Then, perhaps with the object of making her lover jealous (a very common though dangerous game), Mademoiselle pretended (for I presume it was pretence) to be immensely smitten with one of them—­a handsome young midshipman whom we will call A.

At the ball where the incident I refer to occurred, she danced once with him, twice with him, and was about to start with him a third time, when, to the astonishment of the lookers-on, of whom I formed part, the young Brazilian rushed into the middle of the room where the couple were standing, walked close up to them and spat in A.’s face.

Before the aggressor could look round him, he found himself sprawling on the floor, knocked by the angry Briton into what is commonly called ’a cocked hat.’  Not a word was spoken.  A. wiped his face, led his partner to a seat and came straight to me, putting his arm in mine and leading me into the verandah.  The Brazilian picked himself up and came also into the verandah; in less time than I can write it a hostile meeting was settled, pistols were procured, and we (I say we, because I had undertaken to act as A.’s friend, and the Brazilian had also engaged a friend) sauntered into the garden as if for a stroll.

It was a most lovely moonlight night, such a night as can only be seen in the tropics.

I should mention that the chief actors in the coming conflict had neither of them seen twenty years, and we their seconds were considerably under that age.  The aggressor, whose jealous fury had driven him almost to madness when he committed an outrageous affront on a stranger, was a tall, handsome, dark-complexioned young fellow.  A. was also very good-looking, with a baby complexion, blue eyes and light curly hair, a very type of the Saxon race.

They both looked determined and calm.  After proceeding a short distance we found a convenient spot in a lovely glade.  It was almost as clear as day, so bright was the moonlight.  The distance was measured (fourteen paces), the pistols carefully loaded.  Before handing them to the principals we made an effort at arrangement, an effort too contemptuously received to be insisted upon, and we saw that any attempt at reconciliation would be of no avail without the exchange of shots; so, handing to each his weapon, we retired a short distance to give the signal for firing, which was to be done by my dropping a pocket-handkerchief.  It was an anxious moment even for us, who were only lookers-on.  I gave the words, one, two, three, and dropped the handkerchief.

The pistols went off simultaneously.  To my horror I saw the young Brazilian spin round and drop to the ground, his face downwards; we rushed up to him and found that the bullet from A.’s pistol had gone through his brain.  He was stone dead.

Then the solemnity of the whole affair dawned on us, but there was no time for thought.  Something must be done at once, for revenge quick and fearful was sure to follow such a deed like lightning.