"Have regard, sir, to your future peace," was
urged.

"Peace, sir, like silence, never comes for calling
for," rejoined the advocate.

"Impracticable man, have you no fear?" demanded
the foiled Montigny upbraidingly.

"None for my ward; I hope you have as little for
your son," said the lawyer sarcastically.

"Your ward invites my son, by sitting upon the
verandah at midnight, to attract him when he passes
by, as the Hebrew woman, Tamar, once sat to decoy
the foolish Judah. Do you deny this? I have
learned all, all," outburst the indignant seigneur.

"Do I deny it?" cried the advocate, the blood, in
anger, rushing to his face. "Dare you affirm it?
Monsieur, if you mean seriously to asperse my ward,
I say, prepare; -- not for the action of the law, -- no,
no, I hate the law, when it is cited for myself, -- but
for the action of an old man's arm. Sir, I have been
a swordsman in my youth, and though the lank ske-
leton of my skill at fence is buried in disuse, it moves
now in the grave of this right hand, that so long has
wielded only the quiet quill. I do not bid you quail;
not I, -- but, by the angry devil of the duel, you
answer me, either sword point to sword point; or
from the pointing pistol, that shall speak both sharp
and decisive, and the dotting bullet, perhaps, put a
period to your proud life's scrawl. But no; I am
grown too old to have recourse to violence. Away,
go, go; but, mind you, do not breathe this calumny
into a human ear, -- no, not into the air. Shame,
shame! you are no noble minded man, to villify my
ward and your own son; whom, if I accounted to be

[[60]]

p059 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p060w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p061

v?