The Duellists Page #2

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- No, I'm not!

I got you. Got you.

Come on.

- Left arm, double or nothing.

- No, I only bet right hand.

- Another?

- Yes.

- Where's your bet?

- Trust me.

- You must be joking.

- Trust me!

Come on.

You're next.

Any more bets?

Damn muscle never healed properly.

You remember that boudoir soldier

in Strasbourg...

that staff lackey?

You'll act for me, won't you?

Hey, Moustache, my bags.

Now tell me you're married.

Madame, I am entirely at your service.

My dear Armand, how very gallant.

What a relief.

Well, now that I've found you,

it would be an act of mercy...

if you put us both to bed.

Marie Rose went bald.

She caught the mange in Italy.

Poor b*tch.

- How did Jacques respond to that?

- He never saw it.

He was killed at Marengo.

Simon must still be in Egypt.

Etienne married that fat girl of his.

And I have received a token of love.

I find that rather daunting.

With this ring, I renounce love...

and make do with you.

You were the one I always wanted.

You.

You, Hussar.

- What's this?

- I'll have them driven in deeper, sir.

You'll do no such thing.

Who the devil taught you

to picket horses so near a river?

There's gonna be water

around their knees in two hours.

I want the whole line moved

to higher ground quickly.

Sir.

Lieutenant d'Hubert.

Yes?

You are acquainted

with Lieutenant Feraud?

Yes.

- Morning.

- Morning.

Are you ready, gentlemen?

All right, gentlemen.

Sorry.

Gently, gently.

Very carefully,

turn around for me.

Take it slowly.

Do take off his cravat, please.

Easy. It's all right.

It's all right.

Then undo his button.

Easy.

Get him over on his side.

Just get this...

Careful, careful.

Armand, it was a fair set-to.

Won't hurt your reputation,

I can promise you that.

Why don't you make it up

like a couple of good fellows?

- That's better.

- There's no need to bear him a grudge.

All right.

I'll shake hands.

Well?

He can't continue, I'm afraid.

It's quite bad.

- Can he continue?

- No, he's unable to.

- Damn it!

- Gabriel, shake hands and forget it.

Whatever he did,

you've paid him back now.

From all I hear,

he's a very decent fellow.

Decent?

Don't expect decency from his kind.

Look at him,

lolling about there on the ground.

One touch, and he's off home

to his beloved general.

Next time, d'Hubert!

You should have made him

shake hands with you.

I was flat on my back.

One cannot control one's affairs

from that position.

You should've got up.

You weren't dead.

I wasn't well.

Besides, he only would've stuck me

again. He was waiting for the chance.

Do you mean

you'd have gone on fighting?

No question.

It would have been

the only honorable thing to do.

What's the matter?

- I'm going to sneeze.

- Oh, no, you mustn't.

You don't have to.

Come on.

Think of something else.

- Describe honor.

- Honor?

- Honor.

- Honor is...

- Go on. You must.

- Indescribable...

unchallengable...

All the little girls adore you.

You're a notorious and savage duelist.

- Savage?

- Notoriously savage.

And it's rumored that

you live with a savage b*tch.

It's a shame he's such an idle brute.

One more duel...

and God knows he needs the exercise...

one more duel

would make his reputation.

Young ladies would take

to their smelling salts...

whenever he narrowed his eyes.

Narrow your eyes.

I think you've got

a long way to go.

We could leave by the back lane.

What for?

If he wants me, he'll find me.

You know him?

Yes.

Surely there must be

some other way out?

Don't talk about it anymore.

The only way out

is to go through with it.

One has to be ready.

It takes all one's attention

to be ready.

Where is Gabriel Feraud?

Thank you.

Yes?

I live with Armand d'Hubert.

I knew a man who was

stabbed to death by a woman.

Gave him the surprise of his life.

I once knew a woman

who was beaten to death by a man.

I don't think

it surprised her at all.

You're a soldier's lady.

You should live here with me.

Nobody understands

why you fight with Armand.

It's supposed to be a secret

between the pair of you.

I believe it's a secret

of your very own.

I believe it's a secret

of your very own.

I believe...

you feed your spite on him...

with no more sense than a nasty,

bloodsucking louse.

Who do you suppose cares

what you think?

- No one.

- Then why are you here?

I came to take a look at you.

Look.

Do you remember Martin?

The gunnery sergeant who lost his arm?

Yes.

He's out of the army now. He works

at the ordinance factory in Rouen.

I think he wants to marry me.

He sent me the ring.

What ring?

This ring.

Oh, that ring.

Marry him.

When I'm ready.

I was told I might find

Lieutenant d'Hubert at this address.

Not here.

On the watch, sir.

Always on the watch.

They don't all fight

like fine gentlemen.

The two of swords reversed.

Strife without reason.

A quarrel pursued for its own sake.

Does this suggest your problem?

Seven of cups.

It would seem that

you must make a difficult choice.

The moon.

The moon is a symbol of solitude.

Here is the path you must take.

It is a path of instinct.

Everyone who travels on that path

travels alone.

Between the two dogs.

Do I leave them both behind?

You must answer

your own questions now.

You're alone.

- Pick it up.

- Gently, gently.

Carefully.

That's it.

I'm not hurt!

Are they dying?

The general will see you now, sir.

Sit down before you fall down.

Your colonel speaks highly of you.

I found you quite useful myself.

Yet, in contact with this Feraud,

you persistently behave...

like a wild beast.

Why is that?

- Do you wish to reconvene an inquiry?

- Certainly not.

- No time to waste on that now.

- Sir, as a crucial point of honor...

I cannot speak freely about

the conduct of Lieutenant Feraud...

unless he has an opportunity

to put his own case.

Claptrap.

Sir, I cannot fight the man three times

and then tell tales on him.

Judging by the look of you,

a change of tactics is what you need.

Very well. Convention allows you

to be a chivalrous half-wit.

But you will cease being

a quarrelsome half-wit.

You will fight no more duels

under my command.

- Now, is that understood?

- Yes, sir.

Anyhow,

since you are now a captain...

it would be

a gross breach of discipline.

Your colonel considered you fit

to command a troop.

I'm not exactly sure

what I think you're fit for...

but I will not oppose his decision.

If you feel strong enough,

you may leave now.

Five years passed.

The map of Europe changed...

and so did military fashion.

Another time then.

- Buy me a drink, darling?

- Next time.

You look mumpish. Cheer up.

I have some news to tell you.

Sit down.

I have news to tell you.

The 7th Hussars have come to Lubeck.

Feraud is behind you.

I'm sorry.

- Can you make out his rank?

- Captain.

Damn.

Perhaps, for your own sake,

you should face him now.

How can you avoid it?

He'll hunt you out in the end.

Keep your head down.

This is my news.

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