I accepted the invitation with pleasure.

II.—­M.  Luden de Franchi

Lucien explained to me the object of our expedition.  For ten years the village of Sullacro had been divided over the quarrel of two families, the Orlandi and the Colona—­a quarrel that had originated in the seizure of a paltry hen belonging to the Orlandi, which had flown into the poultry-yard of the Colonas.  Nine people had already been killed in this feud, and now Lucien, as arbitrator, was to bring it to an end.  The local prefect had written to Paris that one word from De Franchi would end the dispute, and Louis had appealed to him.

To-night Lucien was to arrange matters with Orlandi, as he had already done with Colona, and the meeting-place was at the ruins of the Castle of Vicentello d’Istria.  It was a steep ascent, but we arrived in good time, and while we sat and waited, Lucien told me terrible stories of feuds and vengeance.  Orlandi made his appearance exactly at nine o’clock, and after some discussion agreed to Lucien’s terms.  I found that I was expected to act as surety for Orlandi, and accepted the responsibility.

“You will now be able to tell my brother, on your return to Paris, that it’s all been settled as he wished,” said Lucien.

On our way home Lucien showed wonderful marksmanship with his gun, and admitted he was equally skillful with the pistol.  His brother Louis, on the other hand, had never touched either gun or pistol.

Next morning came the grand reconciliation of Orlandi and Colona, in the market square in the presence of the mayor and the notary.  The mayor compelled the belligerents to shake hands, a document was signed declaring the vendetta at an end, and everybody went to mass.

Later in the day I was compelled to bid good-bye to Madame de Franchi and her son, and set out for Paris; but before I left Lucien told me how in his family his father had appeared to him on his death-bed, and that, not only at death, but at any great crisis in life, an apparition appeared.  He was certain by his own depression that his brother Louis was suffering.

Lucien told me his brother’s address, 7, Rue du Helder, and gave me a letter which I undertook to deliver personally.

We parted with great cordiality, and a week later I was back in Paris.

III.—­The Fate of Louis

I was startled by the extraordinary resemblance of M. Louis de Franchi, whom I had at once called upon, to his brother.

I was relieved to find that he was not suffering from illness, and I told him of the anxiety of his family concerning his health.  M. de Franchi replied that he had not been ill, but that he had been suffering from a very bitter disappointment, aggravated by the knowledge that his own suffering caused his brother to suffer, too.  He hoped, however, that time would heal the wound in his heart.

We agreed to meet the following night at the opera ball at midnight, on the young lawyer’s suggestion.  I rallied him on his recovery from his sorrow, but Louis only said mournfully that he was driven by fate, dragged against his will.