, when the curst disease
plagues men of our age 'tis there to stay. None the less, man Jack, if
ya' love her, why then Belinda's not for me----"

"Belinda!" exclaimed the Major.

"Aye, who else? What the dooce, man?"

"I--egad, George, I thought--"

"What did ya' think?"

"'Twas Lady Betty you had in mind."

"Lady Bet----!" The Colonel whistled. "So-ho!" he exclaimed and
turned, full of eager questions but seeing how the Major scowled into
the fire again, sipped his wine instead and thereafter changed the
subject abruptly.

"Ya'r Viscount's a fine lad, Jack!" The Major's brow cleared instantly.

"Aye, indeed, Tom's a man, 'spite all his modish airs and affectations,
a man! Where is he, by the way?"

"Went to bed hours since and very rightly, seeing what's toward."

"As what, George?"

"His forthcoming duel with Dalroyd." The Major sat suddenly upright.

"A duel with--Dalroyd!"

"What, didn't ya' know?"

"Not a word."

"Why true, it only happened this evening."

"And when do they fight?"

"That's the curst queer thing about the affair. I don't know, he don't
know--nobody knows but Dalroyd. 'Tis a black business, Jack, a black
business and looks ill for the lad!"

"Aye!" said the Major, rising and beginning to pace to and fro. "Pray
tell me of it, George."

"Well, i' the first place, 'tis a hopeful youth, your nephew, Jack, a
lovely lad. Smite me, I never saw an affront more pleasantly bestowed
nor more effectively! Such a polished business with him and pure joy
for the spectators, he insulted his man so gracefully yet so thoroughly
that their steel was out in a twinkling. But the place was cluttered
with chairs and tables, so Alvaston and Tripp fell upon Dalroyd and I
and Captain West on the Viscount and parted 'em till the matter could
be arranged more commodiously for 'em. Well, we cleared the floor and
locked the door, they seeming so eager for one another's blood and
then--damme, Dalroyd refuses to fight. 'No, gentlemen,' says he,
smiling but with death aglare in his eyes, 'I grant Viscount Merivale a
day or so more of life, when it suits me to kill him I'll let him
know,' and off he goes. 'Tis a vile black business, for if ever I saw
a killer, 'tis this Dalroyd. Though why the lad goes out of his way to
affront such a man, God only knows. And talking of the affront I've
told the story plaguy ill. Here sits Dalroyd, d'ye see, at cards,
Jack, and along comes my fine young g