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offer it you must； or you will die sir！ You rely even now on your
dexterity； and do not shrink from an encounter in which you believe
all the advantage to be upon your side。 Very good； sir； I am generous；
I am letting you know my superiority beforehand。 I possess a terrible
power。 I have only to wish to do so； and I can neutralize your skill；
dim your eyesight； make your hand and pulse unsteady； and even kill
you outright。 I have no wish to be compelled to exercise my power； the
use of it costs me too dear。 You would not be the only one to die。 So
if you refuse to apologize to me； not matter what your experience in
murder； your ball will go into the waterfall there； and mine will
speed straight to your heart though I do not aim it at you。〃
Confused voices interrupted Raphael at this point。 All the time that
he was speaking； the Marquis had kept his intolerably keen gaze fixed
upon his antagonist； now he drew himself up and showed an impassive
face； like that of a dangerous madman。
〃Make him hold his tongue；〃 the young man had said to one of his
seconds； 〃that voice of his is tearing the heart out of me。〃
〃Say no more； sir； it is quite useless；〃 cried the seconds and the
surgeon； addressing Raphael。
〃Gentlemen； I am fulfilling a duty。 Has this young gentleman any final
arrangements to make？〃
〃That is enough； that will do。〃
The Marquis remained standing steadily； never for a moment losing
sight of his antagonist； and the latter seemed； like a bird before a
snake； to be overwhelmed by a well…nigh magical power。 He was
compelled to endure that homicidal gaze； he met and shunned it
incessantly。
〃I am thirsty； give me some water〃 he said again to the second。
〃Are you nervous？〃
〃Yes；〃 he answered。 〃There is a fascination about that man's glowing
eyes。〃
〃Will you apologize？〃
〃It is too late now。〃
The two antagonists were placed at fifteen paces' distance from each
other。 Each of them had a brace of pistols at hand； and； according to
the programme prescribed for them； each was to fire twice when and how
he pleased； but after the signal had been given by the seconds。
〃What are you doing； Charles？〃 exclaimed the young man who acted as
second to Raphael's antagonist； 〃you are putting in the ball before
the powder！〃
〃I am a dead man；〃 he muttered； by way of answer； 〃you have put me
facing the sun〃
〃The sun lies behind you；〃 said Valentin sternly and solemnly； while
he coolly loaded his pistol without heeding the fact that the signal
had been given； or that his antagonist was carefully taking aim。
There was something so appalling in this supernatural unconcern； that
it affected even the two postilions； brought thither by a cruel
curiosity。 Raphael was either trying his power or playing with it； for
he talked to Jonathan； and looked towards him as he received his
adversary's fire。 Charles' bullet broke a branch of willow； and
ricocheted over the surface of the water； Raphael fired at random； and
shot his antagonist through the heart。 He did not heed the young man
as he dropped； he hurriedly sought the Magic Skin to see what another
man's life had cost him。 The talisman was no larger than a small oak…
leaf。
〃What are you gaping at； you postilions over there？ Let us be off；〃
said the Marquis。
That same evening he crossed the French border； immediately set out
for Auvergne； and reached the springs of Mont Dore。 As he traveled；
there surged up in his heart； all at once； one of those thoughts that
come to us as a ray of sunlight pierces through the thick mists in
some dark valleya sad enlightenment； a pitiless sagacity that lights
up the accomplished fact for us； that lays our errors bare； and leaves
us without excuse in our own eyes。 It suddenly struck him that the
possession of power； no matter how enormous； did not bring with it the
knowledge how to use it。 The sceptre is a plaything for a child； an
axe for a Richelieu； and for a Napoleon a lever by which to move the
world。 Power leaves us just as it finds us； only great natures grow
greater by its means。 Raphael had had everything in his power； and he
had done nothing。
At the springs of Mont Dore he came again in contact with a little
world of people； who invariably shunned him with the eager haste that
animals display when they scent afar off one of their own species
lying dead； and flee away。 The dislike was mutual。 His late adventure
had given him a deep distaste for society； his first care；
consequently； was to find a lodging at some distance from the
neighborhood of the springs。 Instinctively he felt within him the need
of close contact with nature； of natural emotions； and of the
vegetative life into which we sink so gladly among the fields。
The day after he arrived he climbed the Pic de Sancy； not without
difficulty； and visited the higher valleys； the skyey nooks；
undiscovered lakes； and peasants' huts about Mont Dore； a country
whose stern and wild features are now beginning to tempt the brushes
of our artists； for sometimes wonderfully fresh and charming views are
to be found there； affording a strong contrast to the frowning brows
of those lonely hills。
Barely a league from the village Raphael discovered a nook where
nature seemed to have taken a pleasure in hiding away all her
treasures like some glad and mischievous child。 At the first sight of
this unspoiled and picturesque retreat； he determined to take up his
abode in it。 There； life must needs be peaceful； natural； and
fruitful； like the life of a plant。
Imagine for yourself an inverted cone of granite hollowed out on a
large scale； a sort of basin with its sides divided up by queer
winding paths。 On one side lay level stretches with no growth upon
them； a bluish uniform surface； over which the rays of the sun fell as
upon a mirror； on the other lay cliffs split open by fissures and
frowning ravines； great blocks of lava hung suspended from them； while
the action of rain slowly prepared their impending fall； a few stunted
trees tormented by the wind； often crowned their summits； and here and
there in some sheltered angle of their ramparts a clump of chestnut…
trees grew tall as cedars； or some cavern in the yellowish rocks
showed the dark entrance into its depths； set about by flowers and
brambles； decked by a little strip of green turf。
At the bottom of this cup； which perhaps had been the crater of an
old…world volcano； lay a pool of water as pure and bright as a
diamond。 Granite boulders lay around the deep basin； and willows；
mountain…ash trees； yellow…flag lilies； and numberless aromatic plants
bloomed about it； in a realm of meadow as fresh as an English bowling…
green。 The fine soft grass was watered by the streams that trickled
through the fissures in the cliffs； the soil was continually enriched
by the deposits of loam which storms washed down from the heights
above。 The pool might be some three acr