o the Colonel.

"Well," said the Colonel jubilantly, "now everything is clear. If Mr.
O'Ruddy will have me, I will go with him to meet this Forister; and
you, Strepp, will accompany Forister; and we all will meet in a
friendly way--ahem!"

"The situation is intimately involved," said Lord Strepp dejectedly.
"It will be a ridiculous business--watching each blade lunge toward
the breast of a friend. I don't know that it is proper. Royale, let us
set ourselves to part these duellists. It is indecent."

"Did you note the manner in which he kicked him out of the inn?" asked
the Colonel. "Do you think a few soothing words would calm the mind of
one of the finest swordsmen in England?"

I began to do some profound thinking.

"Look you, Colonel," said I. "Do you mean that this wretched little
liar and coward is a fine swordsman?"

"I haven't heard what you call him," said the Colonel, "but his
sword-play is regular firelight on the wall. However," he added
hopefully, "we may find some way to keep him from killing you. I have
seen some of the greatest swordsmen lose by chance to a novice. It is
something like cards. And yet you are not an ignorant player. That, I,
Clarence Royale, know full well. Let us try to beat him."

I remembered Forister's parting sentence. Could it be true that a man
I had kicked with such enthusiasm and success was now about to take
revenge by killing me? I was really disturbed. I was a very brave
youth, but I had the most advanced ideas about being killed. On
occasion of great danger I could easily and tranquilly develop a
philosophy of avoidance and retirement. I had no antiquated notions
about going out and getting myself killed through sheer bull-headed
scorn of the other fellow's hurting me. My father had taught me this
discretion. As a soldier he claimed that he had run away from nine
battles, and he would have run away from more, he said, only that all
the others had turned out to be victories for his side. He was
admittedly a brave man, but, more than this, he had a great deal of
sense. I was the child of my father. It did not seem to me profitable
to be killed for the sake of a sentiment which seemed weak and
dispensable. This little villain! Should I allow him to gratify a
furious revenge because I was afraid to take to my heels? I resolved
to have the courage of my emotions. I would run away.

But of all this I said nothing. It passed through my mind like light
and left me still smil