The things we do!

Miss O'Grady, the
Duchesse's companion, and her little girl's instructress, at this time
resigned her functions in the Ivry family; it is possible that in the
recriminations consequent upon the governess's dismissal, the Miss
Irlandaise, in whom the family had put so much confidence, divulged
stories unfavourable to her patroness, and caused the indignation of the
Duke, her husband. Between Florac and the Duchesse there was also open
war and rupture. He had been one of Kew's seconds in the latter's affair
with the Vicomte's countryman. He had even cried out for fresh pistols,
and proposed to engage Castillonnes, when his gallant principal fell; and
though a second duel was luckily averted as murderous and needless, M. de
Florac never hesitated afterwards, and in all companies, to denounce with
the utmost virulence the instigator and the champion of the odious
original quarrel. He vowed that the Duchesse had shot le petit Kiou as
effectually as if she had herself fired the pistol at his breast.


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