Duel

“亲爱的，我一定会亲手毙了那个侮辱你的混蛋，还你一个清白！”他看着玉貌花容的妻子，眼神坚定地说道。就在前些日子议员家举行的公共舞会上，一个不知好歹的男爵竟然当众勾引他的妻子，被他撞见。一向爱妻如命的他，怒不可遏，当场便向那个男爵下了决斗的战书。过了一个月，当他以为男爵因怯弱不敢应战时，竟在前线接到了他的应战书。他在心里不禁暗暗得意。全国无人不知他枪法之精准，与他对决，男爵只怕难以全身而退。为了这场决斗，他移交了战场上的指挥权，火速赶回了都城。

他揽住了妻子，让她的头轻轻靠在自己结实的肩膀上。片刻前要喷涌而出的怒火，在碰到妻子娇小玲珑的身体，闻到妻子吐芳扬烈的体香后，都化作了温存体贴的柔情蜜意。妻子为了此次送他去决斗，也好好打扮了一般。一阵潮红浮现在妻子的桃腮杏脸上，亚麻色的头发披散在裸露的双肩，双肩上挂着仿佛随时都会滑落的鹅黄色礼裙，礼裙的中间被束在细腰上，蓬松的裙摆一直延伸到了可爱的脚踝。这一身装束是妻子最爱的搭配，也正是在那天舞会上的装束。他想想不禁有些原谅了那个将死的男爵：“如我妻子这般美人，你动了淫心也是情有可原的。”只是决斗的战书已经下了，死伤已在所难免了，他叹了口气，似是有些惋惜，“男爵年纪轻轻，若是能跟着国王外出征战，建功立业，何愁没有美人倾心，又何必浪费时间在社交场所上献媚取宠呢？”他虽出身平凡，但因赫赫战功得到国王赏识，并在一次庆功舞会上，得到了现在妻子的倾慕和表白，并由国王亲自主持婚礼，迎娶了她。婚后虽聚少离多，但他不断地征战获得国王的封赏，也为这个家庭带来了巨大的财富。

“亲爱的，你昨天说要给我擦拭手枪的。已经好了吗？”他微笑着问。妻子点点头，端出了一个木匣。他挥手招呼了身边的侍从，随即带着妻子登上了门外的马车。决斗一事，原本不宜带上家属，只是妻子要求，他也不好多说什么。

决斗的场地是在一片草地上， 决斗的见证人是他信赖的一个下属兼朋友，同时也是男爵的朋友，因此再合适不过。

老套的准备步骤，决斗说明，签署生死书，见证人检查双方枪支。又重复了一遍。

在迈出了五十步后，他握枪准备听从朋友的号令。在他提枪的那一刹那，感觉枪身略轻。他流下一丝冷汗，但又很快镇定下来。也许是妻子在擦拭手枪或者朋友检查手枪时无意卸掉了几枚子弹，可是对于这样一个纨绔子弟，一枚子弹就足以致命了。他在心里呵呵一笑。

朋友一声号令，他迅速转身。瞄准对方，连扣几下扳机，却发现手枪里无一子弹。他心下一惊，来不及闪躲便被几枚子弹打中胸口，倒在了血泊中。

他躺在了草地上，迷糊之间，只见妻子走过了自己身边，面露喜色地伸手搂住了男爵的脖子，而男爵微笑着撑住妻子的细腰，连转几个圈。就像他和妻子最初在一起的场景。

“Darling, I swear that I will kill that bastard myself, to clear your name!” He looked steadily at his lovely wife, a beauty many men have craved for. A month ago, a baron was caught by him seducing his wife at the party held by the Minister, and he burst with anger and challenged the baron to a dual right on the spot. A few days ago, when he was out for a mission, to his surprise, he received the letter from the baron accepting the challenge. He smiled to himself. A marksman like him, never missed a shot in his life. The baron would have to pay the price for underestimating his marksman’s ability. To make the duel, he transferred the leardership to his associate, and came back to the capital in time.

He held his wife tight, with her head on his strong shoulder. His anger from thinking of the baron moments ago, broke down to tender love for his wife right when he touched her wafer-thin body. His wife really dressed up to send him to the duel. She had a burnished complexion, and her mercury-red hair tumbled over her bare shoulders. She had a light-yellow gown around her tapered waist, the gown stretching down to her cute ankle. This dress was her favorite, and also the one she was wearing at the party. He almost pitied the dying baron, “Lovely as my wife, it is not your fault to fall for her.” However, the duel had been set and there was no way back. He thought to himself, if the young baron could enroll in the army and win the reputation and fortune with his own efforts, rather than waste time in the social events to cater for women, the baron would have won the admiration from many women. Just as he did. He was a commoner, but rose above his station with countless brillian military success, and finally met his wife at the party to celerate his success. The king blessed and hosted their marriage himself. He was not able to stay by his wife every day, but he went out for missions and brought big fortune to this family.

“Darling, you said you were cleaning my pistol. Is it ready?” He asked his wife with a smile. His wife nodded and brought out a wooden box holding his pistol. He took the box and climbed into the opening couch with his wife. Normally it is not a good practice to bring family to the dueling scene, but he did not stop further since his wife insisted.

The duel would happen on the grass outside the capital. His second, a trustworthy associate and also a friend of the baron, had already arrived.

The same rules, the same signature, the same check of pistols by the second. Same old, same old, he thought to himself. It’s not his first duel, and wouldn’t be the last.

After he marched 50 steps, he hold tight his pistol and waited for the command. The moment he held up his pistol, he came into a cold sweat, but came back to his sense moments after. Maybe his wife or his second just unload one bullet or two unintentionally. He didn’t need a full cartridge to kill the bastard. One bullet would be enough.

Right after his second counted to zero, he turned out and fired the pistol right away at the baron. However, the pistol turned out to be empty! He was in a great shock, and before he was able to call it out he was shot in the breast by a couple of bullets, and fell down in blood.

He was lying on the grass, bleeding out to death. In his last few moments, he saw his wife walked past him, and threw herself at the baron, with her arms around the baron’s neck. Just like when he first met his wife.