ring his spirited horse, plunged into the dark, beyond the
feeble light of the lamp, and was swallowed up in the whirling darkness.

Deafened and half-dazed by the buffeting wind and the suddenness of it
all, she stood awhile, then, squaring her dimpled chin, set about
freeing one of the horses.

CHAPTER XLII

WHICH DESCRIBES A DUEL

Colonel Lord George Cleeve, dozing over a bottle beside the hearth,
stirred at the heavy tread of feet, unclosed slumberous eyes at the
sudden opening of the door, glanced round sleepily, stared and sprang
to his feet, broad awake in a moment, to see the Major and Sergeant
Zebedee, wind-blown and mud-splashed, tramp heavily in bearing between
them a shapeless bundle of sodden clothes and finery the which, propped
upright in a chair, resolved itself into a human being, gagged and
bound hand and foot.

"Jack!" he gasped, his eyes rolling. "Why, Jack--good Lord!" After
which, finding no more to say he sank back into his armchair and swore
feebly.

"Off with the gag, Sergeant," said the Major serenely as he laid by his
own mud-spattered hat and riding-coat. The Sergeant obeyed; and now
beholding the prisoner's pale, contorted features, the Colonel sprang
to his feet again.

"Refuse me!" he gasped. "What the--Mr. Dalroyd!"

"Or Captain Effingham!" said the Major. "Loose his cravat and shirt,
Sergeant, and let us be sure at last." Sergeant Zebedee's big fingers
were nimble and the Major, taking one of the silver candlesticks, bent
above the helpless man for a long moment; then, setting down the light,
he bowed:

"Captain Effingham, I salute you!" said he. "To-night sir, here in
this room, I propose that we finish, once and for all, what we left
undone ten years ago, 'tis for this purpose I brought you hither,
though a little roughly I fear. My Lord Cleeve will oblige me by
acting as your second, I think. But first, take some refreshment, I
beg. We have ample leisure, so pray compose yourself until you shall
have recovered from the regrettable violence I have unavoidably
occasioned you. Loose him, Zebedee!"

Freed of his bonds, Mr. Dalroyd stretched himself, re-settled his damp
and rumpled garments, and lounged back in his chair.

"Sir," said he, viewing the Major with eyes that glittered between
languid-drooping lids, "though my--enforced presence here runs counter
to certain determined purposes of mine, yet I am so much of a
philosopher as to recognise in this the