in a fairly pacific frame of mind, but all
this was beginning to drive me furious.

The doctor came up to me.

"Listen," he said, with manifest uneasiness,
"you have surely forgotten their conspiracy! . . .
I do not know how to load a pistol, but in
this case. . . You are a strange man! Tell
them that you know their intention -- and they
will not dare. . . What sport! To shoot you
like a bird" . . .

"Please do not be uneasy, doctor, and wait
awhile. . . I shall arrange everything in such a