consideration take back my words--but I am not a bloodthirsty
person!... But come, wait a little, my opponent's second will be here
directly. I will go into the next room, and you can make arrangements
with him. Believe me I shall never forget your kindness, and I thank
you from my heart.'

'Honour before everything!' answered Pantaleone, and he sank into
an arm-chair, without waiting for Sanin to ask him to sit down. 'If
that _ferroflucto spitchebubbio_,' he said, passing from French into
Italian, 'if that counter-jumper Klueberio could not appreciate his
obvious duty or was afraid, so much the worse for him!... A cheap
soul, and that's all about it!... As for the conditions of the duel, I
am your second, and your interests are sacred to me!... When I lived
in Padua there was a regiment of the white dragoons stationed there,
and I was very intimate with many of the officers!... I was quite
familiar with their whole code. And I used often to converse on these
subjects with your principe Tarbuski too.... Is this second to come
soon?'

'I am expecting him every minute--and here he comes,' added Sanin,
looking into the street.

Pantaleone got up, looked at his watch, straightened his topknot of
hair, and hurriedly stuffed into his shoe an end of tape which was
sticking out below his trouser-leg, and the young sub-lieutenant came
in, as red and embarrassed as ever.

Sanin presented the seconds to each other. 'M. Richter,
sous-lieutenant, M. Cippatola, artiste!' The sub-lieutenant was
slightly disconcerted by the old man's appearance ... Oh, what would