“‘Well, you cheated!’
“Then outbroke a howl from all the friends around.
To his feet sprang each in fury, fists were clenched and teeth were ground.
‘End it! no time like the present! Captain, yours were our disgrace!
No delay, begin and finish! Stand back, leave the pair a space!
Let civilians be instructed: henceforth simply ply the pen,
Fly the sword! This clerk’s no swordsman? Suit him with a pistol, then!
Even odds! A dozen paces ’twixt the most and least expert
Make a dwarf a giant’s equal: nay, the dwarf, if he’s alert,
Likelier hits the broader target!’
“Up we stood accordingly.
As they handed me the weapon, such was my soul’s thirst to try
Then and there conclusions with this bully, tread on and stamp out
Every spark of his existence, that,—crept close to, curled about
By that toying, tempting, teasing, fool-forefinger’s middle joint,—
Don’t you guess?—the trigger yielded. Gone my chance! and at the point
Of such prime success moreover: scarce an inch above his head
Went my ball to hit the wainscot. He was living, I was dead.
“Up he marched in flaming triumph—’twas his right, mind!—up, within
Just an arm’s length. ‘Now, my clerkling,’ chuckled Cocky, with a grin
As the levelled piece quite touched me, ‘Now, Sir Counting-House, repeat
That expression which I told you proved bad manners! Did I cheat?’
“‘Cheat you did, you knew you cheated, and, this moment, know as well.
As for me, my homely breeding bids you—fire and go to Hell!’
“Twice the muzzle touched my forehead. Heavy barrel, flurried wrist.
Either spoils a steady lifting. Thrice: then, ‘Laugh at Hell who list,
I can’t! God’s no fable either. Did this boy’s eye wink once? No!
There’s no standing him and Hell and God all three against me,—so,
I did cheat!’
“And down he threw the pistol, out rushed—by the door
Possibly, but, as for knowledge if by chimney, roof or floor,
He effected disappearance—I’ll engage no glance was sent
That way by a single starer, such a blank astonishment
Swallowed up their senses: as for speaking—mute they stood as mice.
“Mute not long, though! Such reaction, such a hubbub in a trice!
‘Rogue and rascal! Who’d have thought it? What’s to be expected next,
When His Majesty’s Commission serves a sharper as pretext
For ... But where’s the need of wasting time now? Naught requires delay:
Punishment the Service cries for: let disgrace be wiped away
Publicly, in good broad daylight! Resignation? No, indeed!
Drum and fife must play the Rogue’s-March, rank and file be free to speed
Tardy marching on the rogue’s part by appliance in the rear
—Kicks administered shall right this wronged civilian,—never fear,
Mister Clive, for—though a clerk—you bore yourself—suppose we say—
Just as would beseem a soldier?
“‘Gentlemen, attention—pray!
First, one word!’
“I passed each speaker severally in review.
When I had precise their number, names, and styles, and fully knew
Over whom my supervision thenceforth must extend,—why, then—