Title: Off on a Comet

Author: Jules Verne

CHAPTER I

A CHALLENGE

Nothing, sir, can induce me to surrender my claim."

"I am sorry, count, but in such a matter your views cannot modify mine."

"But allow me to point out that my seniority unquestionably gives

me a prior right."

"Mere seniority, I assert, in an affair of this kind, cannot possibly

entitle you to any prior claim whatever."

"Then, captain, no alternative is left but for me to compel you

to yield at the sword's point."

"As you please, count; but neither sword nor pistol can force

me to forego my pretensions. Here is my card."

"And mine."

This rapid altercation was thus brought to an end by

the formal interchange of the names of the disputants.

On one of the cards was inscribed:

_Captain Hector Servadac,

Staff Officer, Mostaganem._

On the other was the title:

_Count Wassili Timascheff,

On board the Schooner "Dobryna."_

It did not take long to arrange that seconds should be appointed,

who would meet in Mostaganem at two o'clock that day;

and the captain and the count were on the point of parting

from each other, with a salute of punctilious courtesy,

when Timascheff, as if struck by a sudden thought, said abruptly:

"Perhaps it would be better, captain, not to allow the real

cause of this to transpire?"

"Far better," replied Servadac; "it is undesirable in every way

for any names to be mentioned."

"In that case, however," continued the count, "it will be

necessary to assign an ostensible pretext of some kind.