"I beg, ma'am, you'll take no trouble," said Deane, anxiously polite. "It's no inconvenience whatever—in fact, to my advantage. I've got two or three little bets out the thing'll come off; so I'm bound to come out even."
The dowager flashed up, and rang the bell violently, her whole face convulsed with passion: "Show this man out! show him off the place!"
Lee walked out gravely, fingering his cap. At the door he turned to the mulatto and said sympathetically, "Does she have 'em often?"
"What, young marsta?"
"Fits," said Lee sententiously, and walked off.
But he was not through yet. The lawyer waited under the gaslight, and as the soldier, pondering the late interview curiously, approached, he addressed him: "Captain Lee, I believe?"
"Them's my initials," said Deane. "What about it?"
"A shrewd young fellow like you might make something out of this duel."
"As how?" asked Deane.
"The old lady would pay handsomely to have it postponed," said the lawyer.