Page:Hope-indiscretions of duchess.djvu/203

Rh light is all but gone now. Come, take your place. There is little choice.”

“You mean to fight, then?”

“Not if you will leave me in peace: but if not”

“Let us go back to the inn and fight to-morrow: and meanwhile things shall stand as they are,” said I, repeating my offer, in the hope that he would now be more reasonable.

He looked at me sullenly; then his rage came again upon him, and he cried:

“Take your place: stand where you like, and, in God’s name, be quick!” And he paused, and then added: “I cannot live another night” And he broke off again, and finished by crying: “Quick! Are you ready?”

Seeing there was no help for it, I took up a position. No more words passed between us, but with a gesture he signed to me to move a little: and thus he adjusted our places till we were opposite one another, about two yards between us, and each presenting his side direct to the sun, so that its slanting rays troubled each of us equally, and that but little. Then he said:

“I will step back five paces, and do you do the like. When we are at the distance, do you count slowly, ‘One—two—three,’ and at ‘Three’ we will fire.”

I did not like having to count, but it was necessary that one of us should; and he, when I pressed him, would not. Therefore it was arranged as he said. And I began to step back, but for an instant he stayed me. He was calm now, and he spoke in quiet tones.