"No, No, M. Bergery"

How to decline a challenge to duel and yet retain one's honor unimpaired is a problem which periodically presents itself to the Prime Minister of France.

Last week, in the Chamber of Deputies itself, Raymond Poincare was holding forth from the Tribune upon the wisdom of extending a loan to Rumania, biggest of the little allies of France.

Interrupted and sneered Deputy Bergery, a onetime undersecretary to M.

Poincare, "I am most skeptical that such a loan will ever be repaid."

"So, it is M. Bergery," said the Prime Minister softly, with a slow, maddening smile, "I recognize the M. Bergery whom I knew on the Reparations Commission--always ready to distort the truth."

"Withdraw!" screamed Bergery, "Withdraw! If you don't take back the words 'distort the truth' I will send you my seconds."

For an instant the brow of the Prime Minister was stern, beetled, then he seemed to remember a very good jest, beamed, chuckled, "No, no, M. Bergery. You asked me to be your second--your best man--at your first marriage. I refused you then. I still refuse."

Amid mirthful uproar MM. Les Deputes recalled that the first wife of M. Bergery, an actress, soon divorced him. Later deflated Challenger Bergery excused himself thus: "I spoke in the heat of debate. Of course I had no intention of sending seconds to the Prime Minister."