"Promise me that you will not fight this duel, Lieutenant Melville."
I was as much surprised at the request as I had been when she asked me
why Belfort and I were to meet. It was my first thought that she was in
fear for him, and I asked with a little malice,--
"Do you make the same request of Lieutenant Belfort?"
When I saw the faint flush of color rising in her face, I was sorry that
I had asked the question.
"No," she replied, "I would not make such a request of him, although I
have known him longer than I have you."
I was pleased, greatly pleased; but she reminded me that I had not
answered her question.
"The challenge has been issued," I said, "and if I withdraw at so late a
moment I should be called a coward. Would you have me bear such a name
in Philadelphia?"
"No; but is there no other way?"
"None that I know of."
A look of sadness replaced the flush on her face.
"It is a barbarous custom, I think," she said, "and belongs to a
barbarous age. It is merely the better swordsman or marksman who wins,
and not of necessity the better man. It decides no more than the hot
ploughshare of the Middle Ages, and of the two customs I think the trial
by hot iron was the saner."
I was silent, again not knowing what to answer, and she too said no
more. I believe that at the last, and after weighing my evasions, she
began to guess why Belfort and I had quarrelled. In a few moments we
joined the others, and we bore the ladies company to their houses.
Belfort was silent and moody over his failure, and bade us a brief
adieu. It was ten o'clock then, and soon we were due at Catron's rooms
to arrange for the duel. But before the time had elapsed the man Waters
came to our quarters, his evil eyes peering under his shock of red hair.
"Confound it," I cried, "your company is an honor that I can well do
without!"
"I would not intrude," he said, "but I am sent by the
commander-in-chief, Sir William Howe, himself, who wishes you to come at
once to his headquarters."
I was startled. The detection of our identity, or punishment for
preparing to fight a duel were the ideas that sprang up in my head. But
the first disappeared quickly. If Sir William had discovered who we
were, he would have sent a file of soldiers for both of us, and not an
order to me alone to come to his headquarters.
"You have no choice but to go," said Marcel, "and if you do not return
in time I will report to Catron what has happened. I will see that
Belfort does not make any charges against you."