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been drunk. The company consisted of seven or eight individuals besides the Baron and myself. Most of these
were young men of wealth, of high connection, of great family pride, and all alive with an exaggerated sense
of honor. They abounded in the most ultra German opinions respecting the duello. To these Quixotic notions
some recent Parisian publications, backed by three or four desperate and fatal conversation, during the greater
part of the night, had run wild upon the all -- engrossing topic of the times. The Baron, who had been
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unusually silent and abstracted in the earlier portion of the evening, at length seemed to be aroused from his
apathy, took a leading part in the discourse, and dwelt upon the benefits, and more especially upon the
beauties, of the received code of etiquette in passages of arms with an ardor, an eloquence, an impressiveness,
and an affectionateness of manner, which elicited the warmest enthusiasm from his hearers in general, and
absolutely staggered even myself, who well knew him to be at heart a ridiculer of those very points for which
he contended, and especially to hold the entire fanfaronade of duelling etiquette in the sovereign contempt
which it deserves.
Looking around me during a pause in the Baron's discourse (of which my readers may gather some faint idea
when I say that it bore resemblance to the fervid, chanting, monotonous, yet musical sermonic manner of
Coleridge), I perceived symptoms of even more than the general interest in the countenance of one of the
party. This gentleman, whom I shall call Hermann, was an original in every respect -- except, perhaps, in the
single particular that he was a very great fool. He contrived to bear, however, among a particular set at the
university, a reputation for deep metaphysical thinking, and, I believe, for some logical talent. As a duellist he
had acquired who had fallen at his hands; but they were many. He was a man of courage undoubtedly. But it
was upon his minute acquaintance with the etiquette of the duello, and the nicety of his sense of honor, that he
most especially prided himself. These things were a hobby which he rode to the death. To Ritzner, ever upon
the lookout for the grotesque, his peculiarities had for a long time past afforded food for mystification. Of this,
however, I was not aware; although, in the present instance, I saw clearly that something of a whimsical
nature was upon the tapis with my friend, and that Hermann was its especial object.
As the former proceeded in his discourse, or rather monologue I perceived the excitement of the latter
momently increasing. At length he spoke; offering some objection to a point insisted upon by R., and giving
his reasons in detail. To these the Baron replied at length (still maintaining his exaggerated tone of sentiment)
and concluding, in what I thought very bad taste, with a sarcasm and a sneer. The hobby of Hermann now
took the bit in his teeth. This I could discern by the studied hair-splitting farrago of his rejoinder. His last
words I distinctly remember. "Your opinions, allow me to say, Baron von Jung, although in the main correct,
are, in many nice points, discreditable to yourself and to the university of which you are a member. In a few
respects they are even unworthy of serious refutation. I would say more than this, sir, were it not for the fear
of giving you offence (here the speaker smiled blandly), I would say, sir, that your opinions are not the
opinions to be expected from a gentleman."
As Hermann completed this equivocal sentence, all eyes were turned upon the Baron. He became pale, then
excessively red; then, dropping his pocket-handkerchief, stooped to recover it, when I caught a glimpse of his
countenance, while it could be seen by no one else at the table. It was radiant with the quizzical expression
which was its natural character, but which I had never seen it assume except when we were alone together,
and when he unbent himself freely. In an instant afterward he stood erect, confronting Hermann; and so total
an alteration of countenance in so short a period I certainly never saw before. For a moment I even fancied
that I had misconceived him, and that he was in sober earnest. He appeared to be stifling with passion, and his
face was cadaverously white. For a short time he remained silent, apparently striving to master his emotion.
Having at length seemingly succeeded, he reached a decanter which stood near him, saying as he held it
firmly clenched "The language you have thought proper to employ, Mynheer Hermann, in addressing yourself
to me, is objectionable in so many particulars, that I have neither temper nor time for specification. That my
opinions, however, are not the opinions to be expected from a gentleman, is an observation so directly
offensive as to allow me but one line of conduct. Some courtesy, nevertheless, is due to the presence of this
company, and to yourself, at this moment, as my guest. You will pardon me, therefore, if, upon this
consideration, I deviate slightly from the general usage among gentlemen in similar cases of personal affront.
You will forgive me for the moderate tax I shall make upon your imagination, and endeavor to consider, for
an instant, the reflection of your person in yonder mirror as the living Mynheer Hermann himself. This being
done, there will be no difficulty whatever. I shall discharge this decanter of wine at your image in yonder
mirror, and thus fulfil all the spirit, if not the exact letter, of resentment for your insult, while the necessity of
physical violence to your real person will be obviated."
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With these words he hurled the decanter, full of wine, against the mirror which hung directly opposite
Hermann; striking the reflection of his person with great precision, and of course shattering the glass into
fragments. The whole company at once started to their feet, and, with the exception of myself and Ritzner,
took their departure. As Hermann went out, the Baron whispered me that I should follow him and make an
offer of my services. To this I agreed; not knowing precisely what to make of so ridiculous a piece of
business.
The duellist accepted my aid with his stiff and ultra recherche air, and, taking my arm, led me to his
apartment. I could hardly forbear laughing in his face while he proceeded to discuss, with the profoundest
gravity, what he termed "the refinedly peculiar character" of the insult he had received. After a tiresome
harangue in his ordinary style, he took down from his book shelves a number of musty volumes on the subject
of the duello, and entertained me for a long time with their contents; reading aloud, and commenting earnestly
as he read. I can just remember the titles of some of the works. There were the "Ordonnance of Philip le Bel
on Single Combat"; the "Theatre of Honor," by Favyn, and a treatise "On the Permission of Duels," by
Andiguier. He displayed, also, with much pomposity, Brantome's "Memoirs of Duels," -- published at
Cologne, 1666, in the types of Elzevir -- a precious and unique vellum-paper volume, with a fine margin, and
bound by Derome. But he requested my attention particularly, and with an air of mysterious sagacity, to a
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