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singular interruption brought it to an end。
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THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
Out of the door of the house there stepped a tall； flaxen… haired man；
such a figure as one would choose for the flank of a Grenadier company。
As he turned his brown face and his blue eyes toward us I recognised Lord
Dacre。
With long strides he came down the gravel path straight for the spot
where we lay。
〃Come out； Ned！〃 he shouted； 〃you'll have the game… keeper putting a
charge of shot into you。 Come out； man； and don't skulk behind the
bushes。〃
It was not a very heroic situation for us。 My poor friend rose with a
crimson face。 I sprang to my feet also and bowed with such dignity as I
could muster。
〃Halloa！ it's the Frenchman； is it？〃 said he； without returning my bow。
〃I've got a crow to pluck with him already。 As to you； Ned； I knew you
would be hot on our scent； and so I was looking out for you。 I saw you
cross the park and go to ground in the shrubbery。 Come in； man； and let
us have all the cards on the table。〃
He seemed master of the situation； this handsome giant of a man；
standing at his ease on his own ground while we slunk out of our hiding…
place。 Lord Rufton had said not a word； but I saw by his darkened brow
and his sombre eyes that the storm was gathering。 Lord Dacre led the
way into the house； and we followed close at his heels。
He ushered us himself into an oak…panelled sitting…room； closing the
door behind us。 Then he looked me up and down with insolent eyes。
〃Look here； Ned；〃 said he； 〃time was when an English family could
settle their own affairs in their own way。
What has this foreign fellow got to do with your sister and my wife？〃
〃Sir；〃 said I； 〃permit me to point out to you that this is not a case
merely of a sister or a wife； but that I am the friend of the lady in question；
and that I have the privilege which every gentleman possesses of
protecting a woman against brutality。 It is only by a gesture that I can
show you what I think of you。〃 I had my riding glove in my hand； and I
flicked him across the face with it。 He drew back with a bitter smile and
his eyes were as hard as flint。
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THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
〃So you've brought your bully with you； Ned？〃 said he。 〃You might
at least have done your fighting yourself； if it must come to a fight。〃
〃So I will；〃 cried Lord Rufton。 〃Here and now。〃
〃When I've killed this swaggering Frenchman；〃 said Lord Dacre。 He
stepped to a side table and opened a brass…bound case。 〃By Gad；〃 said he；
〃either that man or I go out of this room feet foremost。 I meant well by
you； Ned； I did； by George； but I'll shoot this led… captain of yours as sure
as my name's George Dacre。
Take your choice of pistols； sir； and shoot across this table。 The
barkers are loaded。 Aim straight and kill me if you can； for by the Lord if
you don't； you're done。〃
In vain Lord Rufton tried to take the quarrel upon himself。 Two
things were clear in my mindone that the Lady Jane had feared above all
things that her husband and brother should fight； the other that if I could
but kill this big milord； then the whole question would be settled forever in
the best way。 Lord Rufton did not want him。 Lady Jane did not want
him。 Therefore； I； Etienne Gerard； their friend； would pay the debt of
gratitude which I owed them by freeing them of this encumbrance。 But；
indeed； there was no choice in the matter； for Lord Dacre was as eager to
put a bullet into me as I could be to do the same service to him。 In vain
Lord Rufton argued and scolded。 The affair must continue。
〃Well； if you must fight my guest instead of myself； let it be to…
morrow morning with two witnesses；〃 he cried； at last； 〃this is sheer
murder across the table。〃
〃But it suits my humour； Ned；〃 said Lord Dacre。
〃And mine； sir；〃 said I。
〃Then I'll have nothing to do with it；〃 cried Lord Rufton。 〃I tell you；
George； if you shoot Colonel Gerard under these circumstances you'll find
yourself in the dock instead of on the bench。 I won't act as second； and
that's flat。〃
〃Sir；〃 said I； 〃I am perfectly prepared to proceed without a second。〃
〃That won't do。 It's against the law；〃 cried Lord Dacre。 〃Come；
Ned； don't be a fool。 You see we mean to fight。 Hang it； man； all I want
you to do is to drop a handkerchief。〃
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THE ADVENTURES OF GERARD
〃I'll take no part in it。〃
〃Then I must find someone who will；〃 said Lord Dacre。
He threw a cloth over the pistols which lay upon the table； and he rang
the bell。 A footman entered。 〃Ask Colonel Berkeley if he will step this
way。 You will find him in the billiard…room。〃
A moment later there entered a tall thin Englishman with a great
moustache； which was a rare thing amid that clean…shaven race。 I have
heard since that they were worn only by the Guards and the Hussars。
This Colonel Berkeley was a guardsman。 He seemed a strange； tired；
languid； drawling creature with a long black cigar thrusting out； like a pole
from a bush； amidst that immense moustache。 He looked from one to the
other of us with true English phlegm； and he betrayed not the slightest
surprise when he was told our intention。
〃Quite so；〃 said he； 〃quite so。〃
〃I refuse to act； Colonel Berkeley；〃 cried Lord Rufton。
〃Remember； this duel cannot proceed without you； and I hold you
personally responsible for anything that happens。〃
This Colonel Berkeley appeared to be an authority upon the question；
for he removed the cigar from his mouth and he laid down the law in his
strange； drawling voice。
〃The circumstances are unusual but not irregular； Lord Rufton；〃 said
he。 〃This gentleman has given a blow and this other gentleman has
received it。 That is a clear issue。 Time and conditions depend upon the
pe