Part 43 (2/2)
I had shaken hands with them all, and turned toward the door, congratulating myself on escaping thus easily, when a new voice broke suddenly in upon my self-satisfaction:
”I trust Captain Wayne is not intending to depart without at least a word with me?”
It was Brennan. He had entered un.o.bserved from the second parlor, and now stood leaning with an almost insolent a.s.sumption of languor against the sliding door, his eyes fastened upon me.
”Frankly,” I responded, ”I had hoped I might.”
His brows contracted into a frown of anger that seemed to darken his entire face.
”Have you forgotten, then, our compact, or do you simply elect to ignore it?”
I saw the others exchange quick glances of amazement, but I answered coolly:
”The latter supposition is more nearly the truth, Major Brennan. I felt that after what we have just pa.s.sed through together we could both afford to ignore the past, and consequently was hoping to escape without again encountering you.”
”Indeed!” he exclaimed sarcastically. ”But I might have expected it.
Gentlemen,” and he turned toward the expectant group, ”this man and I have a personal grievance of long standing unsettled. I have sought him for months in vain. When he came last night to our a.s.sistance, before I even consented to accept his services I insisted that no occurrence of the defence should prevent our meeting if we both survived. Now he endeavors to sneak away like a whipped cur. I demand satisfaction at his hands, and if it is refused I shall denounce him in both armies.”
My cheeks burned, but before I could control myself sufficiently for answer Moorehouse spoke.
”But, Brennan, see here,” he said anxiously, ”surely Captain Wayne has served you well. Is this trouble between you so serious that no amends are possible?”
”None, short of a personal meeting.”
”Captain,” and the perplexed Federal commander, turned toward me, ”have you any word of explanation in this unfortunate affair?”
”Very little,” I answered. ”I am not even aware that I have done injury to Major Brennan, purposely or otherwise. He has not so much as honored me with information as to his cause for complaint. However, I care very little what it may be. As he has seen fit to denounce me before officers of my own corps, I should be extremely glad to meet him upon that ground alone; but after what we have just pa.s.sed through together, I felt ready to blot out these past differences. Whatever they may have been, they are not liable to occur again, nor we to meet.”
”They have occurred again since you have been in this house!” Brennan broke forth excitedly. ”You are not a coward, but I brand you here and now as sneak and liar! Now will you fight?”
We stood for a moment in utter silence, eye to eye, and I knew there was no help for it. These words, publicly spoken, left me no choice.
”I am at your service, Major Brennan,” I returned sternly, ”now, or at any time. But I am unfortunate here in having no officer of my army present, and hence can name no second.”
”Doubtless one of these gentlemen will consent to serve,” he said, his face brightening at my rejoinder.
There was a moment of hesitation, natural enough, for they could scarcely feel like pitting themselves against a brother officer in a quarrel the merits of which were so obscure. I was about to speak, volunteering to stand alone, when some one hastily pushed a way to the front, and Lieutenant Caton, pale but determined, stood at my shoulder.
”It will afford me pleasure to act for Captain Wayne,” he said clearly, ”if he will accept my services. Moreover,” he added, with a significant glance at Brennan, ”I do this as a friend, and with full confidence that I am upon the right side in the quarrel.”
For a moment no one spoke, Brennan biting his moustache to keep back words he durst not utter. Then Caton turned to me.
”If you will retire to the library, Wayne, I will arrange this matter with whoever may represent Major Brennan.”
With a slight formal bow to those present I quitted the room.
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