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 then a messenger ushered me into the General's room.

He looked even harder and grimmer and sterner than ever as he glanced up from his desk and fixed his eyes on me.

"What is your business with me?" he asked curtly.

"That is the question I have come to put to you," I retorted, quite as shortly.

"Why to me?"

"Because I have heard, not quite incidentally, that you have been sending to my house to inquire for me."

"You appear to have been called away suddenly."

"Driven away, I should say rather," I retorted. "May I ask why you have dared to make such an attempt?"

"Dared?" he returned, with a flash of his eyes at the word.

"Dared," I repeated.

"I am not answerable to you for the steps taken in the exigencies of State."

"Exigencies of State you term it. A singular name to describe an act which in plain terms means that when one of your chief men has forced a quarrel on me and challenged me, you would shut me up to prevent our meeting, so that he might have an opportunity of branding me as a coward."

"I do not think you a coward," he answered slowly.

"Nor does your Duke Sergius now," said I.

This touched him, for he asked with evident interest: "What has happened this morning? A good deal may turn on your answer."

"He is not dead, if that's what you mean—only badly wounded;" and I gave him a brief description of the fight. He listened closely, but without a sign of his feelings on his face.