<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></SPAN>CHAPTER X</h2>
<p>To the joy of every one, by the Thursday
following Miss Trevor was sufficiently recovered
to be able to leave her room. It was a happy
day for every one concerned, particularly for the
Duke, who came nearer presenting the appearance
of an amiable lunatic on that occasion than I
had ever seen him before. Why my wife should
have encouraged him in his extravagance I cannot
say, but the fact remains that she allowed
him to go out with her that morning with the
professed idea of purchasing a few flowers to
decorate the drawing-room for the invalid's
reception. So great was their extravagance that
the room more resembled a hot-house, or a flower-show,
than a civilized apartment. I pointed this
out to my wife with a gentle remonstrance, and
was informed that, being a mere husband, I knew
nothing at all about the matter. I trust that I
preserved my balance and lived up to my reputation
for sanity in the midst of this general
excitement, though I am prepared to confess that<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</SPAN></span>
I was scarcely myself when the triumphal procession,
consisting of my wife and the Dean, set
off to the invalid's apartment to escort her in.
When she appeared it was like a ghost of her
former self, and a poor wan ghost too. Her
father, of course, she had already seen, but
neither I nor Glenbarth had of course had the
honour of meeting her since she was taken ill.
She received him very graciously, and was kind
enough to thank me for the little I had done for
her. We seated her between us in a comfortable
chair, placed a footstool under her feet, and
then, in order that she should not have too
much excitement, and that she might rest
quietly, the Dean, the Duke, and myself were
sent about our business for an hour. When
we returned, a basket of exquisite roses stood
on the table, and on examining it the card
of Don Josè de Martinos was found to be
attached to it.</p>
<p>It is some proof of the anxiety that Glenbarth
felt not to do anything that might worry her,
when I say that he read the card and noted the
giver without betraying the least trace of annoyance.
It is true that he afterwards furnished me
with his opinion of the giver for presuming to
send them, but the casual observer would have
declared, had he been present to observe the
manner in which he behaved when he had first<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</SPAN></span>
seen the gift, that he had taken no interest in
the matter at all.</p>
<p>Next day Miss Trevor was permitted to get up
a little earlier, and on the day following a little
earlier still. In the meantime more flowers had
arrived from the Don, while he himself had twice
made personal inquiries as to the progress she
was making. It was not until the third day of
her convalescence that Nikola called to see his
patient. I was sitting alone with her at the
time, my wife and our other two guests having
gone shopping in the Merceria. I was idly
cutting a copy of a Tauchnitz publication that
I had procured for her on the previous day. The
weather was steadily growing warmer, and, for
this reason, the windows were open and a flood
of brilliant sunshine was streaming into the
room. From the canal outside came the sounds
of rippling laughter, then an unmistakably
American voice called out, "Say, girls, what do
you think of Venice now you're here?" Then
another voice replied, "Plenty of water about,
but they don't seem to wash their buildings much."
Miss Trevor was about to speak, in fact she had
opened her lips to do so, when a strange expression
appeared upon her face. She closed her
eyes for a moment, and I began to fear that she
was ill. When she opened them again I was
struck by a strange fact; the eyes were certainly<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</SPAN></span>
there, but there was no sort of life in them.
They were like those of a sleep-walker who, while
his eyes are open, sees nothing of things about
him. A moment later there was a knock at the
door, and Doctor Nikola, escorted by a servant,
entered the room. Wishing us "good-morning,"
he crossed the room and shook hands with Miss
Trevor, afterwards with myself.</p>
<p>"You are certainly looking better," he said,
addressing his patient, and placing his finger and
thumb upon her wrist as he spoke.</p>
<p>"I am much better," she answered, but for
some reason without her usual animation.</p>
<p>"In that case I think this will be the last
visit I shall pay you in my professional capacity,"
he said. "You have been an excellent patient,
and in the interests of what our friend Sir
Richard here calls Science, permit me to offer
you my grateful thanks."</p>
<p>"It is I who should thank you," she answered,
as if she were repeating some lesson she had
learnt by heart.</p>
<p>"I trust then, on the principle that one seldom
or never acts as one should, that you will not do
it," he replied, with a smile. "I am amply
rewarded by observing that the flush of health is
returning to your cheeks."</p>
<p>He then inquired after my wife's health, bade
me be careful of her for the reason that, since<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</SPAN></span>
I had behaved so outrageously towards them, no
other doctors in Venice would attend her, should
she be taken ill, and then rose to bid us adieu.</p>
<p>"This is a very short visit," I said. "Cannot
we persuade you to give us a little more of your
society?"</p>
<p>"I fear not," he answered. "I am developing
quite a practice in Venice, and my time is no
longer my own."</p>
<p>"You have other patients?" I asked, in some
surprise, for I did not think he would condescend
to such a thing.</p>
<p>"I have your friend, Don Martinos, now upon
my hands," he said. "The good Galaghetti is
so abominably grateful for what I did for his
child, that he will insist on trying to draw me
into experimenting upon other people."</p>
<p>"Would it be indiscreet to ask what is the
matter with the Don?" I said. "He does not
look like a man who would be likely to be an
invalid."</p>
<p>"I do not think there is so very much wrong
with him," Nikola replied vaguely. "At any
rate it is not anything that cannot be very
easily put right."</p>
<p>When he left the room I accompanied him
down the corridor as far as the hall.</p>
<p>"The fact of the matter is," he began, when
we were alone together, "our friend the Don has<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</SPAN></span>
been running the machinery of life a little too
fast of late. I am told that he lost no less a
sum than fifty thousand pounds in English
money last week, and certainly his nerves are
not what they once were."</p>
<p>"He is a gambler, then?" I said.</p>
<p>"An inveterate gambler, I should say,"
Nikola answered. "And when a Spaniard takes
to that sort of amusement, he generally does
it most thoroughly."</p>
<p>Whatever the Don's illness may have been,
it certainly had made its mark upon his appearance.
I chanced to meet him that afternoon on
the Rialto bridge, and was thunderstruck at the
change. The man's face was white, and his eyes
had dark rings under them, that to my thinking
spoke for an enfeebled heart. When he stopped
to speak to me, I noticed that his hands trembled
as though he were afflicted with St. Vitus's
dance.</p>
<p>"I hope Miss Trevor is better," he said, after
I had commented upon the fact that I had not
seen him of late.</p>
<p>"Much better," I answered. "In fact, she
may now be said to be convalescent. I was
sorry to hear from Doctor Nikola, however, that
you yourself are not quite the thing."</p>
<p>"Nerves, only nerves," he answered, with
what was almost a frightened look in his eyes.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</SPAN></span>
"Doctor Nikola will set me right in no time,
I am sure of that. I have had a run of beastly
luck lately, and it has upset me more than I
can say."</p>
<p>I knew to what he referred, but I did not
betray my knowledge. After that he bade me
farewell, and continued his walk. That evening
another exquisite basket of flowers arrived for
Miss Trevor. There was no card attached to
it, but as the Duke denied all knowledge of it,
I felt certain as to whence it came. On the
day following, for the first time since her illness,
Miss Trevor was able to leave the house and to
go for a short airing upon the canal. We were
rejoiced to take her, and made arrangements for
her comfort, but there was one young man who
was more attentive than all the rest of the party
put together. Would Miss Trevor like another
cushion? Was she quite sure that she was comfortable?
Would she have preferred a gondola
to a barca? I said nothing, but I wondered
what the Dean thought, for he is an observant
old gentleman. As for the young lady herself,
she accepted the other's attentions with the most
charming good-humour, and thus all went merry
as marriage-bells. On the day following she
went out again, and on the afternoon of the
next day felt so much stronger as to express a
desire to walk for a short time on the piazza of<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</SPAN></span>
St. Mark. We accordingly landed at the well-known
steps, and strolled slowly towards the
cathedral. It was a lovely afternoon, the air
being soft and warm, with a gentle breeze blowing
in from the sea.</p>
<p>It is needless for me to say that Glenbarth
was in the Seventh Heaven of Delight, and was
already beginning to drop sundry little confidences
into my ear. Her illness had ruined the opportunity
he had hoped to have had, but he
was going to make up for it now. Indeed it
looked very much as if she had at last made
up her mind concerning him, but, having
had one experience of the sex, I was not
going to assure myself that all was satisfactory
until a definite announcement was made by
the lady herself. As it turned out it was just
as well that I did so, for that afternoon, not
altogether unexpectedly I must confess, was
destined to prove the truth of the old saying
that the course of true love never runs smooth.
Miss Trevor, with the Duke on one side and
my wife on the other, was slowly passing across
the great square, when a man suddenly appeared
before us from one of the shops on our right.
This individual was none other than the Don
Josè de Martinos, who raised his hat politely to
the ladies and expressed his delight at seeing
Miss Trevor abroad once more. As usual, he<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</SPAN></span>
was faultlessly dressed, and on the whole looked
somewhat better in health than he had done
when I had last seen him. By some means, I
scarcely know how it was done, he managed to
slip in between my wife and Miss Trevor,
and in this order we made our way towards
our usual resting-place, Florian's <i>café</i>. Never,
since we had known him, had the Don exerted
himself so much to please. The Duke, however,
did not seem satisfied. His high spirits
had entirely left him, and, in consequence,
he was now as quiet as he had been talkative
before. It was plain to all of us that the Don
admired Miss Trevor, and that he wanted her
to become aware of the fact. Next morning
he made an excuse and joined our party again.
At this the Duke's anger knew no bounds.
Personally I must confess that I was sorry for
the young fellow. It was very hard upon him,
just as he was progressing so favourably, that
another should appear upon the scene and distract
the lady's attention. Yet there was only one
way of ending it, if only he could summon up
sufficient courage to do it. I fear, however, that
he was either too uncertain as to the result, or
that he dreaded his fate, should she consign him
to the Outer Darkness, too much to put it into
execution. For this reason he had to submit to
sharing her smiles with the Spaniard, which, if<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</SPAN></span>
only he could have understood it, was an excellent
thing for his patience, and a salutary trial for
his character.</p>
<p>Meanwhile my wife looked on in despair.</p>
<p>"I thought it was all settled," she said pathetically,
on one occasion, "and now they are as far
off as ever. Why on earth does that troublesome
man come between them?"</p>
<p>"Because he has quite as much right to be
there as the other," I answered. "If the Duke
wants her, let him ask her, but that's just what
he won't do. The whole matter should have
been settled by now."</p>
<p>"It's all very well for you to say that," she
returned. "The poor boy would have done it
before Gertrude was taken ill, but that you
opposed him."</p>
<p>"And a very proper proceeding too," I answered.
"Miss Trevor was under my charge,
and I was certainly not going to let any young
man, doubtless very desirable, but who had only
known her two days, propose to her, get sent
about his business, render it impossible for our
party to continue together, and by so doing take
all the pleasure out of our holiday."</p>
<p>"So it was only of yourself you were thinking?"
she returned, with that wonderful inconsistency
that is such a marked trait in her character.
"Why do you urge him now to do it?"<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"Because Miss Gertrude is no longer under
my charge," I answered. "Her father is here,
and is able to look after her." Then an idea occurred
to me, and I acted upon it at once.</p>
<p>"When you come to think of it, my dear," I said,
as if I had been carefully considering the question,
"why should the Don not make Gertrude as good
a husband as Glenbarth? He is rich, doubtless
comes of a very good family, and would certainly
make a very presentable figure in society."</p>
<p>She stared at me aghast.</p>
<p>"Well," she said in astonishment, "I must
say that I think you are a loyal friend. You
know that the Duke has set his heart on marrying
her, and yet you are championing the cause
of his rival. I should never have thought it of
you, Dick."</p>
<p>I hastened to assure her that I was not in
earnest, but for a moment I almost fancy she
thought I was.</p>
<p>"If you are on the Duke's side I wonder that
you encourage Don Martinos to continue his
visits," she went on, after the other matter had
been satisfactorily settled. "I cannot tell you
how much I dislike him. I feel that I would
rather see Gertrude married to a crossing-sweeper
than to that man. How she can even tolerate
him, I do not know. I find it very difficult to
do so."<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"Poor Don," I said, "he does not appear to
have made a very good impression. In common
justice I must admit that, so far as I am concerned,
he has been invariably extremely civil."</p>
<p>"Because he wants your interest. You are
the head of the house."</p>
<p>"It is a pretty fiction—let it pass however."</p>
<p>She pretended not to notice my gibe.</p>
<p>"He is gambling away every halfpenny he
possesses."</p>
<p>I regarded her with unfeigned astonishment.
How could she have become aware of this fact?
I put the question to her.</p>
<p>"Some one connected with the hotel told my
maid, Phillipa," she answered. "They say he
never returns to the hotel until between two
and three in the morning."</p>
<p>"He is not married," I retorted.</p>
<p>She vouchsafed no remark to this speech,
but, bidding me keep my eyes open, and beware
lest there should be trouble between the two
men, left me to my own thoughts.</p>
<p>The warning she had given me was not
a futile one, for it needed only half an eye to
see that Glenbarth and Martinos were desperately
jealous of one another. They eyed
each other when they met as if, at any moment,
they were prepared to fly at each other's throats.
Once the Duke's behaviour was such as to<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</SPAN></span>
warrant my speaking to him upon the subject
when we were alone together.</p>
<p>"My dear fellow," I said, "I must ask you to
keep yourself in hand. I don't like having to
talk to you, but I have to remember that there
are ladies in the case."</p>
<p>"Then why on earth doesn't Martinos
keep out of my way?" he asked angrily.
"You pitch into me for getting riled, but you
don't see how villainously rude he is to me.
He contradicts me as often as he can, and, for
the rest of the time, treats me as if I were a
child."</p>
<p>"In return you treat him as if he were an
outsider, and had no right to look at, much less
to speak to, Miss Trevor. Nevertheless he is
our friend—or if he is not our friend, he has at
least been introduced to us by a friend. Now
I have no desire that you should quarrel at all,
but if you must do so, let it be when you are
alone together, and also when you are out of
the hotel."</p>
<p>I had no idea how literally my words were
to be taken.</p>
<p>That night, according to a custom he had of
late adopted, Martinos put in an appearance after
dinner, and brought his guitar with him. As
he bade us "good-evening" I looked at the
Duke's face. It was pale and set as if he had at<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</SPAN></span>
last come to an understanding with himself.
Presently my wife and I sang a duet together,
in a fashion that pointed very plainly to the
fact that our thoughts were elsewhere. Miss
Trevor thanked us in a tone that showed me
that she also had given but small attention to
our performance. Then Gertrude sang a song
of Tosti's very prettily, and was rewarded
with enthusiastic applause. After this the Don
was called upon to perform. He took up his
guitar, and having tuned it, struck a few
chords and began to sing. Though I look
back upon that moment now with real pain, I
must confess that I do not think I had ever
heard him sing better; the merry laughter of
the song suited his voice to perfection. It was
plainly a comic ditty with some absurd imitations
of the farm-yard at the end of each verse.
When he had finished, my wife politely asked
him to give us a translation of the words. Fate
willed that she should ask, I suppose, and also
that he should answer it.</p>
<p>"It is a story of a foolish young man who
loved a fair maid," he replied, speaking with the
utmost deliberation. "Unfortunately, however,
he was afraid to tell her of his love. He pined
to be with her, yet, whenever he was desirous
of declaring his passion, his courage failed him
at the last moment, and he was compelled to<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</SPAN></span>
talk of the most commonplace things, such as
the animals upon his father's farm. At last she,
tiring of such a laggard, sent him away in disgust
to learn how to woo. In the meantime she
married a man who was better acquainted with
his business."</p>
<p>Whether the song was exactly as he described
it, I am not in a position to say; the fact,
however, remains that at least four of our party
saw the insinuation and bitterly resented it. I
saw the Duke's face flush and then go pale.
I thought for a moment that he was going
to say something, but he contented himself by
picking up a book from the table at his side,
and glancing carelessly at it. I could guess, by
the way his hands gripped it, something of the
storm that was raging in his breast. My wife,
meanwhile, had turned the conversation into
another channel by asking the Dean what he had
thought of a certain old church he had visited
that morning. This gave a little relief, but not
very much. Ten minutes later the Don rose
and bade us "good-night." With a sneer on
his face, he even extended his good wish to the
Duke, who bowed, but did not reply. When he
had gone, my wife gave the signal for a general
dispersal, and Glenbarth and I were presently
left in the drawing-room alone. I half expected
an immediate outburst, but to my surprise he<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</SPAN></span>
said nothing on the subject. I had no intention
of referring to it unless he did, and so the matter
remained for the time in abeyance. After a
conversation on general topics, lasting perhaps
a quarter of an hour, we wished each other
"good-night," and retired to our respective rooms.
When I entered my wife's room later, I was
prepared for the discussion which I knew was
inevitable.</p>
<p>"What do you think of your friend now?"
she asked, with a touch of sarcasm thrown into
the word "friend." "You of course heard how
he insulted the Duke?"</p>
<p>"I noticed that he did a very foolish thing,
not only for his own interests with us, but also
for several other reasons. You may rely upon
it that if ever he had any chance with Gertrude——"</p>
<p>"He never had the remotest chance, I can
promise you that," my wife interrupted.</p>
<p>"I say if ever he had a chance with Gertrude,
he has lost it now. Surely that should satisfy
you."</p>
<p>"It does not satisfy me that he should be
rude to our guest at any time, but I am particularly
averse to his insulting him in our
presence."</p>
<p>"You need not worry yourself," I said. "In
all probability you will see no more of him. I<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</SPAN></span>
shall convey a hint to him upon the subject.
It will not be pleasant for Anstruther's sake."</p>
<p>"Mr. Anstruther should have known better
than to have sent him to us," she replied.
"There is one thing I am devoutly thankful for,
and that is that the Duke took it so beautifully.
He might have been angry, and have made a
scene. Indeed I should not have blamed him,
had he done so."</p>
<p>I did not ask her, for reasons of my own,
whether she was sure that his Grace of Glenbarth
was not angry. I must confess that I was
rendered more uneasy by the quiet way he had
taken it, than if he had burst into an explosion.
Concealed fires are invariably more dangerous
than open ones.</p>
<p>Next morning after breakfast, while we were
smoking together in the balcony, a note was
brought to Glenbarth. He took it, opened it,
and when he had read the contents, thrust it
hastily into his pocket.</p>
<p>"No answer," he said, as he lit a cigar, and
I thought his hand trembled a little as he put
the match to it.</p>
<p>His face was certainly paler than usual, and
there was a far-away look in his eyes that showed
me that it was not the canal or the houses
opposite that he was looking upon.</p>
<p>"There is something behind all this, and I<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</SPAN></span>
must find out what it is," I said to myself.
"Surely he can't be going to make a fool of
himself."</p>
<p>I knew, however, that my chance of getting
anything satisfactory out of him lay in saying
nothing about the matter just then. I must
play my game in another fashion.</p>
<p>"What do you say if we run down to Rome
next week?" I asked, after a little pause. "My
wife and Miss Trevor seem to think they would
enjoy it. There are lots of people we know
there just now."</p>
<p>"I shall be very pleased," he answered, but
with a visible effort.</p>
<p>At any other time he would have jumped
eagerly at the suggestion. Decidedly there was
something wrong! At luncheon he was preoccupied,
so much so that I could see Miss
Trevor wondered what was the matter. Had
she known the terrible suspicion that was growing
in my own mind, I wonder what she would
have said, and also how she would have acted?</p>
<p>That afternoon the ladies resolved to remain
at home, and the Dean decided to stay with
them. In consequence, the Duke and I went
out together. He was still as quiet as he had
been in the morning, but as yet I had not been
able to screw up my courage to such a pitch as
to be able to put the question to him. Once,<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</SPAN></span>
however, I asked the reason for his quietness,
and received the evasive reply "that he was not
feeling quite up to the mark that day."</p>
<p>This time I came a little nearer the point.</p>
<p>"You are not worrying about that wretched
fellow's rudeness, I hope?" I said, looking him
fairly and squarely in the face.</p>
<p>"Not in the least," he answered. "Why
should I be?"</p>
<p>"Well, because I know you are hot-tempered,"
I returned, rather puzzled to find an explanation
for him.</p>
<p>"Oh, I'll have it out with him at some time or
another, I have no doubt," he continued, and
then changed the subject by referring to some
letters he had had from home that day.</p>
<p>When later we returned to the hotel for
afternoon tea, we found the two ladies eagerly
awaiting our coming. From the moment that
he entered the room, Miss Trevor was graciousness
itself to the young man. She smiled upon
him, and encouraged him, until he scarcely
knew whether he was standing upon his head or
his heels. I fancy she was anxious to compensate
him for the Don's rudeness to him.</p>
<p>That evening we all complained of feeling
tired, and accordingly went to bed early. I
was the latest of the party, and my own man
had not left my dressing-room more than a<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</SPAN></span>
minute before he returned with the information
that the Duke's valet would be glad if he could
have a few words with me.</p>
<p>"Send him in," I said, and forthwith the man
made his appearance.</p>
<p>"What is it, Henry?" I inquired. "Is your
master not well?"</p>
<p>"I don't know what's wrong with his Grace,
sir," the man replied. "I'm very much frightened
about him, and I thought I would come to you
at once."</p>
<p>"Why, what is the matter? He seemed well
enough when I bade him good-night, half-an-hour
or so ago."</p>
<p>"It isn't that, sir. He's well enough in his
body," said the man. "There's something else
behind it all. I know, sir, you won't mind my
coming to you. I didn't know what else to do."</p>
<p>"You had better tell me everything, then I
shall know how to act. What do you think is
the reason of it?"</p>
<p>"Well, sir, it's like this," Henry went on.
"His Grace has been very quiet all day. He
wrote a lot of letters this morning and put them
in his dispatch-box. 'I'll tell you what to do
with them later, Henry,' he said when he had
finished. Well, I didn't think very much of
that, but when to-night he asked me what I had
made up my mind to do with myself if ever I<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</SPAN></span>
should leave his service, and told me that he had
put it down in his will that I was to have five
hundred pounds if he should die before I left him,
I began to think there was something the matter.
Well, sir, I took his things to-night, and was in
the act of leaving the room, when he called me
back. 'I'm going out early for a swim in the
sea to-morrow morning,' he said, 'but I shan't
say anything to Sir Richard Hatteras about it,
because I happen to know that he thinks the
currents about here are dangerous. Well, one
never knows what may turn up,' he goes on to
say, 'and if, by any chance, Henry—though I
hope such a thing will not happen—I should be
caught, and should not return, I want you to
give this letter to Sir Richard. But remember
this, you are on no account to touch it until
mid-day. Do you understand?' I told him that
I did, but I was so frightened, sir, by what he
said, that I made up my mind to come and see
you at once."</p>
<p>This was disturbing intelligence indeed. From
what he said there could be no doubt that the
Don and Glenbarth contemplated fighting a
duel. In that case what was to be done? To
attempt to reason with the Duke in his present
humour would be absurd, besides his honour was
at stake, and, though I am totally against duels,
that counts for something.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"I am glad you told me this, Henry," I said,
"for now I shall know how to act. Don't worry
about your master's safety. Leave him to me.
He is safe in my hands. He shall have his
swim to-morrow morning, but I shall take very
good care that he is watched. You may go to
bed with an easy heart, and don't think about
that letter. It will not be needed, for he will
come to no harm."</p>
<p>The man thanked me civilly and withdrew,
considerably relieved in his mind by his interview
with me. Then I sat myself down to think
the matter out. What was I to do? Doubtless
the Don was an experienced duellist, while
Glenbarth, though a very fair shot with a rifle
or fowling-piece, would have no chance against
him with the pistol or the sword. It was by no
means an enviable position for a man to be placed
in, and I fully realized my responsibility in the
matter. I felt that I needed help, but to whom
should I apply for it? The Dean would be worse
than useless; while to go to the Don and to ask
him to sacrifice his honour to our friendship for
Glenbarth would be to run the risk of being
shown the door. Then I thought of Nikola, and
made up my mind to go to him at once. Since
the Duke had spoken of leaving the hotel early
in the morning, there could be no doubt as to<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</SPAN></span>
the hour of the meeting. In that case there was
no time to be lost. I thereupon went to explain
matters to my wife.</p>
<p>"I had a suspicion that this would happen,"
she said, when she had heard me out. "Oh,
Dick! you must stop it without fail. I should
never forgive myself if anything were to happen
to him while he is our guest. Go to Doctor
Nikola at once and tell him everything, and
implore him to help us as he has helped us
before."</p>
<p>Thus encouraged, I left her, and went back to
my dressing-room to complete my attire. This
done I descended to the hall to endeavour to
obtain a gondola. Good fortune favoured me,
for the American party who had but lately
arrived at the hotel, had just returned from the
theatre. I engaged the man who had brought
them, and told him to take me to the Palace
Revecce with all possible speed.</p>
<p>"It's a late hour, Senor," he replied, "and I'd
rather go anywhere than to that house in the
Rio del Consiglio."</p>
<p>"You will be well paid for your trouble and
also for your fear," I replied as I got into the boat.</p>
<p>Next moment we were on our way. A light
was burning in Nikola's room as we drew up at
the palace steps. I bade the gondolier wait for<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</SPAN></span>
me, and to ensure his doing so, refused to pay
him until my return. Then I rang the bell, and
was rewarded in a few minutes by hearing
Nikola's footsteps on the flag-stones of the courtyard.
When the door opened he was vastly
surprised at seeing me; he soon recovered his
equilibrium, however. It took more than a small
surprise to upset Nikola. He invited me to enter.</p>
<p>"I hope there is nothing wrong," he said
politely. "Otherwise how am I to account for
this late call?"</p>
<p>"Something is very wrong indeed," I said. "I
have come to consult you, and to ask for your
assistance."</p>
<p>By this time he had reached his own room—that
horrible room I remembered so well.</p>
<p>"The fact of the matter is," I said, seating
myself in the chair he offered me as I spoke,
"the Duke of Glenbarth and Don de Martinos
have arranged to fight a duel soon after daybreak."</p>
<p>"To fight a duel?" Nikola repeated. "So it
has come to this, has it? Well, what do you
want me to do?"</p>
<p>"Surely it is needless for me to say," I
replied. "I want you to help me to stop it.
You like the Duke, I know. Surely you will
not allow that brave young life to be sacrificed
by that Spaniard?"<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>"From the way you speak it would appear
that <i>you</i> do not care for Martinos?" Nikola
replied.</p>
<p>"I frankly confess that I do not," I replied.
"He was introduced to me by a personal friend,
but none of my party care very much for him.
And now this new affair only adds to our dislike.
He insulted the Duke most unwarrantably in my
drawing-room last night, and this duel is the
result."</p>
<p>"Always the same, always the same," Nikola
muttered to himself. "But the end is coming,
and his evil deeds will bear their own fruit."
Then turning to me, he said aloud—"Since
you wish it, I will help you. Don Josè is a
magnificent shot, and he would place a bullet in
the Duke's anatomy wherever he might choose
to receive it. The issue would never for one
moment be in doubt."</p>
<p>"But how do you know the Don is such a
good shot?" I inquired with considerable surprise,
for until the moment that I had introduced
them to each other I had no idea that they had
ever met.</p>
<p>"I know more about him than you think," he
answered, fixing his glittering eyes upon me.
"But now to business. If they fight at daybreak
there is not much time to be lost."</p>
<p>He went to his writing-table at the other side<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</SPAN></span>
of the room and wrote a few lines on a sheet of
note-paper. Placing it in an envelope he inquired
whether I had told my gondolier to wait.
Upon my answering in the affirmative, he left
me and went down-stairs.</p>
<p>"What have you done?" I inquired when he
returned.</p>
<p>"I have sent word to an agent I sometimes
employ," he said. "He will keep his eyes open.
Now you had better get back to your hotel and
to bed. Sleep secure on my promise that the
two men shall not fight. When you are called,
take the gondola you will find awaiting you
outside the hotel, and I will meet you at a
certain place. Now let me wish you a good-night."</p>
<p>He conducted me to the hall below and saw
me into the gondola. Then saying something to
the gondolier that I did not catch, he bade me
adieu, and I returned to the hotel. Punctually
at five o'clock I was awakened by a tapping at
my bedroom door. I dressed, donned a cloak,
for the morning was cold, and descended to
the hall. The night watchman informed me
that a gondola was awaiting me at the steps,
and conducted me to it. Without a word
I got in, and the little craft shot out into
the canal. We entered a narrow street on the
other side, took two or three turnings to right<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</SPAN></span>
and left, and at last came to a standstill at some
steps that I had never noticed before. A tall
figure, wrapped in a black cloak, was awaiting us
there. It was Nikola! Entering the gondola
he took his place at my side. Then once more
we set off.</p>
<p>At the same moment, so Nikola informed me,
Glenbarth was leaving the hotel.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</SPAN></span></p>
<hr style="width: 65%;" />
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />