"Yes. But it isn't true. You've been fighting about some woman,"
said Germaine petulantly.

"If I had been fighting about a woman, it could only be you," said
the Duke.

"Yes, that is so. Of course. It could hardly be about Sonia, or my
maid," said Germaine. "But what was the reason of the duel?"

"Oh, the reason of it was entirely childish," said the Duke. "I was
in a bad temper; and De Relzieres said something that annoyed me."

"Then it wasn't about me; and if it wasn't about me, it wasn't
really worth while fighting," said Germaine in a tone of acute
disappointment.

The mocking light deepened a little in the Duke's eyes.

"Yes. But if I had been killed, everybody would have said, 'The Duke
of Charmerace has been killed in a duel about Mademoiselle Gournay-
Martin.' That would have sounded very fine indeed," said the Duke;
and a touch of mockery had crept into his voice.

"Now, don't begin trying to annoy me again," said Germaine
pettishly.

"The last thing I should dream of, my dear girl," said the Duke,
smiling.

"And De Relzieres? Is he wounded?" said Germaine.