It had come down to this: two men, two pistols, and a field in the middle of nowhere.
The duellists’ seconds tossed a coin. They made marks on the grass. They loaded the pistols.
The weapons, cocked and ready, were handed over and the seconds backed away.
Thus armed, the duellists took their positions, twelve paces apart. They faced each other calmly, gave each other a solemn nod.
“Gentlemen, are you ready?”
The adversaries tipped their heads in acknowledgement.
“Fire!”
Both pistols discharged simultaneously. Two men fell.
Laughing, the duellists congratulated themselves on having pulled off the perfect double murder.
