"Have I not already said that it shall not be fought?"
Again I shrugged my shoulders. Mazarin grew tiresome with his repetitions.
"How can it be avoided, your Eminence?"
"Ah, Monsieur, that is your affair."
"My affair?"
"Assuredly. 'T was through your evil agency he was dragged into this business, and through your agency he must be extricated from it."
"Your Eminence jests!"
"Undoubtedly,--'t is a jesting matter," he answered with terrible irony. "Oh, I jest! Per Dio! yes. But I'll carry my jest so far as to have you hanged if this duel be fought--aye, whether my nephew suffers hurt or not. Now, sir, you know what fate awaits you; fight it--turn it aside--I have shown you the way. The door, M. de Luynes."