I had no sooner said this than a burst of laughter from the whole table set me right again.  The young blockhead seemed taken aback and in his turn bit his lips, but his evil genius made him, strike in again at dessert.  As usual the conversation went from one subject to another, and we began to talk about the Duke of Albermarle.  The Englishmen spoke in his favour, and said that if he had been alive there would have been no war between England and France; they were probably right, but even if the duke had lived war might have broken out, as the two nations in question have never yet succeeded in understanding that it is for both their interests to live at peace together.  Another Englishman praised Lolotte, his mistress.  I said I had seen that charming woman at the Duchess of Fulvi’s, and that no one deserved better to become the Countess of Eronville.  The Count of Eronville, a lieutenant-general and a man of letters, had just married her.

I had scarcely finished what I had to say when Master Blockhead said, with a laugh, that he knew Lolotte to be a good sort of girl, as he had slept with her at Paris.  I could restrain myself no longer; my indignation and rage consumed me.  I took up my plate, and made as if I would throw it at his head, saying at the same time, “You infernal liar!” He got up, and stood with his back to the fire, but I could see by his sword-knot that he was a soldier.

Everybody pretended not to hear anything of this, and the conversation went on for some time on indifferent subjects; and at last they all rose from their seats and left the room.

My enemy said to his companion that they would see one another again after the play, and remained by the fire, with his elbow resting on the chimney-piece.  I remained at table till the company had all left the room, and when we were alone together I got up and looked him straight in the face, and went out, walking towards Sheveningue, sure that he would follow me if he were a man of any mettle.  When I had got to some distance from the hotel I looked round, and saw that he was following me at a distance of fifty paces.

When I got to the wood I stopped at a suitable place, and stood awaiting my antagonist.  He was ten paces off when he drew his sword, and I had plenty of time to draw mine though he came on fast.  The fight did not last long, for as soon as he was near enough I gave him a thrust which has never failed me, and sent him back quicker than he came.  He was wounded in the chest above the right breast, but as my sword was flat and the opening large enough the wound bled easily.  I lowered my sword and ran up to him, but I could do nothing; he said that we should meet again at Amsterdam, if I was going there, and that he would have his revenge.  I saw him again five or six years afterwards at Warsaw, and then I did him a kindness.  I heard afterwards that his name was Varnier, but I do not know whether he was identical with the president of the National Convention under the infamous Robespierre.