The notary's nose;

32 THE NOTARY'S NOSE.
without the desire, or at least consent, of
six persons. Now there were five who
did not desire this one at all. Master
1'Ambert was a brave man; but he could
not deny to himself that a disturbance of
this kind, on account of a little danseuse
at the opera, would seriously injure his
practice. The Marquis de Villemaurin, an
old gentleman cultivated up to the highest
point in affairs of honor, declared that the
duel was a noble game, where everything,
from the beginning of the match to the
end, ought to be in strict order. Now a
blow on the nose for Mlle. Victorine Tompain was the most ridiculous opening of
the game that could be imagined. He declared, moreover, upon his honor, that M.
Alfred l'Ambert had not seen Ayvaz-Bey,
and that he did not want to strike him, or
anybody else. M. l'Ambert had thought
he recognized two ladies, and had hastily
stepped up to speak to them. In carrying