The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 81: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BY RIGHT OF SWORD. 3 SI I heard Devinsky swear softly into his mustache at this; but there was nothing for them to take hold of, though every man in the room understood what I meant ; and nearly all were now listening. ‘Yes, I have heard you have singular manners in the provinces. My friend here, Devinsky, has told me several curious things. I heard of one pro- vincial, for instance, who allowed himself to be insulted and browbeaten til] his cowardice was almost a byword, and it became really impossible for him to remain in the army unless he accepted the challenge he had so often re- fused. And then he begged, almost with tears, to get terms made ; and when this was not done, he deadened his fears with drink, and came to the club here like a witless fool, behaving like a drunken clown; and then at last actually went out and fought in a condition of seeming delirium. We do not have that in the capital. In St. Petersburg we should have such a scabby rascal whipped on a gun.”’ A movement among the group of toadies showed me how this burlesque of my conduct was appreciated there, while Devinsky was grinning boast- fully. ‘Did Major Devinsky tell you that?’’ I asked, my voice down at least two tones in my excitement, while my pulses thrilled at the insult. But out- wardly I was calm. ‘Yes, I think that’s a pretty fair description, isn’t it, Devinsky ?”’ replied Durescq, turning coolly to the other for confirmation. Then he turned again to me and asked, ‘‘Why, do you recognize the description, Lieutenant Petrovitch ?’’ ‘You have not heard the whole of the story,’’? I answered, getting the words out with difficulty between teeth I had to clench hard to keep my passion under control. ‘‘’The man who was beaten in the duel left Moscow in a panic and went to St. Petersburg for a purpose—that you may perhaps approve.’’ There was now dead silence in all the room and the eyes of every man init were riveted on me. ‘‘ The first object of the duel was that he might kill in it the man whose skill was thought to be inferior to his own, so that he might persecute with his disgusting attentions the sister of him on whom he had purposely fixed the quarrel. Failing in this, he went to fetch a cleverer sword than his own with which to do his dirty work; and he fetched ’’ I paused a second and then my rage burst out like a vol- cano—*' He fetched a butcher named Durescq to do butcher’s work; and I, by heaven, won’t balk him.’’ With this I lost all control, and springing upon Durescq I seized his nose and wrung it and twisted it, dragging his head from side to side in my un- governable fury, until I nearly broke my teeth with the straining force with which I clenched them. Then, raising my hand, I slapped his face with a force and loudness that resounded through the room and made every man start and wonder what.would come next. ‘That is from the man you say dare not fight. One last word. Before I meet the butcher, I insist on meeting the man who hired him. Lieutenant Hssaieff will act for me.’’ With that I left the room, feeling that although I was now all but certain (F) COMmmiclaoolK< (S@)