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daughter opened his shirt and began to wet his head and bosom；
while Northmour and I ran to the window。 The weather continued
clear； the moon； which was now about full； had risen and shed a
very clear light upon the links； yet； strain our eyes as we might；
we could distinguish nothing moving。 A few dark spots； more or
less； on the uneven expanse were not to be identified； they might
be crouching men； they might be shadows； it was impossible to be
sure。
〃Thank God；〃 said Northmour； 〃Aggie is not coming to…night。〃
Aggie was the name of the old nurse； he had not thought of her
until now； but that he should think of her at all was a trait that
surprised me in the man。
We were again reduced to waiting。 Northmour went to the fireplace
and spread his hands before the red embers； as if he were cold。 I
followed him mechanically with my eyes； and in so doing turned my
back upon the window。 At that moment a very faint report was
audible from without； and a ball shivered a pane of glass； and
buried itself in the shutter two inches from my head。 I heard
Clara scream； and though I whipped instantly out of range and into
a corner； she was there； so to speak； before me； beseeching to know
if I were hurt。 I felt that I could stand to be shot at every day
and all day long； with such remarks of solicitude for a reward； and
I continued to reassure her； with the tenderest caresses and in
complete forgetfulness of our situation； till the voice of
Northmour recalled me to myself。
〃An air gun；〃 he said。 〃They wish to make no noise。〃
I put Clara aside； and looked at him。 He was standing with his
back to the fire and his hands clasped behind him； and I knew by
the black look on his face； that passion was boiling within。 I had
seen just such a look before he attacked me； that March night； in
the adjoining chamber； and； though I could make every allowance for
his anger； I confess I trembled for the consequences。 He gazed
straight before him； but he could see us with the tail of his eye；
and his temper kept rising like a gale of wind。 With regular
battle awaiting us outside； this prospect of an internecine strife
within the walls began to daunt me。
Suddenly； as I was thus closely watching his expression and
prepared against the worst； I saw a change； a flash； a look of
relief； upon his face。 He took up the lamp which stood beside him
on the table； and turned to us with an air of some excitement。
〃There is one point that we must know；〃 said he。 〃Are they going
to butcher the lot of us； or only Huddlestone？ Did they take you
for him； or fire at you for your own beaux yeux？〃
〃They took me for him； for certain；〃 I replied。 〃I am near as
tall； and my head is fair。〃
〃I am going to make sure；〃 returned Northmour； and he stepped up to
the window； holding the lamp above his head； and stood there；
quietly affronting death； for half a minute。
Clara sought to rush forward and pull him from the place of danger；
but I had the pardonable selfishness to hold her back by force。
〃Yes；〃 said Northmour； turning coolly from the window； 〃it's only
Huddlestone they want。〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Northmour！〃 cried Clara； but found no more to add； the
temerity she had just witnessed seeming beyond the reach of words。
He； on his part； looked at me； cocking his head； with a fire of
triumph in his eyes； and I understood at once that he had thus
hazarded his life； merely to attract Clara's notice； and depose me
from my position as the hero of the hour。 He snapped his fingers。
〃The fire is only beginning；〃 said he。 〃When they warm up to their
work； they won't be so particular。〃
A voice was now heard hailing us from the entrance。 From the
window we could see the figure of a man in the moonlight； he stood
motionless； his face uplifted to ours； and a rag of something white
on his extended arm； and as we looked right down upon him； though
he was a good many yards distant on the links； we could see the
moonlight glitter on his eyes。
He opened his lips again； and spoke for some minutes on end； in a
key so loud that he might have been heard in every corner of the
pavilion； and as far away as the borders of the wood。 It was the
same voice that had already shouted； 〃Traditore！〃 through the
shutters of the dining…room； this time it made a complete and clear
statement。 If the traitor 〃Oddlestone〃 were given up； all others
should be spared； if not； no one should escape to tell the tale。
〃Well； Huddlestone； what do you say to that？〃 asked Northmour；
turning to the bed。
Up to that moment the banker had given no sign of life； and I； at
least； had supposed him to be still lying in a faint； but he
replied at once； and in such tones as I have never heard elsewhere；
save from a delirious patient； adjured and besought us not to
desert him。 It was the most hideous and abject performance that my
imagination can conceive。
〃Enough；〃 cried Northmour； and then he threw open the window；
leaned out into the night； and in a tone of exultation； and with a
total forgetfulness of what was due to the presence of a lady；
poured out upon the ambassador a string of the most abominable
raillery both in English and Italian； and bade him be gone where he
had come from。 I believe that nothing so delighted Northmour at
that moment as the thought that we must all infallibly perish
before the night was out。
Meantime； the Italian put his flag of truce into his pocket； and
disappeared； at a leisurely pace； among the sand hills。
〃They make honorable war；〃 said Northmour。 〃They are all gentlemen
and soldiers。 For the credit of the thing； I wish we could change
sidesyou and I； Frank； and you； too； missy； my darlingand leave
that being on the bed to some one else。 Tut！ Don't look shocked！
We are all going post to what they call eternity； and may as well
be above board while there's time。 As far as I am concerned； if I
could first strangle Huddlestone and then get Clara in my arms； I
could die with some pride and satisfaction。 And as it is； by God；
I'll have a kiss！〃
Before I could do anything to interfere； he had rudely embraced and
repeatedly kissed the resisting girl。 Next moment I had pulled him
away with fury； and flung him heavily against the wall。 He laughed
loud and long； and I feared his wits had given way under the
strain； for even in the best of days he had been a sparing and a
quiet laugher。
〃Now； Frank；〃 said he； when his mirth was somewhat appeased； 〃it's
your turn。 Here's my hand。 Good…bye； farewell！〃 Then； seeing me
stand rigid and indignant； and holding Clara to my side〃Man！〃 he
broke out； 〃are you angry？ Did you think we were going to die with
all the airs and graces of society？ I took a kiss； I'm glad I did
it； and now you can take another if you like； and square accounts。〃
I turned from him with a feeling of contempt which I did not seek
to dissemble。
〃As you pl