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 CHAPTER XVII

A DASTARDLY SCHEME

As soon as I reached home I despatched a servant in hot haste for Zoiloff, and when he arrived I told him what had happened.

"He forced the quarrel on you?" he asked.

"Certainly. I was willing enough, Heaven knows; but there was not a man in the room who would not have to say that I bore his insults till I must have seemed all but a coward. But I wanted to make this thing a life and death affair. And it is that."

"You will kill him?" he asked, his dark eyes glowing.

"If I can," I replied, shortly and sternly.

"Good. But Heaven knows what will happen afterwards. Though if the thing gets wind your meeting may be prevented. Old Kolfort will be mad; and if he had a tool there, as is most probable, you may be arrested before morning."

"I never thought of that, or I would have finished the thing on the spot."

"And gained the reputation of having killed a man in his cups. Thank Heaven you didn't think of it. I suppose the man means to fight, but, like his master, Kolfort, he's such a snake you never know what he does mean till he has done it."

"No man who spoke as he did could hope to escape