"Blamed if I understand you! You seem cool enough, and still you act as if you actually meant to meet him with deadly weapons."
"I shall meet him with any kind of weapons he may name."
Roll Ditson came forward.
"Of course you understand that I have no feeling, Merry, old man," he said; "but Diamond has chosen me as his second once more, and so I can't refuse to serve him. It is a most unfortunate affair, but he insists that you fight him with rapiers."
"Very well; I agree to that. Arrange the time and place with my second, Mr. Rattleton."
Frank sat down, picked up an illustrated paper, and seemed deeply interested in the pictures.
Ditson drew Rattleton aside.
"My principal," said he, swelling with importance, "demands that this meeting take place at once."
"Great Scott!" exploded Harry. "I object to this sort of business. It is outrageous! If one of them should be seriously wounded, what excuse can be made?"
"We'll find some excuse that will go."