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.
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