"Then what is your present intention?"
"I am going to London to find Sir Maurice Vibart—to stop this duel."
"Impossible!" said I.
"But you see, sir, it so happens that I am possessed of certain intelligence which might make Sir Maurice's existence in England positively untenable."
"Nevertheless," said I, "it is impossible."
"That remains to be seen, Mr. Vibart," said he, and speaking, turned upon his heel.
"One moment," said I, "was not your cousin, Sir Jasper, of the middle height, slim-built and fair-haired, with a habit of plucking at his lips when at all nervous or excited?"
"Exactly; you know him, sir?"
"No," I answered, "but I have seen him, very lately, and I say again to stop this duel is an impossibility."
"Do you mean—" he began, and paused. Now, as his eyes met mine, the battered hat escaped his fingers, and lay all unheeded. "Do you mean—" he began again, and again stopped.