A Coward

GUY de MAUPASSANT

Society called him Handsome Signoles. His name was Viscount Gontran- ose!h de Signoles. An or!han" and !ossessed o# an ade$uate income" he cut a dash" as the saying is. He had a good #igure and a good carriage" a su##icient #low o# words to !ass #or wit" a certain natural grace" an air o# no%ility and !ride" a gallant moustache and an elo$uent eye" attri%utes which women li&e. He was in demand in drawing-rooms" sought a#ter #or 'alses" and in men he ins!ired that smiling hostility which is reser'ed #or 'ital and attracti'e ri'als. He had %een sus!ected o# se'eral lo'e-a##airs o# a sort calculated to create a good o!inion o# a youngster. He li'ed a ha!!y" care-#ree li#e" in the most com!lete well-%eing o# %ody and mind. He was &nown to %e a #ine swordsman and a still #iner shot with the !istol. ()hen * come to #ight a duel"( he would say" (* shall choose !istols. )ith that wea!on" *+m sure o# &illing my man.( ,ne e'ening" he went to the theatre with two ladies" $uite young" #riends o# his" whose hus%ands were also o# the !arty" and a#ter the !er#ormance he in'ited them to ta&e ices at Tortoni+s. They had %een sitting there #or a #ew minutes when he noticed a gentleman at a neigh%ouring ta%le staring o%stinately at one o# the ladies o# the !arty. She seemed em%arrassed and ill at ease" and %ent her head. At last she said to her hus%and(There+s a man staring at me. * don+t &now him. do you/( The hus%and" who had seen nothing" raised his eyes" %ut declared(No" not in the least.( Hal# smiling" hal# in anger" she re!lied(*t+s 'ery annoying. the creature+s s!oiling my ice.( Her hus%and shrugged his shoulders. (0euce ta&e him" don+t a!!ear to notice it. *# we had to deal with all the discourteous !eo!le one meets" we+d ne'er ha'e done with them.( 1ut the Viscount had risen a%ru!tly. He could not !ermit this stranger to s!oil an ice o# his gi'ing. *t was to him that the insult was addressed" since it was at his in'itation and on his account that his #riends had come to the ca#e. The a##air was no %usiness o# anyone %ut himsel#. He went u! to the man and said-

(You ha'e a way o# loo&ing at those ladies" sir" which * cannot stomach. Please %e so good as to set a limit to your !ersistence.( (You hold your tongue"( re!lied the other. (Ta&e care" sir"( retorted the Viscount" clenching his teeth.( you+ll #orce me to o'erste! the %ounds o# common !oliteness.( The gentleman re!lied with a single word" a 'ile word which rang across the ca#e #rom one end to the other" and" li&e the release o# a s!ring" 2er&ed e'ery !erson !resent into an a%ru!t mo'ement. All those with their %ac&s towards him turned round" all the rest raised their heads. three waiters s!un round on their heels li&e to!s. the two ladies %ehind the counter started" then the whole u!!er hal# o# their %odies twisted round" as though they were a cou!le o# automata wor&ed %y the same handle. There was a !ro#ound silence. Then suddenly a shar! noise resounded in the air. The Viscount had %o3ed his ad'ersary+s ears. 4'ery one rose to inter'ene. 5ards were e3changed. 1ac& in his home" the Viscount wal&ed #or se'eral minutes u! and down his room with long $uic& strides. He was too e3cited to thin&. A solitary idea dominated his mind- (a duel(. %ut as yet the idea stirred in him no emotion o# any &ind. He had done what he was com!elled to do. he had shown himsel# to %e what he ought to %e. Peo!le would tal& o# it" would a!!ro'e o# him" congratulate him. He re!eated aloud" s!ea&ing as a man s!ea&s in se'ere mental distress()hat a hound the #ellow is6( Then he sat down and %egan to re#lect. *n the morning he must #ind seconds. )hom should he choose/ He searched his mind #or the most im!ortant and cele%rated names o# his ac$uaintance. At last he decided on the Mar$uis de la Tour-Noire and 5olonel 1ourdin" an aristocrat and a soldier. they would do e3cellently. Their names would loo& well in the !a!ers. He realised that he was thirsty" and dran& three glasses o# water one a#ter the other. then he %egan to wal& u! and down again. He #elt #ull o# energy. *# he !layed the gallant" showed himsel# determined" insisted on the most strict and dangerous arrangements" demanded a serious duel" a thoroughly serious duel" a !ositi'ely terri%le duel" his ad'ersary would !ro%a%ly retire an a!ologist. He too& u! once more the card which he had ta&en #rom his !oc&et and thrown down u!on the ta%le" and read it again as he had read it %e#ore" in the ca#e" at a glance" and in the ca%" %y the light o# each gas-lam!" on his way home. (Georges 7amil" 89 rue Moncey.( Nothing more. He e3amined the grou!ed letters. they seemed to him mysterious" #ull o# con#used meaning. Georges 7amil/ )ho was this man/ )hat did he do/ )hy had he loo&ed at the woman in that way/ )as it not re'olting that a stranger" an un&nown man" could thus distur% a man+s li#e" without warning" 2ust %ecause he chose to #i3 his insolent eyes u!on a woman/ Again the Viscount re!eated aloud()hat a hound6(

Then he remained standing stoc&-still" lost in thought" his eyes still #i3ed u!on the card. A #ury against this scra! o# !a!er awo&e in him" a #ury o# hatred in which was mingled a $ueer sensation o# uneasiness. This sort o# thing was so stu!id6 He too& u! an o!en &ni#e which lay close at hand and thrust it through the middle o# the !rinted name" as though he had sta%%ed a man. So he must #ight. Should he choose swords or !istols/--#or he regarded himsel# as the insulted !arty. )ith swords there would %e less ris&" %ut with !istols there was a chance that his ad'ersary might withdraw. *t is 'ery rare that a duel with swords is #atal" #or mutual !rudence is a!t to restrain com%atants #rom engaging at su##iciently close $uarters #or a !oint to !enetrate dee!ly. )ith !istols he ran a gra'e ris& o# death. %ut he might also e3tricate himsel# #rom the a##air with all the honours o# the situation and without actually coming to a meeting. (* must %e #irm"( he said. (He will ta&e #right.( The sound o# his 'oice set him trem%ling" and he loo&ed round. He #elt 'ery ner'ous. He dran& another glass o# water" then %egan to undress #or %ed. As soon as he was in %ed" he %lew out the light and closed his eyes. (*+'e the whole o# to-morrow"( he thought" (in which to set my a##airs in order. *+d %etter slee! now" so that * shall %e $uite calm.( He was 'ery warm in the %lan&ets" %ut he could not manage to com!ose himsel# to slee!. He turned this way and that" lay #or #i'e minutes u!on his %ac&" turned on to his le#t side" then rolled o'er on to his right. He was still thirsty. He got u! to get a drin&. A #eeling o# uneasiness cre!t o'er him(*s it !ossi%le that *+m a#raid/( )hy did his heart %eat madly at each #amiliar sound in his room/ )hen the cloc& was a%out to stri&e" the #aint s$uea& o# the rising s!ring made him start. so sha&en he was that #or se'eral seconds a#terwards he had to o!en his mouth to get his %reath. He %egan to reason with himsel# on the !ossi%ility o# his %eing a#raid. (Shall * %e a#raid/( No" o# course he would not %e a#raid" since he was resol'ed to see the matter through" and had duly made u! his mind to #ight and not to trem%le. 1ut he #elt so !ro#oundly distressed that he wondered(5an a man %e a#raid in s!ite o# himsel#/( He was attac&ed %y this dou%t" this uneasiness" this terror. su!!ose a #orce more !ower#ul than himsel#" master#ul" irresisti%le" o'ercame him" what would ha!!en/ Yes" what might not ha!!en/ Assuredly he would go to the !lace o# the meeting" since he was $uite ready to go. 1ut su!!osing he trem%led/ Su!!osing he #ainted/ He thought o# the scene" o# his re!utation" his good name.

There came u!on him a strange need to get u! and loo& at himsel# in the mirror. He relit his candle. )hen he saw his #ace re#lected in the !olished glass" he scarcely recognised it" it seemed to him as though he had ne'er yet seen himsel#. His eyes loo&ed to him enormous. and he was !ale. yes" without dou%t he was !ale" 'ery !ale. He remained standing in #ront o# the mirror. He !ut out his tongue" as though to ascertain the state o# his health" and a%ru!tly the thought struc& him li&e a %ullet(The day a#ter to-morrow" at this 'ery hour" * may %e dead.( His heart %egan again its #urious %eating. (The day a#ter to-morrow" at this 'ery hour" * may %e dead. This !erson #acing me" this me * see in the mirror" will %e no more. )hy" here * am" * loo& at mysel#" * #eel mysel# ali'e" and in twenty-#our hours * shall %e lying in that %ed" dead" my eyes closed" cold" inanimate" 'anished.( He turned %ac& towards the %ed" and distinctly saw himsel# lying on his %ac& in the 'ery sheets he had 2ust le#t. He had the hollow #ace o# a cor!se" his hands had the slac&ness o# hands that will ne'er ma&e another mo'ement. At that he was a#raid o# his %ed" and" to get rid o# the sight o# it" went into the smo&ing-room. Mechanically he !ic&ed u! a cigar" lit it" and %egan to wal& u! and down again. He was cold. he went to the %ell to wa&e his 'alet. %ut he sto!!ed" e'en as he raised his hand to the ro!e. (He will see that * am a#raid.( He did not ring. he lit the #ire. His hands shoo& a little" with a ner'ous tremor" whene'er they touched anything. His %rain whirled" his trou%led thoughts %ecame elusi'e" transitory" and gloomy. his mind su##ered all the e##ects o# into3ication" as though he were actually drun&. ,'er and o'er again he thought()hat shall * do/ )hat is to %ecome o# me/( His whole %ody trem%led" sei:ed with a 2er&y shuddering. he got u! and" going to the window" drew %ac& the curtains. 0awn was at hand" a summer dawn. The rosy s&y touched the town" its roo#s and walls" with its own hue. A %road descending ray" li&e the caress o# the rising sun" en'elo!ed the awa&ened world. and with the light" ho!e--a gay" swi#t" #ierce ho!e--#illed the Viscount+s heart6 )as he mad" that he had allowed himsel# to %e struc& down %y #ear" %e#ore anything was settled e'en" %e#ore his seconds had seen those o# this Georges 7amil" %e#ore he &new whether he was going to #ight/ He washed" dressed" and wal&ed out with a #irm ste!. He re!eated to himsel#" as he wal&ed(* must %e energetic" 'ery energetic. * must !ro'e that * am not a#raid.(

His seconds" the Mar$uis and the 5olonel" !laced themsel'es at his dis!osal" and a#ter hearty handsha&es discussed the conditions. (You are an3ious #or a serious duel/ ( as&ed the 5olonel. (Yes" a 'ery serious one"( re!lied the Viscount. (You still insist on !istols/( said the Mar$uis. (Yes.( (You will lea'e us #ree to arrange the rest/( *n a dry" 2er&y 'oice the Viscount stated(Twenty !aces. at the signal" raising the arm" and not lowering it. 43change o# shots till one is seriously wounded.( (They are e3cellent conditions"( declared the 5olonel in a tone o# satis#action. (You shoot well" you ha'e e'ery chance.( They de!arted. The Viscount went home to wait #or them. His agitation" momentarily $uietened" was now growing minute %y minute. He #elt a strange shi'ering" a ceaseless 'i%ration" down his arms" down his legs" in his chest. he could not &ee! still in one !lace" neither seated nor standing. There was not the least moistening o# sali'a in his mouth" and at e'ery instant he made a 'iolent mo'ement o# his tongue" as though to !re'ent it stic&ing to his !alate. He was eager to ha'e %rea&#ast" %ut could not eat. Then the idea came to him to drin& in order to gi'e himsel# courage" and he sent #or a decanter o# rum" o# which he swallowed si3 li$ueur glasses #ull one a#ter the other. A %urning warmth #looded through his %ody" #ollowed immediately %y a sudden di::iness o# the mind and s!irit. (Now * &now what to do"( he thought. (Now it is all right.( 1ut %y the end o# an hour he had em!tied the decanter" and his state o# agitation had once more %ecome intolera%le. He was conscious o# a wild need to roll on the ground" to scream" to %ite. Night was #alling. The ringing o# a %ell ga'e him such a shoc& that he had not strength to rise and welcome his seconds. He did not e'en dare to s!ea& to them" to say (Good e'ening( to them" to utter a single word" #or #ear they guessed the whole thing %y the alteration in his 'oice. (4'erything is arranged in accordance with the conditions you #i3ed"( o%ser'ed the 5olonel. (At #irst your ad'ersary claimed the !ri'ileges o# the insulted !arty" %ut he yielded almost at once" and has acce!ted e'erything. His seconds are two military men.(

(Than& you"( said the Viscount. (Pardon us"( inter!osed the Mar$uis" (i# we merely come in and lea'e again immediately" %ut we ha'e a thousand things to see to. )e must ha'e a good doctor" since the com%at is not to end until a serious wound is in#licted" and you &now that !istol %ullets are no laughing-matter. )e must a!!oint the ground" near a house to which we may carry the wounded man i# necessary" etc. *n #act" we shall %e occu!ied #or two or three hours arranging all that there is to arrange.( (Than& you"( said the Viscount a second time. (You are all right/( as&ed the 5olonel. (You are calm/( (Yes" $uite calm" than& you.( The two men retired. )hen he realised that he was once more alone" he thought that he was going mad. His ser'ant had lit the lam!s" and he sat down at the ta%le to write letters. A#ter tracing" at the head o# a sheet- (This is my will"( he rose shi'ering and wal&ed away" #eeling inca!a%le o# connecting two ideas" o# ta&ing a resolution" o# ma&ing any decision whate'er. So he was going to #ight6 He could no longer a'oid it. Then what was the matter with him/ He wished to #ight" he had a%solutely decided u!on this !lan o# action and ta&en his resol'e" and he now #elt clearly" in s!ite o# e'ery e##ort o# mind and #orcing o# will" that he could not retain e'en the strength necessary to get him to the !lace o# meeting. He tried to !icture the duel" his own attitude and the %earing o# his ad'ersary. ;rom time to time his teeth chattered in his mouth with a slight clic&ing noise. He tried to read" and too& down 5hateau'illard+s code o# duelling. Then he wondered(0oes my ad'ersary go to shooting-galleries/ *s he well &nown/ *s he classi#ied anywhere/ How can * #ind out/( He %ethought himsel# o# 1aron Vau3+s %oo& on mar&smen with the !istol" and ran through it #rom end to end. Georges 7amil was not mentioned in it. Yet i# the man were not a good shot" he would surely not ha'e !rom!tly agreed to that dangerous wea!on and those #atal conditions/ He o!ened" in !assing" a case %y Gastinne <enette standing on a small ta%le" and too& out one o# the !istols" then !laced himsel# as though to shoot and raised his arm. 1ut he was trem%ling #rom head to #oot and the %arrel mo'ed in e'ery direction. At that" he said to himsel#(*t+s im!ossi%le. * cannot #ight in this state.( He loo&ed at the end o# the %arrel" at the little" %lac&" dee! hole that s!its death. he thought o# the disgrace" o# the whis!ers at the clu%" o# the laughter in drawing-rooms" o# the contem!t o# women" o# the allusions in the !a!ers" o# the insults which cowards would #ling at him.

He was still loo&ing at the wea!on" and" raising the hammer" caught a glim!se o# a ca! gleaming %eneath it li&e a tiny red #lame. 1y good #ortune or #orget#ulness" the !istol had %een le#t loaded. At the &nowledge" he was #illed with a con#used ine3!lica%le sense o# 2oy. *#" when #ace to #ace with the other man" he did not show a !ro!er gallantry and calm" he would %e lost #or e'er. He would %e sullied" %randed with a mar& o# in#amy" hounded out o# society. And he would not %e a%le to achie'e that calm" that swaggering !oise. he &new it" he #elt it. Yet he was %ra'e" since he wanted to #ight * ... He was %ra'e" since.... The thought which ho'ered in him did not e'en #ul#il itsel# in his mind. %ut" o!ening his mouth wide" he thrust in the %arrel o# his !istol with sa'age gesture until it reached his throat" and !ressed on the trigger. )hen his 'alet ran in" at the sound o# the re!ort" he #ound him lying dead u!on his %ac&. A shower o# %lood had s!lashed the white !a!er on the ta%le" and made a great red mar& %eneath these #our words(This is my will.(
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