THE DUEL
Cleggett took Wilton Barnstable by the sleeve and drew him towards Loge, who, still seated on the deck with his long legs stretched out in front of him, was now yawning with a cynical affectation of boredom.
"I wish you to act as my second in this affair," said Cleggett to the detective, "and I suggest that either Mr.Ward or Mr.Bard perform a like office for Mr.Black."Loge shrugged his shoulders, and said with a sneer:
"A second, eh? We seem to be doing a great deal of arranging for a very small amount of fighting.""I suggest," said Wilton Barnstable, "that a night's rest would be quite in order for both principals."Loge broke in quickly, with studied insolence: "I object to the delay.Mr.Cleggett might find some excuse for changing his mind overnight.Let us, if you please, begin at once.""It was not I who suggested the delay," said Cleggett, haughtily.
"Then give us the pistols," cried Loge, with a sudden, grim ferocity in his voice, "and let's make an end of it!""We fight with swords," said Cleggett."I am the challenged party." "Ho!Swords!" cried Loge, with a harsh, jarring laugh."A boutwith the rapiers, man to man, eh? Come, this is better and better! I may go to the chair, but first I will spit you like a squab on a skewer, my little nut!" And then he said again, with a shout of gusty mirth, and a clanking of his manacles: "Swords, eh? By God! The little man says SWORDS!"Wilton Barnstable drew Cleggett to one side.
"Name pistols," he said."For God's sake, Cleggett, name pistols! If I had had any idea that you were going to demand rapiers I should havewarned you before."
Cleggett was amused at the great detective's anxiety."It appears that the fellow handles the rapier pretty well, eh?" he said easily.
"Cleggett--" began Barnstable.And then he paused and groaned and mopped his brow.Presently he controlled his agitation and continued."Cleggett," he said, "the man is an expert swordsman.I have been on his trail; I know his life for years past.He was once a maitre d'armes.He gave lessons in the art.""Yes?" said Cleggett, laughing and flexing his wrist."I am glad to hear that! It will be really interesting then.""Cleggett," said Barnstable, "I beg of you--name pistols.This is the man who invented that diabolical thrust with which Georges Clemenceau laid low so many of his political opponents.If you must go on with this mad duel, name pistols!""Barnstable," said Cleggett, "I know what I am about, believe me.Your anxiety does me little honor, but I am willing to suppose that you are not deliberately insulting, and I pass it over.I intend to kill this man.It is a duty which I owe to society.And as for the rapier--believe me, Barnstable, I am no novice.And my blood tingles and my soul aches with the desire to expunge that man from life with my own hand.Come, we have talked enough.There is a case of swords in the cabin.Will you do me the favor to bring them on deck?"Loge's irons were unlocked.He rose to his feet and stretched himself.He removed his coat and waistcoat.Then he took off his shirt, revealing the fact that he wore next his skin a long-sleeved undershirt of red flannel.
Cleggett began to imitate him.But as the commander of the Jasper B.began to pull his shirt over his head he heard a little scream.Everyone turned in the direction from which it had emanated.They beheld Miss Genevieve Pringle perched upon the top of the cabin, whither she had mounted by means of a short ladder.This lady, perhaps not quite aware of the possibly sanguinary character of the spectacle she was about to witness, had, nevertheless, sensed the fact that a spectacle was toward.
Miss Pringle had with her a handsome lorgnette.
"Madam," said Cleggett, hastily pulling his shirt back on again and approaching the cabin, "did you cry out?""Mr.--er--Cleggett," said Miss Pringle, pursing her lips, "if you will kindly hold the ladder for me I think I will descend and retire at once to the cabin.""As you wish," said Cleggett politely, complying with her wish, but at a loss to comprehend her.
"I beg you to believe, Mr.Cleggett," said Miss Pringle, averting her face and flushing painfully, while she turned the lorgnette about and about with embarrassed fingers, "I beg you to believe that in electing to witness this spectacle I had no idea of its exceedingly informal nature."With these words she passed into the cabin, with the air of one who has sustained a mortal insult.
"Ef you was to ask me what she's tryin' to get at," piped up Cap'n Abernethy, "I'd say it's her belief that it ain't proper for gents to sword each other with their shirts off.She's shocked, Miss Pringle is.""In great and crucial moments," said Cleggett soberly, pulling off his shirt again and picking up a sword, "we may dispense with the minor conventions without apology."Loge chose a weapon with the extreme of care and particularity, trying the hang and balance of several of them.He looked well to the weight, bent the blade in his hands to test the spring and temper, tried the point upon his thumb.He handled the rapier as if he had found an old friend again after a long absence; he looked around upon his enemies with a sort of ferocious, bantering gayety.
"And now," said Loge, "if this is to be a duel indeed, Mr.Cleggett and I will need plenty of room, I suggest that the rest of you retire to the bulwarks and give us the deck to ourselves.""For my part," said Cleggett, "I order it.""And," said Wilton Barnstable, drawing his pistol, "Mr.Black will please note that while I am standing by the bulwarks I shall be watchingindeed.Should he make an attempt to escape from the vessel I shall riddle him with bullets.""Come, come," said Loge, "all this conversation is a waste of time!" "That is my opinion also," said Cleggett.
They saluted formally, and engaged their blades.
