Robards the drunken says nothing, being frozen of fear. The enraged Andrew stalks away in quest of the taciturn Overton who owns those hair triggers.
“Let us take a walk,” says hair-trigger Overton, running his arm inside the lean elbow of Andrew. Once in the woods, he goes on: “What do you want to do?”
“Kill him! I would put him in hell in a second!”
“Doubtless! Having killed him, what then will you do?”
“I don't understand.”
“Let me explain: You kill Robards. His wife is a widow. Also, because you have killed Robards in a quarrel over her, she is the talk of the settlement. Therefore, I put the question: Having made Rachel the scandal of the Cumberland, what will you do?”
There is a long, embarrassed pause. Presently Andrew lifts his gaze to the cool eyes of his friend.
“I shall offer her marriage. She shall, if she accept it, have the protection of my name.”
“And then,” goes on the ice-and-iron Overton, “the scandal will be redoubled. They will say that you and Rachel, plotting together, have murdered Robards to open a wider way for your guilty loves.”
Andrew takes a deep breath. “What would you counsel?” he asks.