r him,
swearing, while the grease guttered from the tilted candle in his right
hand. Flavia gasped, and, horror-struck, clutched James's arm as he
lifted the candlestick, and made as if he would beat in the man's
brains.

Fortunately a stronger hand than hers interfered. Asgill dragged the
young man back. "Haven't you done enough?" he cried. "Would you murder
the man, and his troopers in the house?"

"Ah, didn't you see, curse you, he----"

"I know, I know!" Asgill answered hoarsely. "But not now! Not now! Let
him rise if he can! Let him rise, I say! Payton! Major!"

The moment James stood back the fallen man staggered to his feet, and
though the blood was running down his face from a cut on the
cheek-bone, he showed that he was less hurt than startled. "You'll give
me satisfaction for this!" he muttered. "You'll give me satisfaction
for this," he repeated, between his teeth.

"Ah, by G--d, I will!" James McMurrough answered furiously. "And kill
you, too!"

"At eight to-morrow! Do you hear? At eight to-morrow! Not an hour
later!"

"I'll not keep you waiting," James retorted.

Flavia leant almost fainting against her door. She tried to speak,
tried to say something. But her voice failed her.

And Payton's livid, scowling, bleeding face was hate itself. "Behind
the yews in the garden?" he said, disregarding her presence.

"Ah, I'll meet you there!" The McMurrough answered, pot-valiant. "And,
more by token, order your coffin, for you'll need it!" Drink and rage
left no place in his brain for fear.

"That will be seen--to-morrow," the Englishman answered, in a tone that
chilled the girl's marrow. Then, with his kerchief pressed to his cheek
to staunch the blood, he retreated into his room, and slammed the door.
They heard him turn the key in it.

Flavia found her voice. She looked at her brother. "Ah, God!" she
cried. "Why did I open my door?"

James, still pot-valiant, returned her look. "Because you were a fool,
you slut!" he said. "But I'll spit him, never fear! Faith, and I'll
spit him like a fowl!" In his turn he went on unsteadily to his room,
disappeared within it, and closed the door. He took the candle with
him, but from Asgill's open door, and from Flavia's, which stood ajar,
enough light issued to illumine the passage faintly.

Flavia and Asgill remained together. Her eyes met his. "Ah, why did I
open my door?" she cried. "Why did I open my door? Why did I?"

He had no comfort for her. He shoo