two in the afternoon
This vastly amused the spectators , and even broke down their studied and courtly gravity and surprised them into laughter . Of course the seconds struck up the swords and started the duel over again . At the word , the deluge of blows began , but before long the surgeon once more interfered -- for the only reason which ever permits him to interfere -- and the day 's war was over . It was now two in the afternoon , and I had been present since half past nine in the morning . The field of battle was indeed a red one by this time ; but some sawdust soon righted that . There had been one duel before I arrived . In it one of the men received many injuries , while the other one escaped without a scratch .