"And for the millions of the South, I say he's wrong. There's a time for all things. And this is not the time for such an act. From the appearance of this book you can rest assured the emancipation of slaves in the South will cease. We will never be bullied into freeing our slaves by slander and insult. Colonel Lee's example will not be followed. The fanatics of the North have begun to spit on our faces. There's but one answer to an insult—and that's a blow!"
Lee stepped close to the planter, laid one hand gently on his shoulder, searched his angry eyes for a moment and slowly said:
"And thrice is he armed, my friend, who hath his quarrel just. I set my house in order before the first blow falls."
Ruffin smiled and threw off the ugly strain.
"I'm sorry, sir," he said with friendly indifference, "that my mission has been a failure."
"And I'm sorry we can't agree."
"I won't be able to stay to dinner, Mrs. Lee, and I bid you all good evening."
With a wave of his hand in a gesture behind which lurked the tingling of taut nerves, he turned and left.
The beat of his horse's hoof echoed down the road with a sharp, angry crack.