“Certainly,” murmured the graceful colonel rising.

“I leave everything absolutely in your hands.  Make every arrangement you may think proper; I will agree to it all; and many thanks,” said the duke, striving to maintain a calm exterior, while his spirit was troubled within him.

“Expect me back to-night.  I may be late, but I shall certainly report myself here,” were the parting words of Colonel Morris as he left the room.

The duke walked slowly up and down the floor for nearly half an hour, and then he sat down to his desk and employed some hours in writing letters to his family, friends and men of business in England.

When he had completed his task he sealed and directed all these letters and locked them in his desk.

At a quarter past twelve the colonel returned to the hotel, and immediately presented himself at the duke’s apartments.

He entered with a soft smile, and gently sank into a seat.

“Well?” inquired the duke.

“Well,” cheerfully responded the second; “everything is pleasantly arranged.  I had the good fortune of finding the count ‘with himself,’ as they say here.  I explained my errand and delivered your missive.  He read it and expressed his gratification at its reception, declaring that you had anticipated him by but a few hours, as he should certainly have called you out immediately upon hearing of your arrival in Paris.”

“The diabolical villain!” hotly exclaimed the duke.

“He claimed the first right to the lady in question, and affirmed that it was your grace who had appropriated his wife—­”

“O-h-h-h! when shall I have the opportunity of shooting him!” cried the duke.

“By and by,” soothingly responded the colonel.  “He referred me to his friend, Baron Blowmonozoff, then staying at the same house.”

“Blowmonozoff!  Yes, I know him.  A very good fellow.”

“A gentleman, I think.  Of course I went directly from the presence of the count to that of the baron, who received me with much politeness, and was so kind as to express the pleasure he should feel in negotiating with me the terms of so interesting a meeting.”

“And the terms, Colonel!  What are they?”

“I am coming to them.  The meeting is to take place at sunrise in the wood of Vincennes.  We are to leave here an hour before dawn, in order to be on the spot in time.  The weapons are to be pistols; the distance ten paces.  Other minor details will be arranged on the spot.  We shall each take a surgeon.  I have engaged Doctor Legare.  We will call and pick him up on our way to the ground.  And now all we have got to do is to ring for the English waiter here, and get him to send us some coffee before we go out.  I will see to that also, as I have taken a room in the house, and intend to stay here to-night, so as to be up in time in the morning.”

“Thanks very much.  You are really very good to take so much trouble,” said the duke, with some emotion.