“Well, I shall,” said George instantly.
“Let him choose what he likes: it makes no odds to me!” said Sherry grandly. “I shall send Mr Fakenham to wait on your second, my lord, and let me tell you that I consider it a curst mean trick of you to name Gil before I had a chance to do so myself!”
Chapter Thirteen
IT WAS LAID DOWN IN THE CODE OF HONOUR that the first duty of the seconds in an encounter was to do all that lay in their power to bring about a reconciliation between their principals, and never did seconds use greater endeavours in this direction than Mr Ringwood and the Honourable Ferdy Fakenham. Indeed, neither of these gentlemen confined his powers of persuasion to his own principal: severally, and together, they exhorted and cajoled both would-be combatants. Their efforts met with no success, the Viscount stating bluntly that however innocent George’s intentions might have been he was not going to draw back from an engagement; and George taking up the attitude that since he was not the challenger it was useless to address any representations to him whatsoever.
“Dash it, George!” said the exasperated Mr Fakenham. “You can’t expect Sherry to take it back!”
“I don’t,” said George.
“No getting away from it,” said Mr Ringwood. “You’re in the wrong. Ought to own it. No business to kiss Sherry’s wife.”
“Sherry’s a dog in the manger!” said George, his eye kindling. “Why don’t he kiss her himself? Tell me that!”
“Nothing to do with the case,” replied Mr Ringwood. “What’s more, not your affair, George. I don’t say you’re wrong, but it don’t alter facts: you ought not to kiss her!”
“Very well! Let Sherry blow a hole in me — if he can!”