Chapter 6 duel

When Tarzan left Zhukov's house and returned to the apartment, D'Arnot was still sleeping, and Tarzan didn't bother him.But early in the morning of the second year, he told him in detail what happened the night before, in detail and without omission. "What a fool I am," he concluded. "De Cauder and his wife are my friends. And yet I repay their friendship in this way. I nearly strangled the Count. I defiled a A good name for a clean woman. I might have broken up a happy family." 'Do you love Olga de Cauder? " asked D'Arnot. "I can't answer your question if I don't know whether she loves me or not. But since I understand that speaking of it doesn't raise the suspicion of being unfaithful to her, I can tell you that I don't love her." She doesn't love me either. We're both the victims of a momentary burst of insane emotion that can't be called love. This feeling, even if de Cauder hadn't come back then, would have vanished just as suddenly as the outburst, To the detriment of no one. As you know, I have little experience with women. Olga de Cauder is very beautiful. Thanks to this, plus the dim lighting, the attractive surroundings, and this A more civilized person may still be able to resist the helpless woman's plea for protection; my civilization is just too superficial... probably just have a set of human clothes!

"Paris is not my place. I am sure to fall into still worse traps. I hate artificial rules, and always feel that I am a prisoner without freedom. I cannot bear this pain any longer, my friend. I want to go back to my jungle again and live the life God intended for me there." "Don't take this too seriously, John." D'Arnot said, you've done a lot better than most so-called civilized people in the same situation. As for leaving Paris now, it is not appropriate.I think Rolle de Cauder will react to this matter soon. " D'Arnot was not wrong.A week later, at 11 o'clock in the morning, D'Arnot and Tarzan were eating when the servant reported Mr. Flambert's visit.

Mr. Flambert was very impressive in his politeness and thoroughness.He bowed deeply several times, and on behalf of Lord de Cawdor he handed Mr. Tarzan a challenge to a duel.He also asked: "Would you be honored, sir, to send a friend to meet with me as soon as you think it is convenient to discuss all the details that will satisfy both parties?" Of course, Tarzan was happy to have his friend Lieutenant D'Arnot fully represent his interests to complete this consultation.In the end, the two parties decided that D'Arnot would visit Mr. Flambert at two o'clock in the afternoon of the same day.The courteous Flambert bowed several times before leaving them.

There were only the two of them in the room, and D'Arnot looked at Tarzan suspiciously. "How?" he asked. "And now, to my crimes, murder must be added. Or else I myself will be killed," said Tarzan. "It seems that I will soon have to kill and set fire like my civilized brethren. .” "What weapon are you going to use?" D'Arnot asked. "De Cauder is a well-known fencer and sharpshooter." "Then I'll shoot poisoned arrows at twenty paces, or throw a spear," Tarzan laughed. "Pistols, Paul." "He'll kill you, John."

"I have no doubt of that," said Tarzan, "but sooner or later there must be death." "It's better to use the sword," said D'Arnot. "He'll probably be content with stabbing you. And generally speaking, there's not much risk of fatal wounds with fencing." "With a pistol!" Tarzan said firmly. D'Arnot tried to persuade him, but to no avail.In the end, it was decided to fight with a pistol. At four o'clock in the afternoon, D'Arnot ended his consultation with Mr. Flambert. "All arranged," he said, "everything is satisfactory. Tomorrow morning at dawn, the duel is to be held in a relatively secluded place on the road not far from Ethamus. For some personal reason, Mr. Flambert is willing to go there, and I have no objection."

"Okay!" Tai Shan just said lightly.He never asked about it again, not even asking sideways.Before going to bed that night, he wrote a few letters, sealed and addressed them, and put them in a large envelope with the words Dearnot received on it.D'Arnot hummed a little tune when he heard him undressing to sleep. D'Arnot cursed secretly.He was very sad.Because he was sure that when the sun rose again the next morning, the one lying in the sun would be dead Taishan.But Taishan was indifferent to this ending, and D'Arnot was very annoyed. the next morning.As soon as it was dawn, Taishan was called out by his servants from his comfortable bed. "It's not very civilized to kill each other at this time," he muttered.He slept soundly at night, slept until dawn, and probably didn't even turn over once.What I said just now was for D'Arnot.He was already dressed and standing at the door of D'Arnot.

D'Arnot didn't close his eyes almost all night.He was very nervous, and seeing Taishan's indifferent look, he couldn't help but get angry. "You probably slept more soundly this night than an ignorant child," he said. Tarzan laughed. "Good voice, Paul, you're not satisfied with my sound sleep. To tell you the truth, I never get sleepy when my head touches the pillow." "No, John, that's not what I mean." D'Arnot replied with a smile, "However, you are so absent-minded about this matter that it makes people look angry. You look like you are shooting a target, Not face to face with a sharpshooter in France."

Tarzan shrugged. "I'm going to atone, Paul. Now that my opponent is a sharpshooter, the ease is all the more understandable. Why should I be dissatisfied? Didn't you tell me that Count de Cauder was a good sharpshooter?" ?" "You mean, you want to be beaten to death by him?" D'Arnot exclaimed. "It's not hopeful. But you must admit that the chances of me not being killed are extremely small." If D'Arnot had known of Tarzan's preoccupation--a preoccupation with which de Cauder had been informed that he was going to duel--he would have been astonished.

They got into D'Arnot's big car silently, and silently sped along the road leading to Ethams, which was still hazy in the morning light, both of them thinking about their own thoughts.D'Arnot was filled with sorrow.Because he loves Taishan sincerely like his own brother.Although the two of them had very different life experiences and educations, their lofty friendship was deepened through this period of communication.Their kind of masculinity and noble sentiments.Courage and self-respect both infected each other with equal force.They knew each other, and were both proud of their friendship with men.

Tarzan the Ape is wallowing in the memories of the past.He thought of the happy time spent in the jungle, and the scene of sitting cross-legged on the table in his father's cabin as a child: he was dark and thin, lying on the picture books, looking at them fascinated.And so, without anyone's help, long before he heard people speak, he unearthed the mysteries of written language.He also thought of the day he spent alone with Jenny Potter in the depths of the primeval forest, and he couldn't help showing a gratified smile, and his solemn face softened. After a while they reached their destination, and the car braked, interrupting his recollection.Taishan's thoughts returned to the present matter.He knew he was going to die, but he had no fear of death.For the jungle dwellers who have been devastated by wind and rain, death is nothing more than a common event.The laws of nature compelled them to an indomitable struggle for existence, but did not teach them to fear death.

D'Arnot and Tarzan arrived at the duel venue first.After a while, de Cauder, Mr. Flambert, and another gentleman arrived.They introduced the gentleman to D'Arnot and Tarzan as a doctor. D'Arnot and Monsieur Flambert spoke for a little while in a low voice.Lord de Cawdor and Tarzan stood facing each other at either end of the arena. After a while, Mr. D'Arnot and Mr. Flambert examined their pistols separately.The two parties, who were about to start the duel face to face, stood in silence while Mr. Flambert announced the rules they were to observe. They would stand back to back at a certain point, and at the signal from Mr. Flambert both would walk with their backs in opposite directions, pistols at their sides.After walking ten steps, D'Arnot gave a signal at the end, and they turned around and shot at each other at the same time, until one of them fell down, or both of them fired the prescribed three shots. While Mr. Flambert announced the rules, Tarzan drew a cigarette from the pack, lit it, and smoked.De Cauder looked very calm - he is the sharpshooter of France with every shot! After a while, Mr. Flambert nodded to Diannot, and the four of them immediately took their positions and got ready. "Gentlemen, are you ready?" asked Flambert. "Ready," said de Cauder. Tarzan nodded. Flambert and D'Arnot took a few steps back and withdrew from the "line of fire".Then Mr. Flambert gave the signal, and the two duelists slowly separated. "Six!" "Seven!" "Eight!" Diarnot had tears in his eyes, he loved Taishan very much. "Nine!" the duelist took another step forward, and the poor lieutenant called out the number he hated so much: "Ten!" It seemed to him tantamount to the execution of his best friend. De Cauder turned quickly and fired.Tarzan shook slightly, the pistol still hanging by his side.De Cauder hesitated, as if waiting for his opponent to fall to the ground.The Frenchman was an experienced shooter, so he naturally understood that his shot was a hit.Taishan still did not raise his gun.De Cauder fired another shot at him.But Tarzan's attitude embarrassed the best sharpshooter in France—every line of his tall body seemed relaxed and unconcerned.He was even smoking nonchalantly.This time Tarzan did not sway, but Lord de Cawd knew he had been hit. It occurred to de Cauder that the coolness of his adversary was due to a dreadful fluke in the hope that none of the three shots he fired would kill him, and that he would not panic. Slowly, very calmly, like a cold-blooded animal, he fired back.De Cauder felt a chill run down his spine and through his body.In his opinion, Taishan is simply a demon!If it was a human being, how could he be shot twice in a row and still stand there complacently waiting for the third shot? This time, De Cauder aimed carefully, but he was so nervous that the bullets whizzed past Tarzan.Taishan did not even once raise the pistol hanging from his waist. For a split second the two stood looking straight into each other's eyes, with a sad, disappointed look on Tarzan's face, and de Cawd suddenly panicked--yes, panicked. . He couldn't stand it any longer. "Holy Mother! Shoot! Sir!" he screamed. Still Tarzan did not raise his pistol, but walked straight up to de Cawd.Both D'Arnot and Flambert misunderstood what he meant, and were about to rush over, Tarzan raised his left hand and gestured to them. "Don't be afraid," he said to them, "I will do him no harm." It was so out of the ordinary, but they stopped anyway.Tarzan was very close to de Cauder. "There must be something wrong with sir's pistol," he said, "or you are too restless. Take mine and try again." Tarzan took the pistol down and handed it to de Cawd, butt forward. .De Cauder was dumbfounded. "My God, sir!" he cried, "are you crazy?" "No, my friend," replied Tarzan, "but damn me. Only death can atone for the mistakes I made on that very good woman. Take my gun and do as I ask. " "That would be murder," replied de Cauder, "but what did you do to my wife? She swore to me you didn't—" "Of course I don't mean that kind of thing," said Tarzan hastily. "You can see the mistake that happened between us. But it's enough to cast a shadow on her good name, and it's enough to ruin your happiness. You have no hostility. My faults are mine. I hope to die here this morning. I am disappointed that sir is not the sharp-shooter I thought he was." "It's all your fault, you say?" de Cauder asked eagerly. "It's all my fault, sir. Your wife is a very pure woman. But it was neither the Countess's fault nor mine that I came to your residence in the middle of the night.Here is a material that clearly illustrates this point. " Tarzan took out the confession written and signed by Zhukov himself from his pocket. De Cauder took the papers and read them.d'arnot and flambert De Cauder took the papers and read them.Mr. D'Arnot and Flambert had come over.They watched this strange duel, with its strange ending, with great interest, and no one spoke.De Cauder finished the statement and looked up at Tarzan. "You are a very brave and chivalrous gentleman," said he, "thank God I didn't let me kill you," De Cauder was French, and the French are the most impulsive.He opened his arms and hugged Taishan tightly.Monsieur Flambert hugged D'Arnot.No one hugged the doctor.Perhaps he was annoyed by this and finally intervened to bandage Taishan's wound. "This gentleman has been shot at least once," he said, "maybe three." "Two shots," Taishan said, "one shot was in the left shoulder, and the other shot was also on the left side. I think it was probably a little bit of skin." But the doctor insisted on letting him lie on the grass, cleaning the wound, stopping the bleeding, and bandaging the wound. . At the end of the duel, they all returned to Paris in D'Arnot's car and became best friends.De Cauder was especially relieved to be redoubled in his assurance of his wife's fidelity.There is no grudge against Taishan.It was true that Tarzan thought too much of his mistake.In fact, his alleged mistakes are insignificant, and even if he recanted the lie, people would not be blamed.Because he lied to preserve the dignity of a woman, and lied like a decent man. Tarzan lay in bed for days.He thought it was just plain stupid. It's too unnecessary.But the doctor and D'Arnot were always thinking about his gunshot wound.To please them, he had to "reluctantly", although he thought it was ridiculous. "It's ridiculous," he told D'Arnot. "It's like going to bed with a thorn in it. When I was a little boy, I was nearly torn to pieces by Borgani the gorilla. Where can I find a comfortable soft bed? In the jungle, there are only damp dead leaves. I lay in the bushes for many days, and only Carla took care of me. Poor faithful Carla. She took care of me from my wounds. Drive away insects and drive away wild animals that try to harm me. "When I want to drink water, she feeds me with her mouth—this is the only way she knows how to get water. At that time, there was no sterile gauze, no antiseptic bandages. If our dear doctor saw the scene, it would definitely be amazing. Crazy anxious. But I recovered all the same.But now he has to lie on the bed and rest because of some skin scratches. No one in the forest will pay attention to this kind of injury, unless the wound is on the tip of the nose. " But time passed quickly.Not long after, Taishan was able to walk outside again.De Cauder saw him several times during his bed rest.Knowing that Taishan was eager to find a job, he agreed to see if he could find a job for him. On the first day Tarzan was allowed to go outdoors, he received a letter from de Cauder asking him to come to the earl's office in the afternoon. De Cauder was waiting.He welcomed Taishan warmly and congratulated him on his recovery from the bottom of his heart.Neither of them had mentioned the duel or the cause of it since they had left the arena that morning. "I think I'll find you a job suitable for you, Mr. Tarzan," said the count. "It must be done by someone who is absolutely reliable and responsible, and Barbara needs to be brave and strong." I can't think of anyone better suited for the job than you, dear Mr. Tarzan. This job will require you to go out a lot, and will give you the exercise that will later lead you to a much better career, Maybe work in the Foreign Office. "At the beginning, you have to work as an agent in the Ministry of Defense for a while. Come, I will take you to meet a gentleman. He will be your head in the future. He knows your duties better than me. After listening to his explanation, you will A decision can be made whether to accept the job." De Cauder himself led him to General Rocker's office.If Taishan accepts this position, he will work under him in the future.The count introduced the many advantages of Taishan to the general, saying that he was very suitable for this job, and then left Taishan. Half an hour later, Taishan walked out of that office.He accepted the first job he ever had to do in his life.He had to come back the next day for further instructions, although General Rocker had clearly told him that he might have to leave Paris the next day, and it was hard to say how long he would go. He rushed home triumphantly and told Dianot the good news. At last he had some value in this world.He wants to make money, and most of all he wants to travel the world. Before entering the living room, he loudly told D'Arnot the good news.D'Arnot wasn't as happy as he was. "It seems that you are very willing to leave Paris, and you really want to break up with me. You must know that you may not be able to see me for several months after you leave. Tarzan, you are really heartless." D'Arnot smiled Say. "No, Paul. I seem to be a kid, and I'm so happy to have a new toy." In this way Tarzan left Paris the next day and embarked on a journey to Marseilles and Oran. ① Marsei (Marsei): French port city. ② Oran (Oran): Algeria port city.