“Of course he is. Every man is mad who challenges another to mortal combat.”
“Great Heaven! what is to be done? How did you know this, Dick?” demanded the General, starting up and beginning to walk the floor with rapid strides, as was his custom when greatly excited. “How do you know this, Dick, I ask?”
Mr. Hammond related the discovery he had made on the morning after the ball.
“But, good Heaven! this purpose cannot be carried out in a Christian and civilized country. I do not think that at this day of the world any two Englishmen would ever think of such a barbarism as fighting a duel, and you may depend that no two foreigners are going to be allowed to do it. Duel indeed! Chivalry is dead, and law reigns in its stead. Dick, you and I must go before some magistrate and give the information. We must go at once. I’ll put on my boots; you call a cab,” said the General, excitedly.
“Sir, I went immediately and laid the information before the Chief of Police at Scotland Yard. He promised to take prompt steps to arrest the challenger and prevent the hostile meeting. An hour ago I went again to the office, and learned that two detectives had been sent in pursuit of the parties. They had not yet returned to report at the office.”
“And that is all you know?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then we must go all the same. I cannot rest quietly here while my dead brother’s son is in peril, even if he is a fool and a madman!—Jake!” he called to his passing servant, “bring my boots to my room, and then run and call a cab. And, my dear Anna,” he said, turning to his granddaughter, “put a guard upon your face as well as upon your lips, in Drusilla’s presence. She must not know what has occurred.”
“I fear she already suspects something wrong,” answered Anna.
“Oh, she probably thinks as you did, Anna—that I have got into a scrape. I saw how pitifully she regarded me as she left the room. She thinks I have fallen among thieves again. Well, let her continue to think so; better that than she should suspect the truth,” suggested Dick.