“If it is,” retorted Danny Grin, dryly, “then please help me to find out the point at which I am to laugh.”
“But I have sworn to uphold the laws of the United States and to obey the regulations of the United States Navy,” Dave continued, “and dueling is against the regulations.”
“It looks,” returned Dan, soberly, “as though you would have to fight, or ‘lose face.’”
“And if I engage in a duel,” Dave retorted, “I have perjured myself, for I shall have broken the regulations that I am sworn to obey.”
“Well, then,” Dan inquired, “what are you going to do? Go back aboard the ‘Katahdin’ and forego all shore leave as long as we are in Japanese waters? But, for that matter, would naval officers of any foreign service respect you anywhere in the world? For the officers of most navies still fight duels at need, and the Japanese officers would be likely to snub you, in every foreign port, for what they would consider your ‘shame.’”
“But on what basis am I expected to fight?” Dave demanded. “Because I answered Katura’s blow on the face?”
“I suppose that is the pretended reason,” Dalzell answered, gravely. “Of course every one familiar with dueling will know that some deeper cause exists.”
“It must be the inexplicable matter of the medallion that makes Katura so anxious to slit my windpipe with a sword, or drive a bullet through my breast,” Dave went on. “I must tell you, Dan, all that I know about this wretched matter of the medallion.”
Danny Grin’s eyes opened wider and wider as he heard the tale.
“That’s the story,” nodded Dalzell vigorously, when he had heard it all. “I understand now. Katura can’t think that you stole the medallion. That would be altogether contrary to the nature of an officer and a gentleman. But he figures that you took the medallion from him as a joke, and when he realizes that you, in turn, might have lost it, and thinks of the anguish of his mother, who owns the medallion, then Katura’s blood is up, and he must fight you. Hence, he gave you the blow in the face, which you returned. Therefore, according to the ideals of the duello, you owe him a meeting on the field of honor.”