The Point Of Honor: A Military Tale

universal curiosity as to the origin of their quarrel. Madame de Lionne's salon was the centre of ingenious surmises; that lady herself was for a time assailed with inquiries as the

t she peremptorily forbade the subject to be mentioned under her roof. Near her couch the prohibition was obeyed, but farther off in the salon the pall of the imposed silence continued to be lifted more or less. A diplomatic personage with a long pale face resembling the countenance of a sheep, opined, shaking his head, that it was a quarrel of long standing envenomed by time. It was objected to him that the men themselves were too young for such a theory to fit their proceedings. They belonged also to different and distant parts of France. A subcommissary of the Intendence, an agreeable and cultivated bachelor in ke

course go to that dandified staff officer. Lying in bed he raved to himself in his mind or aloud to the pretty maid who ministered to his needs with devotion and listened to his horrible imprecations with alarm. That Lieutenant D'Hubert should be made to "pay for it," whatever it was, seemed to h

tive from dread of ridicule. He was aware that the episode, so grave professionally, had its comic side. When reflecting upon it he still felt that he would like to wring Lieutenant Feraud's neck for him. But this formula was figurative rather th

ffair. At the inquiry he would have, of course, to spe

is arm still in a sling, rode unquestioned with his squadron to complete his convalescence in the smoke of battlefields and the fresh air of night bivouacs. This brac

principal. "I must pay him off, that pretty staff officer," he had said grimly, and they went away quite contentedly on their mission. Lieutenant D'Hubert had no difficulty in finding tw

nt D'Hubert found himself lying on his back on the dewy grass, with a hole in his side. A serene sun, rising over a German landscape o

t it will be nothi

e. One of his seconds-the one who, sitting on the

. What will you have? You had better

urmured Lieutenant D'Hubert in a

of Lieutenant Feraud were urging him to

ble. It's the proper thing to do.

, had many visitors. It was remarked that Lieutenant Feraud did not, as customary, show himself much abroad to receive the felicitations of his friends. They would not have failed him, because he, too, was liked for the exuberance of his southern nature and the simplicity of his character. In all the places where officers were in the habit of assembling at the end of the day

t was to be regretted. After all, they knew best what the care of their honour dictated. It was not a matter for their comrades to pry into overmuch. As to the origin of the quarrel, the g

cried several voices, eager with cur

from his glass de

't expect me to tell you, since both

ould not stay longer because the witching hour of flute-playing was d

His lips a

nothing but sheer kindness and love of harmony, proposed to form a Court of Honour to which the two officers would leave the task of their reconciliation. Unfort

he justice of his cause, but the absolute sagacity of his conduct. This being so, he was disinclined to talk about it. The suggestion of the regimental wise men put him in a difficult position. He was disgusted, and this disgust by a sort of paradoxical logic reawakened h

rds. His case was perfectly clear. He was not ashamed to present it, neither was he afraid to defend it personall

g sardonically "that it would be the very luckiest thing for Lieutenant D'Hubert, since n

nd Machiavelism. Southern natures often hide under the outward i

rving his turn. Whether meant for that purpose or not, they found their way in less than four-and-twenty hours into Lieutenant D'Hubert's bedroom. In consequence, Lieutena

ect on his hearers. Reported outside, all this did more for deepening the mystery than the vapourings of Lieutenant Feraud. This last was great

the bottom of this affair privately. He must speak out, if the devil were in it. The colonel should be more than a father to these youngsters." And, indeed, he loved all his men with as much affection as a father of a large family can feel for ever

ction for the regiment-that body of men which he held in his hand to launch forward and draw back, who had given him his rank, ministered to his pride and comma

man in the regiment. You know that I would send the 748 of you men and horses gal

ding at our head," said Lieute

need of being very diploma

Hades, if need be. I am a man to do even that, if the good of the service and my duty to my

n't grin at me, sir. How dare you? If this were not a private conversation, I would... Look here. I am responsible for the proper expenditure of lives under my command for the glory of our country a

measure. His shoulders moved slightly. He made no other answer. He could not i

with that note of authority which dwells in the throat of a good leader of men, "this affair must be

t his northern temperament, sentimental but cautious and clear-sighted, too, in its idealistic way, predominated over his impulse to make a clean breast of the whole deadly absurdity. According to the precept of tran

n't I told you that I will condesc

"but I am afraid that after you have heard me out as

colonel snap

e said frankly. "Is it

ieutenant D'Hubert in a

service-nothing can prevent me doing that

Lieutenant D'Hubert. "I know you will act wisel

youthful folly of a lieutena

h Hussars, afraid of meeting his adversary, is hiding behind his colonel. And that would be wors

cer of his regiment should possess every kind of courage-and prove it, too. The colonel stuck out his lower lip and looked far away with a peculiar glazed stare. This was the expression of his perplexity, an expression practically unknown to his regiment, for perplexity is a sentiment which is incompatible with the rank of colonel of cavalry. The colonel him

ughed painfully and we

m sure you will not expect me to pass that sort of thing over. I may find

came home to the colonel's understandin

said gruffly. "This is the

peace of mind too. I wouldn't be able to shake off the notion that I've ruined a brother officer. Whatever action yo

Did he behav

ieutenant D'Hubert. Being still very

. He began to pace up and down the room. He was a good chief and a man capable of discreet sympathy

is heart, "is that I have declared my intention to get to the bott

Hubert broke

tion where I had no option. I had no choice whatever consistent with my dignity as a man and an officer.... Aft

emper weighed in the balance. A cool head, a warm heart, open as the day. Always correct i

as a man and an offi

, too," repeated Lieutenant D'Hubert, "I had not

why to one's colonel... A co

the morbid obstinacy of an invalid possessed him-and at the same time he felt, with dismay, his eyes filling with water. This trouble seemed too big

silly woman st

caught by stratagem. This was the last move of the colonel's diplomacy, and he saw the truth shining unmist

aring hard. "I don't ask you who or where. All I

dropped and his weak voic

the kind,

r?" insisted t

y hon

liking for the person, had convinced him. Yet it was highly improper that his intervention, of which he had made

nant. What the devil does the surgeo

ake him home. He said nothing to anybody. Lieutenant D'Hubert made no confidences. But in the evening of that day th

bottom of this af

n with short side-whiskers, pricked up his ears

el oracularly. The other waited f

eed,

im. "I've, however, forbidden D'Hubert either to send to or

all attempts to worm the truth out of him. Lieutenant Feraud, secretly uneasy at first, regained his assurance as time went on. He disguised his ignorance of the meaning of the imposed truce by little sardonic laughs as th

officers, he muttered through his teeth, "Is that so?" Unhooking his sword from a peg near the door, he buckled it on carefully and left the company without another word. He walked home

raud, who for many days now had experienced no real desire to meet Lieutenant D'Hubert arms in hand, chafed at the systematic injustice of fate. "Does he think he will escape me in that way?" he thought indignantly. He saw in it an intrigue,

ize showy occasions and to court the favourable opinion of his chiefs like a mere worldling. He knew he was as brave as any one and never doubted his personal charm. It would be easy, he thought. Nevertheless, neither the bravery nor the charm seemed to work very swiftly. Lieutenant Feraud's engaging, careless truculence of a "beau sabreur" underwent a ch

he outspoken admiration of the beholders. It became the subject of talk on both shores of the Danube, and as far south as the garrisons of Gratz and Laybach. They crossed blades seven times. Both had many slight cuts-mere scratches which bled profusely. Both refused to have the combat stopped, time after time, with what appeared the most deadly animosity. This appearance was caused on the part of Captain D'Hubert by a rational desire to be done once for all with this worry; on the part of Feraud by a tremendous exaltation of his pugnacious instincts and the rage of wounded vanity. At last, dishevelled, their shirts in rags, covered with gore and hardly able to stand, they were carried forcibly off the field by their marvelling and horrified second

ies, must have stood somewhat in the way of their advancement, because they were still captains when they came together again during the war with Prussia. Detached north after Jena with the army commanded by Marshal Bernadotte, Prince of Ponte-Corvo, they entered Lubeck together. It was only aft

onal staff of the marshal. It's a direct provocation to me. I can't tolerate a situation in which I am exposed any day to receive an order through him, and God knows what order, too! Tha

l, this duel was a cavalry affair, and to persist in fighting on foot would look like a slight on one's own arm of the service. The seconds, startled by the unusual nature of the suggestion, hastened to refer to their principals. Captain Feraud jumped at

This affair had hopelessly and unreasonably complicated his existence for him. One absurdity more or less in the development did n

ay to some extent with t

ing his aides-de-camp particularly hard. The last three weeks of campaigning in horrible weather had affected his health. When overtired he suf

nfidants; and now they were going to give her away to a man whom he did not know-a very worthy fellow, no doubt, but not half good enough for her. He would never see his old Léonie again. She had a capable little head and plenty of tact; she would know how to manage the fellow, to

ldhood overcame Captain D'Hubert. He jumped up, pushing his chair back, yawned leisurely, which demonstrated to himself that he didn't care anything for presentiments, and, throwing himself on the bed, went to sleep. During the night he shivered from time to time without waking up. In the morning he rode out of town bet

at it was properly fastened to his wrist. And now the seconds, who had been standing in a close group with the heads of their horses together, separated at an easy canter, leaving a large, clear field between him and his adversary. Captain D'Hubert looked at the pale sun, at the dismal landsca

before it had fairly begun. The surprise of Captain Feraud might have been even greater. Captain D'Hubert, leaving him swearing horribly and reeling in the saddle between his two appalled friends, leaped the

d a little blasé; I will require a young girl-pretty, of course, and with a large fortune, you know, to help me close my glorious career with the splendour befitting my exalted rank." He ended with the information that he had just given a lesson to a worrying, quarrelsome fellow, who imagined he had a grievance against him. "But if you, in the depth of your province," he continued, "ever hear it said that your brother is of a quarrelsome disposition, don't you believe it on any account. There is no saying what gossip from the army may reach your innocent e

d, and the dust of Polish plains, picking up distinction and advancement on all the roads of northeastern Europe. Meantime, Captain Feraud, despatched southward with his regiment, made

on Colonel Feraud's head, coarse and crinkly like a cap of horsehair, showed many silver threads about the temples. A detestable warfare of ambushes and inglorious surprises had not improved his temper. The beaklike curve of his nose was unpleasantly set off by deep folds on each side of his mouth. The round orbi

ind themselves snubbed in various ways, some of which were simply rude and others mysteriously sardonic. Young officers were warned kindly by their more experienced comrades not to stare openly