Like nearly all persons unversed in the art, she believed in infallible fencers, in marksmen who never missed their aim, and she had also ideas profoundly, absolutely inexact on the relations of one man with another in the matter of an insult.  But how can women admit that inflexible rigor in certain cases, which forms the foundation of manly relations, when they themselves allow of a similar rigor neither in their arguments with men, nor in their discussions among themselves?  Accustomed always to appeal from convention to instinct and from reason to sentiment, they are, in the face of certain laws, be they those of justice or of honor, in a state of incomprehension worse than ignorance.  A duel, for example, appears to them like an arbitrary drama, which the wish of one of those concerned can change at his fancy.  Ninety-nine women out of a hundred would think like Lydia Maitland of hastening to the adversary of the man they love, to demand, to beg for his life.  Let us add, however, that the majority would not carry out that thought.  They would confine themselves to sewing in the vest of their beloved some blessed medal, in recommending him to the Providence, which, for them, is still the favoritism of heaven.  Lydia felt that if ever Florent should learn of her step with regard to Gorka, he would be very indignant.  But who would tell him?  She was agitated by one of those fevers of fear and of remorse which are too acute not to act, cost what it might.  Her carriage was announced, and she entered it, giving the address of the Palazzetto Doria.  In what terms should she approach the man to whom she was about to pay that audacious and absurd visit?  Ah, what mattered it?  The circumstances would inspire her.  Her desire to cut short the duel was so strong that she did not doubt of success.

She was greatly disappointed when the footman at the palace told her that the Count had gone out, while at the same moment a voice interrupted him with a gay laugh.  It was Countess Maud Gorka, who, returning from her walk with her little boy, recognized Lydia’s coup, and who said to her: 

“What a lucky idea I had of returning a little sooner.  I see you were afraid of a storm, as you drove out in a closed carriage.  Will you come upstairs a moment?” And, perceiving that the young woman, whose hand she had taken, was trembling:  “What ails you?  I should think you were ill!  You do not feel well?  My God, what ails her!  She is ill, Luc,” she added, turning to her son; “run to my room and bring me the large bottle of English salts; Rose knows which one.  Go, go quickly.”

“It is nothing,” replied Lydia, who had indeed closed her eyes as if on the point of swooning.  “See, I am better already.  I think I will return home; it will be wiser.”

“I shall not leave you,” said Maud, seating herself, too, in the carriage; and, as they handed her the bottle of salts, she made Madame Maitland inhale it, talking to her the while as to a sick child:  “Poor little thing!”