his
right, time and place of our meeting. The time, something more than two
weeks from to-day; the place, five miles from Richmond. I confess that I
was taken by surprise. I had expected to-morrow morning and the wood
beyond the race-course. If I thought--what, by all the gods, I do
think!--that he had dared--that he had done this deliberately, with
intent to keep me here, I--Jacqueline! why, Jacqueline!"

"I'm--I'm not going to swoon," said Jacqueline, with difficulty. "Air,
that is all--let me sit down a moment on the grass. A duel--you and
Ludwell Cary."

"I and Ludwell Cary." Rand uttered his short laugh. "How steadily have
we been coming just to this! I think I knew it long ago. I have in me so
much of the ancient Roman that I prize him, now that we are at grips,
and think him a fair enemy. If I did not hate him, I would love him. But
it is the first, and I'll not forgive this pretty trap he's laid! What
does he think will come after these two weeks he has me shackled? Does
he think that he can always keep me here?--or only until--until it is
too late to go?" He struck his hand against the beech tree. "Well, well,
mine enemy, we will try conclusions."

Jacqueline rose from the grass, came to him, and laid her head upon his
breast. "Lewis, is there no way out with honour? Must it be? He is my
friend and you my husband whom I love. Will you face each other there
like--like General Hamilton and Aaron Burr? Oh, break, my heart!"

Rand kissed her. "There is no way out. He means me to stay, and I will
do it--for this while, Cary, for this while! Look, Jacqueline; the sun
is setting over the road we should have gone! I have been a fool. Six
weeks ago should have seen us far, far upon that shining track! Now the
world is spinning from me, the glory rolling under, and I feel the dark.
Adam is right; once started on this trail, I should have gone like the
strong arrow's flight. I knew the warriors were behind me, and yet I
idled,--waited first to break with my old chief,--as if my going would
not have done that work, as short, as clean!--and waited last because of
a sick woman's whim! If I had not let you go to Fontenoy, we might
to-day have heard the rushing of a mightier river than the Rivanna
yonder! Delay, delay, where haste itself should have felt the spur!"

"If I had not gone to Fontenoy," cried Jacqueline, "my aunt might have
died with her last wish ungratified! If I had not gone, oh, what would
they not have th