“Don’t be alarmed! You don’t suppose I mean to hit him, do you?”
“No, I fear he means to hit you.”
“I’ll take my chance of that.”
“Make no mistake about this, Lucy!” Gervase said quietly. “If Martin means to kill you, there will be no chance. He is a very fine shot.”
“Is he?” The Viscount looked a little startled. “As good as you?”
“Much better.”
“The devil he is! The more reason, then, for not drawing back!”
“Lucy, if you really wish to be reassured, let me tell you that you will earn nothing but praise for withdrawing a challenge to a boy with not one tenth your experience!”
“You’re quite out. Not my challenge at all: I had nothing to do but accept a quarrel he was determined to force on to me.”
The Earl, who had been twirling his quizzing-glass on the end of its ribbon, now raised it to one eye, and through it surveyed his friend. “You said Martin slapped your face!”