Part 35 (1/2)

Chichester across the table.

”But this is murder--positive murder!” cried Mr. Dalton.

”Sir,” said Barnabas, ”I am no duellist, as I told you; and it seems to me that this equalizes our chances, for I can no more fail of hitting my man at this distance than he of shooting me dead across the width of the room. And, sir--if I am to--die to-night, I shall most earnestly endeavor to take Mr. Chichester with me.”

There was a tremor in his voice again as he spoke, but his eye was calm, his brow serene, and his hand steady as he c.o.c.ked the pistol, and leaning his elbow upon the table, levelled it within six inches of Mr. Chichester's s.h.i.+rt frill. But hereupon Mr. Dalton sprang to his feet with a stifled oath:

”I tell you it's murder--murder!” he exclaimed, and took a quick step towards them.

”Peterby!” said Barnabas.

”Sir?” said Peterby, who had been standing rigid beside the door.

”Take my stick,” said Barnabas, holding it out towards him, but keeping his gaze upon Mr. Chichester's narrowed eyes; ”it's heavy you'll find, and should this person presume to interfere, knock him down with it.”

”Yes, sir,” said Peterby, and took the stick accordingly.

”But--oh, Gad!” exclaimed Dalton, ”I tell you this can't go on!”

”Indeed, I hope not,” said Barnabas; ”but it is for Mr. Chichester to decide. I am ready for the count when he is.”

But Mr. Chichester sat utterly still, his chin on his breast, staring at Barnabas under his brows, one hand tight clenched about the stock of his weapon on the table before him, the other hanging limply at his side. So for an interval they remained thus, staring into each other's eyes, in a stillness so profound that it seemed all four men had ceased breathing. Then Mr. Chichester sighed faintly, dropped his eyes to the muzzle of the weapon so perilously near, glanced back at the pale, set face and unwinking eyes of him who held it, and sighed again.

”Dalton,” said he, ”pray open the door, and order the chaise,” and he laid the key upon the table.

”First,” said Barnabas, ”I will relieve you of that--enc.u.mbrance,”

and he pointed to the pistol yet gripped in Mr. Chichester's right hand. Without a word Mr. Chichester rose, and leaving the weapon upon the table, turned and walked to the window, while Mr. Dalton, having unlocked the door, hurried away to the stable-yard, and was now heard calling for the ostlers.

”Peterby,” said Barnabas, ”take this thing and throw it into the horse-pond; yet, no, give it to the gentleman who just went out.”

”Yes, sir,” said Peterby, and, taking up the pistol, he went out, closing the door behind him.

Mr. Chichester still lounged in the window, and hummed softly to himself; but as for Barnabas, he sat rigid in his chair, staring blankly at the opposite wall, his eyes wide, his lips tense, and with a gleam of moisture amid the curls at his temples. So the one lounged and hummed, and the other glared stonily before him until came the grind of wheels and the stamping of hoofs. Then Mr. Chichester took up his hat and cane, and, humming still, crossed to the door, and lounged out into the yard.

Came a jingle of harness, a sound of voices, the slam of a door, and the chaise rolled away down the lane, farther and farther, until the rumble of its wheels died away in the distance. Then Barnabas laughed--a sudden shrill laugh--and clenched his fists, and strove against the laughter, and choked, and so sank forward with his face upon his arms as one that is very weary. Now, presently, as he sat thus, it seemed to him that one spoke a long way off, whereupon, in a little, he raised his head, and beheld Clemency.

”You--are not hurt?” she inquired anxiously.

”Hurt?” said Barnabas, ”no, not hurt, Mistress Clemency, not hurt, I thank you; but I think I have grown a--great deal--older.”

”I saw it all, through the window, and yet I--don't know why you are alive.”

”I think because I was so very much--afraid,” said Barnabas.

”Sir,” said she, with her brown hands clasped together, ”was it for--if it was for--my sake that you--quarrelled, and--”

”No,” said Barnabas, ”it was because of--another.”