Part 25 (1/2)
”This is no laughing matter,” came dolefully from Scotch. ”I don't know how to fire a pistol, and I never had a sword in my hand in all my life.
And to think of standing up and being shot full of holes or carved like a turkey by that fire-eater with the fierce mustache! It is awful, awful!”
”But you were eager to fight the young fellow.”
”No, I was not. I was simply putting up a bluff, as you call it. I was doing my level best to get you out of the sc.r.a.pe, Frank. I didn't think he would fight me, and so I pretended to be eager to meet him. And now see what a sc.r.a.pe I am in! Oh, my soul and body! What can I do?”
”Fight.”
”Never!”
”I don't see how you can get out of it.”
”I'll run away.”
In a moment Frank became very grave.
”That is impossible, professor,” he said, with the utmost apparent sincerity. ”Think of the disgrace! It would be in all the papers that Professor Scotch, a white-livered Northerner, after insulting Colonel La Salle Vallier and presenting his card, had taken to his heels in the most cowardly fas.h.i.+on, and had fled from the city without giving the colonel the satisfaction that is due from one gentleman to another. The Northern papers would copy, and you would find yourself the b.u.t.t of ridicule wherever you went.”
The professor let out a groan that was more dismal and doleful than any sound that had previously issued from his lips.
”What can I do?” he gasped.
”There is one way to get out of the difficulty.”
”Name it! name it!” shouted the wretched man. ”I'll do anything!”
”Then commit suicide.”
The professor collapsed again.
”Are you entirely heartless?” he moaned. ”Can you joke when I am suffering such misery?”
His face was covered with perspiration, and he was all a-quiver, so that Frank was really touched.
”You can apologize, professor.”
”Apologize for what? I don't know that I have done anything to apologize for; but then I'll apologize rather than fight.”
”Well, I guess you'll be able to get out of it some way.”
But it was no easy thing to rea.s.sure the agitated man, as Frank soon discovered.
”I'll tell you what, professor,” said the boy; ”you may send a representative--a subst.i.tute.”
”I don't think it will be easy to find a subst.i.tute.”
”Oh, I'll find one.”
”Perhaps Colonel Vallier will not accept him.”