The notary's nose;

THE NOTARY'S NOSE. 53
too late to bring conciliatory words here;
the harm is done. Ah! gentlemen, gentlemen, youth will be always young. As
for me, I don't permit myself to be led into destroying or mutilating my kind. It
was in 1820; what did I do, gentlemen? I
made apologies; yes, apologies. And I
honor myself for it; especially as right
was on my side. You have never read
Rousseau's beautiful pages against duel
ling; it is absolutely irrefutable; it is a
literary and moral chrestomathy. And
even Rousseau has not said all that could
be said. If he had studied the human
body, that masterpiece of creation, that
admirable image of God on earth, he
would have demonstrated to you that it is
most culpable to destroy so perfect a combination. I don't say this against the person who gave the blow; God forbid! He
undoubtedly had his reasons, which I respect. But if he had only known how