and whose social position was above question.  Among my old friends I could think of some half-dozen that would suit me perfectly, but where were they?  Ten years’ absence scatters friends as October scatters swallows.  At last my thoughts fixed themselves on one man.  I took a hansom and drove to his house.  I found him packing up, preparing to go abroad.  This was not fortunate.  I took a seat on the edge of the dining-room table, and told him I wanted him to act for me in an affair of honour.  I told him the story in outline.  “I suppose,” he said, “it was about one or two in the morning?”

“Later than that,” I said; “it was about seven.”

“My dear fellow, he struck you, and not very hard, I should imagine; you hit him with a champagne bottle, and now you want to have him out.  I don’t mind acting as intermediary, and settling the affair for you; he will no doubt regret he struck you, and you will regret you struck him; but really I cannot act for you, that is to say, if you are determined to force on a meeting.  Just think; supposing you were to shoot him, a man who has really done you no wrong.”

“My dear ——­, I did not come here to listen to moral reflections; if you don’t like to act for me, say so.”

I telegraphed to Warwickshire to an old friend:—­“Can I count on you to act for me in an affair of honour?” Two or three hours after the reply came.  “Come down here and stay with me for a few days, we’ll talk it over.”  I ground my teeth; what was to be done?  I must wire to Marshall and ask him to come over; English people evidently will have nothing to do with serious duelling.  “Of all importance.  Come over at once and act for me in an affair of honour.  Bring the count with you; leave him at Boulogne; he knows the colonel of the ——.”  The next day I received the following:  “Am burying my father; so soon as he is underground will come.”  Was there ever such luck?...  He won’t be here before the end of the week.  These things demand the utmost promptitude.  Three or four days afterwards dreadful Emma told me a gentleman was upstairs taking a bath.  “Holloa, Marshall, how are you?  Had a good crossing?  Awful good of you to come....  The poor old gentleman went off quite suddenly, I suppose?”

“Yes; found dead in his bed.  He must have known he was dying, for he lay quite straight as the dead lie, his hands by his side ... wonderful presence of mind.”

“He left no money?”

“Not a penny; but I could manage it all right.  Since my success at the Salon, I have been able to sell my things.  I am only beginning to find out now what a success that picture was. Je t’assure, je fais l’ecole."...

“Tu crois ca ... on fait l’ecole apres vingt ans de travail.”

“Mon ami, je t’assure, j’ai un public qui me suit.”

“Mon ami, veux-tu que je te dis ce que tu a fait; tu a fait encore une vulgarization, une jolie vulgarization, je veux bien, de la note inventee par Millet; tu a ajoute la note claire inventee par Manet, enfin tu suis avec talent le mouvement moderne, voila tout.”