"I have come to give myself up for shooting Craven Le Noir, who slandered me," answered Capitola, quietly.
The old man let fall his hands full of papers, raised his head and stared at her over the tops of his green spectacles.
"What did you say, young woman?" he asked, in the tone of one who doubted his own ears.
"I say that I have forestalled an arrest by coming here to give myself up for the shooting of a dastard who slandered, insulted and refused to give me satisfaction," answered Capitola, very distinctly.
"Am I awake? Do I hear aright? Do you mean to say that you have killed a man?" asked the dismayed magistrate.
"Oh, I can't say as to the killing! I shot him off his horse and then sent Mr. Merry and his men to pick him up, while I came here to answer for myself!"
"Unfortunate girl! And how can you answer for such a dreadful deed?" exclaimed the utterly confounded magistrate.
"Oh, as to the dreadfulness of the deed, that depends on circumstances," said Cap, "and I can answer for it very well! He made addresses to me. I refused him. He slandered me. I challenged him. He insulted me. I shot him!"
"Miserable young woman, if this be proved true, I shall have to commit you!"
"Just as you please," said Cap, "but bless your soul, that won't help Craven Le Noir a single bit!"