The Point Of Honor: A Military Tale

of Europe, disliked duelling between the officers of his army. The great mi

est through the years of universal carnage. They were officers of cavalry, and their connection with the high-spirited but fanciful animal which carries men into battle seems particularly appropriate. It would be difficult to imagine for heroes of this legend two

'Hubert, and they were both lieutenants in a re

was in Strasbourg, and in this agreeable and important garrison, they were enjoying greatly a short interval of peace. They were enjoying it, though both intensely warlike, be

ubert could have been seen one fine afternoon making his way along the street of a cheerful suburb towards Lieut

red modestly at the sight of the tall officer, caused Lieutenant D'Hubert, who was accessible to esthetic impressions, to relax the cold, on-

at home?" he inqu

e went out at s

utenant D'Hubert, opposing this move with gentle fir

to say he has not been home s

internal evidence in the shape of boots, uniforms and military accoutrements, did he acquire the conviction that it was Lieutenant F

ed all the haunts where a lieutenant of hussars could be found of a fine aftern

nored. I heard him when I got up at five. Then he dressed him

D'Hubert. "Learn, my child, that he went ou

were generally above criticism. She only looked up for a moment in mute surprise, and Lieutenant D'Hubert concluded

dential familiarity. "He's perh

ook he

tenant D'Hubert, in a tone of anxious convi

pretty maid no

t out again? What for? Couldn't he keep quiet

in Lieutenant Feraud's comfort and happiness. He was pressing and persuasive. He used his eyes, which were large and fine, with excellent effect. His anxiety to get hold at once of Lieutenant Feraud, for Lieutenant Feraud's own good, seemed so genuine that at last it overcame the girl's discretion. Unluckily she ha

p to Lieutenant D'Hubert, wh

rm! My dear child, don't you know that he ran that civilia

without any signs of distress. But she

own," she remarked, in a

t, pursuing his train of thought. "And the general is very angry. It's one o

l do to him?" inquire

nant D'Hubert. "But his conduct is positively indecent. He's

ing the town," the

aven't seen him anywhere. What on

," suggested the maid, a

ll! Do you mean a call on a lady? The ch

s if this conversation were getting on her nerves and turned away brusquely. Lieutenant D'Hubert, without questioning the accuracy of the implied deduction, did not see that it advanced him much on his official quest. For his quest after Lieutenan

l, with her back to him and folding the hussar's b

d old, but the society of the salon was young and military for the greater part. Lieutenant D'Hubert had whistled, not because the idea of pursuing Lieutenant Feraud into that very salon was in the least distasteful t

what you say?" asked

ext-door neighbours knew the maitre-d'h?tel of Madame de Lionne. In this way she got her information. And she w

sensibility and elegance. But there was no saying. At bottom they were all alike-very practical rather than idealistic. Lieutenant D'Hubert, however, did not allow his mind to dwell on these considerations. "By thu

now I've told you where he is," cri

n't know what I would

was repulsed violently and then submitted to with a sudden and still

t known did not trouble him in the least. A uniform is a social passport. His position as officier d'ordonnance of the gener

heir low satin shoes, looked sylphlike and cool in a great display of bare necks and arms. The men who talked with them, on the contrary, were arrayed heavily in ample, coloured garments with stiff collars up to their ears and thick sashes round their waists. Lieutenant D'Hubert made his unabashed way across the room, and bowing low bef

ed speaking. He pressed the hand respectfully to his lips and made the mental remark

e, disclosing a set of large teeth. "Come t

not fail

thin a foot of the couch and, one hand propped on his thigh, with the other twirled his moustache to a point without utte

ny place. Though Lieutenant Feraud had no clear recollection how the quarrel had originated (it was begun in an establishment where beer and wine are drunk late at night), he had not the slightest doubt of being himself the outraged party. He had secured two experienced friends or his seconds. Everything had been done according t

u the order to go at once to your quarte

of Lieutenant Fera

se and a thick crop of black, curly hair-approached the mistress of the house to take their leave. Madame de Lionne, a woman of eclectic taste, smiled upon these armed young men with impartial sensibility and an equal share of interest. Madame de Lionne took her delight in the infinite variety of the human spe

instance eluded the grasp of his intellect; Lieutenant D'Hubert feeling bored by the part he had to play; because the gener

and even the twisted-up jet black little moustache seemed animated by his mental exasperation before the i

able sincerity: "What on earth for?" The innocence of the fiery Gascon soul was depicted in the

ubert curtly. He was annoyed greatl

uel! T

ropped his hands and walked on slowly trying to reconcile this information wi

ing civilian wipe his boots on th

toward that sentiment. This little fellow is a lunatic, he

othingly. "And the general himself may not be exactly informed.

d faster as his choler at the injustice of his fate began to rise. "He is not

u know, and it looks bad enough on the face of it. The general had to take notice of their complaint at once

he general," muttered Lieute

ul to you too for the trouble you have taken to

wasn't exactly the place for you to disport yourself in under the circumstances. If the general had caught you there making eyes at the goddess of

e latter turned toward his companion. "Lieutenant D'Hubert," he said, "I have something

y and she raised her scared, questioning eyes to Lieutenant D'Hubert, who could

flung his new dolman on the bed, and folding his

ubmit tamely to injustice?" he

le," remonstrated L

ominously lowering his voice. "I can't call the general to accou

murmured Lieutenant D'Hubert, mak

ms to me perfectly clear. Unles

earth do

cut off your ears to teach you not to disturb me,

rough the open window Lieutenant D'Hubert heard the lit

at your disposal whenever you are at liberty to attend t

extreme truculence. "If you are thinking of displaying your airs and

ood-morning." Turning his back on the little Gascon who, always sober in his potations, was as though born intoxicated, with the sunshine of his wine-ripening country, the northman, who could drink hard on occ

ound and surveying with composure the warlike posture of

," stuttered Fera

aid the other, keeping

sking himself seriously how he could manage to get away. Obviously it was impossible to run

hen said exactly wh

ight you now. I won't

famous! Infamous!" he shrieked, raising and falling on his toes and getting very red in the face. Lieutenant D'Hubert,

you are under arrest, you lunati

carcass in," spluttered out Lieutenant Feraud with such

had found a way out of it for the moment. "We will never ge

ime for ceremonies. And if you want any witnesses, I'll send word to the old girl to put her head out of a window at the back. Stay! There's the gardener. He'll do. He's as

" Directly he had flung open the door a faint shriek was heard, and the pretty maid, who had been listening at the keyhole, staggered backward, putting the backs of her hands over her eyes. He didn'

despairingly. "Is this what

ge himself gently. "It's like being in a madhouse," he protes

mmented that assurance. "Come along," he c

rse, to be instantly dismissed: for he felt sure that the other would pursue him without shame or compunction. And the prospect of an officer of hussars being chased along the street by another officer of hussars with a naked sword could not be for a moment

ding suddenly an infuriated man, flourishing a big sabre, the old chap, trembling in all his limbs, dropped the watering pot. At once Lieutenant Fe

erstand you've got to look on.

h his hand already on his sword, he hesitated to draw, till a roar "En garde, fichtre! What do you think you came

flung her arms above her white cap, and began scolding in a thin, cracked voice. The gardener remained glued to the tree looking on, his toothless mouth open in idiotic astonishment, and a little farther up the walk the pretty

needed all his skill and science of the sword to stop the rush

d will of his general. These worldly preoccupations were no doubt misplaced in view of the solemnity of the moment. For a duel whether regarded as a ceremony in the cult of honour or even when regrettably casual and reduced in its moral essence to a distinguished form of manly sport, demands perfect singleness of intention, a homicidal austerity of mood. On the other hand, this vivid concern for the future in a man occupied in keeping sudden death at sword'

ith his point. Lieutenant Feraud crouched and bounded with a tigerish, ferocious agility-enough to trouble the stoutest heart. But what was more appalling than the fury of a wild beast accomplishing in all innocence of heart a natural function, was the fixity of savage purpose man alone is capable of displaying. Lieutenant D'Hub

t properly interested, the length of his arm and the coolness of his head told in his favour. It was the turn of Lieutenant Fe

east to breast under his adversary's guard, Lieutenant Feraud received a slash on his shortened arm. He did not feel it in the least, but it checked his rush, and his feet slipping on the gravel, he fell backward with great violence. The shock jarre

help, flung herself upon his defenceless back and, twining her fingers in his hair, tugged at his head. Why she should choose to hinder him at this precise moment he could not in the least understand. He did not try. It was all like a very wicked and harassing dream. Twice, to save himself from being pulled over, he had to rise and throw her off. He did this stoically, without a word, kneeling down again at once to go on with his work. But when the work was done he seized both her arms and held them down. Her cap was half off, her face was red, her eyes glared with crazy boldness. He looked mildly into them while she called him a wretch, a traitor and a murderer many times in succession. This did not annoy him so much as the conviction that in her scurries she had managed to scratch his face abundantly. R

rists, struggled, not with maidenly coyness but like a sort of pretty dumb fury, not even refraining from kicking his shins now and then. He continued to hold her as if in a vice, his instinct telling him that were he to let

as he could. "Will you promise to

do nothing of the kind. On the contrary, her incoherent intentions were to remain in the garden

at you think me capable of murdering a wounded adversary

thick sleepy voic

u up to with

lood on his uniform, at a small red pool on the ground, at his sabre lying a foot away on the path. Then he laid

ght were falling on the little trim garden with this touching group whence proceeded low murmurs of sorrow and compassion with other feeble sounds of a

icule above everything, and was painfully aware of sneaking through the back streets to his quarters. In one of these quiet side streets the sounds of a flute coming out of the open window of a lighted upstairs room in a

e knew fairly well. The sounds of the flute ceased and the musician appeare

D'Hubert! What br

a man whose hair had turned gray already in the thankless task of tyin

ou know Lieutenant Feraud? He lives down th

he matter

und

you s

D'Hubert. "I c

d; but the expression of his face when he pronounced it never corresponde

want to wash my h

unscrewing his flute and packing the pieces method

e corner. Your han

D'Hubert. "But you had better make haste. It'

id not hurry

using. I've been busy in the hospital all day, b

led moodily Lieutenant D'Hubert, w

out twice in one day." He looked narrowly at Lieutenant D'Hubert. "How did y

will find his slashed arm amusing too. It will

ss of Lieutenant D'Hubert's tone. They left the house together

coming with

can find the house by yourself. The

. Where's

better go right through and

. The truth was confoundedly grotesque and embarrassing to justify; putting aside the irregularity of the combat itself which made it come dangerously near a criminal offence. Like all men without much imagination, which is such a help in the processes of reflective thought, Lieutenant D'Hubert became frightfull

he was resuming his connection with the soldiers' military family, by being shut up in close confinement not at his own quarters in town, but in a room in the barracks. Owing to the gravity of the incident, he was allowed to see no one. He did not know what had happened, what was being sai

ive you authentic news of your adversary," he continu

nventional signs of gladness. He continued

hair, doctor

ctor s

d in town and in the army. In fact t

m wall to wall. But within himself he marvelled that there

the real facts

D'Hubert, "that the fellow would have

he-bye, I did find him in the garden. The thump on the back of his head had made

," grunted D'Hubert, who had stood still for a mome

not exactly his frame of mind. However,

d D'Hubert with a sidelong look at the heavy-fa

rgeon, "I wouldn't pronounce

had better not,"

nce for all that I would not carve any of you youngsters except with the tools of my trade. But my advi

, stopping short, quite startled. "I! I! make f

he rights and wrongs of this incident.

ng you?" interrupted Lieutenant

e garden he was incoherent. Afterwards he was naturally retic

Hubert. Then lowering his voice, "An

s, after twenty-four hours' hard work, he had been known to trouble with its sweet sounds the horrible stillness of battlefields given over to

, I have consented to deliver his message. Say that I am humouring an invalid if you like. He says that this affair is by no means at an en

tween these two young men. Something serious enough to wear an air of mystery. Some fact of the utmost gravity. To settle their urgent difference those two young men had risked being broken and disgraced at the outset, almost, of their career. And he feared that the forth

, caused him twice that evening to hold the instrument off his lips and sit silent fo