French novelist Alexandre Dumas, who wrote The Three Muskateers, also wrote a memoir which was as fictional and hilarious as his novels. At times he portrays himself as this gallant over the top hero of duels and other's a toast of the town. In one of these stories he has a heated quarrel with a rising young politician. The argument became so intense that a duel was inevitable. Since both men were superb shots they decided to draw lots, the loser agreeing to shoot himself. Dumas lost. Pistol in hand, he withdrew in silent dignity to another room, closing the door behind him. The rest of the company waited in gloomy suspense for the shot that would end his career. It rang out at last. His friends ran to the door, opened it, and found Dumas, smoking revolver in hand. "Gentlemen, a most regrettable thing has happened," he announced. "I missed."