"Colonel de Serres, as a fellow soldier I have a service to ask of
you."

"I am entirely at your disposal, Monsieur Campbell."

"I have just had a quarrel forced upon me by Monsieur de Beauvais,
and I have to meet him in fifty minutes' time at the back of the
Luxembourg. As he was in company with two gentlemen, the Comte de
Marplat and Monsieur de Vipont, I shall be glad if you would kindly
act as my second, and if you can find another officer who would
do so, I shall be glad of his services also."

"I shall be glad to support you, Monsieur Campbell, and can lay
my hand on another second at once, for here comes my friend and
yours, Monsieur Emile de Chavigny, who will, like myself, be charmed
to be concerned in any affair against the duke's friends."

De Chavigny, whom Hector had seen at the court on the previous day
for the first time since they had parted in Italy, agreed at once
to Hector's request.

"De Beauvais has the reputation of being a good swordsman, Campbell,"
he said as they walked together towards the Luxembourg, Paolo and
his companion having now returned to the inn at his master's order;
"but I should say that he will want all his skill now. You were by
far the best swordsman among us when you left us suddenly in the
south, and doubtless since then your skill will not have fallen
off."