He went straight to the drawing-room, where he found Anna sitting in the window seat.
She turned, and with an exclamation of pleasure started up to meet him.
“Oh, Dick I am so glad you have come back! What news? How did it all end?” she breathlessly inquired as she threw herself into his arms.
“In two words—not fatally,” he answered as he embraced her.
“Thank Heaven for that! You were in time, then?”
“No, not in time to prevent the meeting. It had taken place a few minutes before our arrival at St. Aubins. By the way, it was not to Guernsey, but to Jersey, that the duelists went. We found out the mistake in the telegram as soon as we reached Southampton. We were fortunate in being able to hire a yacht and pursue them to St. Aubins.”
“But you did not reach there in time to prevent the duel?”
“No, it had already taken place, as I told you.”
“But with what result—with what result? Oh, Dick, why can’t you speak and tell me?”
“My dear, I did tell you,—with no fatal result.”