A knot of people had collected, and young Beresford was one. He took Leslie's arm, and said:
"Come away, and cool yourself."
"I will not cool. I will throw the lie back in that fellow's throat; and——"
But Mr. Beresford drew Leslie away; but not before Lady Betty—cloaked and muffled, ready to step into her chair—pressed through the little crowd.
"What is it? Goodness! What is amiss, Sir Maxwell?"
"My dear lady, we have a madman to deal with—that's all. We will settle our affairs on Claverton Down, as others have done."
"Oh, mercy! don't fight a duel; it is too shocking, it's——"
But Sir Maxwell hurried Lady Betty away, saying in his cold, hard voice, which, however, trembled a little:
"That poor boy will repent insulting me; but let it not disturb you." And then Sir Maxwell resigned Lady Betty to David's care, and she was soon lost to sight in the recesses of the chair.
The ubiquitous Zach had been on the watch, and had reached North Parade before Lady Betty.