"I know the handle from the blade; that's all. But that does not make
any difference. I'd fight him with any weapon. He struck me; and
then--then, he kissed Gretchen."

"I have wiped it off, Herr," said Gretchen, dryly. Then she passed
from the room.

I went upstairs too. I looked out of my window. There was moonlight;
possibly the last time I should ever see moonlight in the land of the
living. Nothing but a mishap on my opponent's part, and that early in
the combat, would save my epidermis. The absurd side of the affair
struck me, and I laughed, mirthlessly, but none the less I laughed. If
it had been pistols the chances would have been equal. A German does
not like pistols as a dueling apparatus. They often miss fire. A
sword is a surer weapon. And then, the French use them--the
pistols--in their fiascoes. Rapiers? I was as familiar with the
rapier as I was with the Zulu assegai. I unstrapped my traveling case
and took out Phyllis's photograph. I put it back. If I was to have a
last look at any woman it should be at Gretchen. Then I got out my
cane and practiced thrusting and parrying. My wrist was strong.

"Well," I mused, "there's consolation in knowing that in two hours I
shall be either dead or alive."

I flung the cane into the corner. To pass away the time I paced back
and forth. It passed too quickly; and it was not long ere I heard the
clatter of the returning cavalrymen. Some one knocked at my door. I
swung it open and--was thrown to the floor, bound and gagged in a tenth
of a minute.

"Put him on the bed," whispered the leader of my assailants. When this
was done the voice added: "Now you can go to the stables and wait there
till I call you."

It was the innkeeper. He surveyed me for a moment and scratched his
chin.

"Will Herr keep perfectly quiet if I take the handkerchief from his
mouth?" he asked.

I nodded, bewildered.

"What in tophet does this mean?" I gasped. I did not say tophet, but
it looks better in writing.

"It means nothing and everything," was the answer. "In the first
place, Herr will fight no duel. The man with whom you were to fight
was sent on an errand to this out-of-the-way place as a punishment for
dueling at the capital. I know him by reputation. He is a brawler,
but a fair swordsman. He would halve you as I would a chicken. There
is another who has a prior claim on him. If there is anything left of
Herr Lieutenant at the end of the