Page:The leopard's spots - a romance of the white man's burden-1865-1900 (IA leopardsspotsrom00dixo).pdf/385

 with a clean emphasis that was not lost on the older master of men before him.

"Call at my office in the morning at ten o'clock," he said, at length.

"I will not do it. I am going home on the nine o'clock train. To-morrow is Christmas day. The issue between us is of life import to me, and it may be of equal importance to you. I will not put it off another hour!"

The General glared at him. His hands began to tremble, and raising his voice, he thundered,

"I am not accustomed to take orders from young upstarts. How dare you attempt to force yourself into my house when you were told again and again not to attempt it, sir?"

"Your former welcome to me on three occasions when the object of my visits was as well known to you as to me, gives me, at least, the vested rights of a final interview. I demand it," retorted Gaston curtly.

"And I refuse it!" Still there was a note of indecision in his voice which Gaston was quick to catch.

"General," he protested, "you are a soldier and a gentleman. You never fought an enemy with uncivilised warfare. Yet you have allowed some one under your protection to stab me in the dark for the past year. I am entitled to know why I fight and against whom. I ask your sense of fairness as a soldier if I am not right?"

The General hesitated, and finally said, as he opened the door,

"Walk into the parlour."

When they were seated, Gaston plunged immediately into the question he had at heart.

"Now, General, I wish to ask you plainly why you have treated me as you have since I asked you for your daughter's hand?"