In the midst of a duel, a nobleman tells his lieutenant that he is fighting for the honor of the nobles. He says that he will guarantee that they will not be accused of a crime if they win the duel. He then adds that if they do win, they will be spared the bloodbath that is certain to follow. He tells the lieutenant that the smell of the mud in the room reminds him of "that green hell." He then asks the corporal if he can beat Paulo. The corporal replies that he cannot, as the duel is full of "second- and third-tier families." The corporal then tells the nobleman that he should not worry about the duel, as Paulo does not see his blade as a "dead weapon." The nobleman realizes that the corporal is trying to use his position as a noble to justify the murder of a commoner. He reminds the corporal that nobles also have families, and that it is his duty to protect them.