Gouache stared at the objects which Sant’ Ilario held out to him and drew back stiffly.  It was his turn to be outraged at the insult.

“Sir,” he said, “I understand that you acted in the most impertinent manner in entering my room and taking what did not belong to you.  I understand nothing else.  I found that pin on the Ponte Sant’ Angelo a month ago, and it was, I believe, upon my table yesterday.  As for the letter I know nothing about it.  Yes, if you insist, I will read it.”

There was a pause during which Gouache ran his eyes over the few lines written on the notepaper, while Giovanni watched him very pale and wrathful.

“The pin is my wife’s, and the note is written on her paper and addressed to you, though in a feigned hand.  Do you deny that both came from her, were brought by her in person, for yourself?”

“I deny it utterly and categorically,” answered Gouache.  “Though I will assuredly demand satisfaction of you for entering my rooms without my permission, I give you my word of honour that I could receive no such letter from the princess, your wife.  The thing is monstrously iniquitous, and you have been grossly deceived into injuring the good name of a woman as innocent as an angel.  Since the pin is the property of the princess, pray return it to her with my compliments, and say that I found it on the bridge of Sant’ Angelo.  I can remember the very date.  It was a quarter of an hour before I was run over by Prince Montevarchi’s carriage.  It was therefore on the 23d of September.  As for the rest, do me the favour to tell me where my friends can find yours in an hour.”

“At my house.  But allow me to add that I do not believe a word of what you say.”

“Is it a Roman custom to insult a man who has agreed to fight with you?” inquired Gouache.  “We are more polite in France.  We salute our adversaries before beginning the combat.”

Therewith the Zouave saluted Giovanni courteously and turned on his heel, leaving the latter in an even worse humour than he had found him.  Gouache was too much surprised at the interview to reason connectedly about the causes which had led to it, and accepted the duel with Sant’ Ilario blindly, because he could not avoid it, and because whatever offence he himself had unwittingly given he had in turn been insulted by Giovanni in a way which left him no alternative but that of a resort to arms.  His adversary had admitted, had indeed boasted, of having entered Gouache’s rooms, and of having taken thence the letter and the pin.  This alone constituted an injury for which reparation was necessary, but not content with this, Sant’ Ilario had given him the lie direct.  Matters were so confused that it was hard to tell which was the injured party; but since the prince had undoubtedly furnished a pretext more than sufficient, the soldier had seized the opportunity of proposing to send his friends to demand satisfaction.  It was clear,