Il Professore was at his desk in his rooms at the Villa Vesuviana, reviewing the letter he had just finished. It seemed adequate, so now all that remained to be done was to have copies made for the other recipients. This original would go to Don Mercurio. Don Aldo sighed as he thought about this duty he was performing. Necessary, but rather sad. It was always regrettable when a matter such as this involved young men, with their entire lives ahead of them...but as the Baronessa was fond of saying, "life is dangerous." She also was prone to say things like "we all have to die sometime." But Don Aldo hoped that would not be the case for the young men who had chosen this particular path to travel.

After a moment, he decided to review the letter one more time, to make sure he had not missed anything:

To Signor Mercury Gandt and Signor Friedrich von Brenneysen (copies to be sent to your seconds).

Gentlemen,

As the longest-serving Magistrate (and therefore, by default, the senior) who is present upon the island of Rocca Sorrentina (the Baronessa von Khr being absent), I find myself in the position of having to oversee the proper execution of this affair of honor that you seem determined to proceed with.

I trust that in accordance with established traditions your seconds have communicated in an effort to find an alternative. If it seems that there is none to be had, then we must take the next step and settle upon a time and date. I would suggest to you Saturday, November 2nd or Sunday the 3rd, perhaps at 9 or 10 AM? Otherwise, would 1 PM be preferable? Please let me know as soon as possible so that I can make certain arrangements.

Dottore Greymoon has already agreed to serve as the attending surgeon, although under the circumstances you have seen fit to chose, I fear his skills may be of little avail should one or the both of you suffer some misfortune. In fact, if you will entertain a suggestion from a gentleman whose passing of years has enabled him to witness more than enough such encounters, I most respectfully request that you two be willing to consider calling the affair settled with the drawing of first blood. I think such a course would more than satisfy the demands of honor and confirm the courage and steadfastness of both parties.

I look forward to hearing from the both of you at your earliest convenience regarding this matter.

your most obedient servant,
Don Aldo Stern, Magistrate

The letter seemed to be sufficient, so il Professore dusted it with sand to dry, and then carefully folded it and put it in a envelope for delivery to Don Alfonso for copying.

"What a plan," he thought to himself. "Well, if young men will be hardheaded and insist upon risking their lives over honor, there is something to be said for doing so in a unique way like this."

Don Aldo had read a good bit about balloons. They seemed a novelty -- a dangerous novelty -- but perhaps they would someday change the course of history, he mused. As he reflected on the situation he decided he would have to write to Dr. Franklin and ask him what he thinks of these devices. If anyone would have interesting ideas about the potential for aeronautical experiments to turn into something useful, it would be Don Beniamino, he thought.