tary check to merriment. The fiddlers
ceased, because Lord Ufford had signaled them. The fine guests paused
in their stately dance. Lord Ufford, in a richly figured suit, came
hastily to Lady Honoria Calverley, his high heels tapping audibly upon
the floor, and with gallantry lifted her hand toward his lips. Her
husband he embraced, and the two men kissed each other, as was the
custom of the age. Chatter and laughter rose on every side as pert and
merry as the noises of a brook in springtime.

"I fear that as Lord Umfraville's host," young Calverley at once began,
"you cannot with decorum convey to the ignoramus my opinion as to his
ability to conjugate the verb _to dare_."

"Why, but no! you naturally demand a duel," the poet-earl returned.
"It is very like you. I lament your decision, but I will attempt to
arrange the meeting for to-morrow morning."

Lord Ufford smiled and nodded to the musicians. He finished the dance
to admiration, as this lean dandified young man did
everything--"assiduous to win each fool's applause," as his own verses
scornfully phrase it. Then Ufford went about his errand of death and
conversed for a long while with Umfraville.

Afterward Lord Ufford beckoned to Calverley, who shrugged and returned
Mr. Erwyn's snuff-box, which Calverley had been admiring. He followed
the earl into a side-room opening upon the Venetian Chamber wherein the
fete was. Ufford closed the door. You saw that he had put away the
exterior of mirth that hospitality demanded of him, and perturbation
showed in the lean countenance which was by ordinary so proud and so
amiably peevish.

"Robin, you have performed many mad actions in your life!" he said;
"but this return into the three kingdoms out-Herods all! Did I not
warn you against Umfraville!"

"Why, certainly you did," returned Mr. Calverley. "You informed
me--which was your duty as a friend--of this curmudgeon's boast that he
would have me horsewhipped if I dared venture into England. You will
readily conceive that any gentleman of self-respect cannot permit such
farcical utterances to be delivered without appending a gladiatorial
epilogue. Well! what are the conditions of this duel?"

"Oh, fool that I have been!" cried Ufford, who was enabled now by
virtue of their seclusion to manifest his emotion. "I, who have known
you all your life----!"

He paced the room. Pleading music tinged the silence almost insensibly.

"Heh, Fate has an imperial