“No, I won’t take no oath, because I won’t break the command of Him who said, ‘Swear not at all,’ but I will make an afformation.”
And she lifted her withered hand and made a most solemn affirmation that she would speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, to the best of her knowledge and belief, concerning them young tigers and the duel they were planning to fight.
And, having done this, she cleared her throat and began her story.
Leonidas arose from his chair, and went and stood by the side of Roland, and while their accuser gave in her evidence they nudged each other and laughed to themselves like a couple of schoolboys.
“Well, squire, it was yesterday afternoon, and me and Roland was in the house together, for he had just come home from Port Tobacco after going to send that telegram to that parson ’way out yonder and waiting to get an answer ’bout the marriage out there. You know, squire.”
“Yes, I know. Proceed.”
“Well, while we was talkin’—me and Roland—up rides that young panther there,” she said, pointing to Le, who kissed his hand to her for the compliment.
“And my scamp—him there,” pointing to Roland, who bowed and smiled, “saw the horse and rider through the window, and rushed out to meet the wisiter and shut the door after him; but he didn’t shut it tight enough, and so it came ajar, and the draught come through on my back, and chilled me, and I’m so subject to lumbago that I can’t stand a draught on my back. You know, squire.”
Mr. Force merely nodded, and the witness continued:
“So I ups and goes to call them boys in out’n the cold, and to shut the door. And then I seen Mr. Le—him there—sitting in his saddle and bending down, talking werry fierce-like to Roland. And Roland—him there—listening as grim as a meat ax. And I says to myself, when two or three of them boys is gathered together, sez I, it ain’t the Lord, but the devil, that’s in the midst of them, sez I. And you know it, squire.”