"Thanks for such extreme politeness. What weapon do you fight with? I have had enough of this," repeated he, savagely. I was almost bursting with rage, but remembering that Falmouth was on his own yacht, I controlled myself. "Both you and I," said I, "are too badly wounded to use our swords,--pistols would be the most suitable arm." "That is quite true," said Falmouth, as he sank into an armchair. He rang the bell. One of his servants entered. "Beg Mr. Williams to come below," said Falmouth. The _valet_ went out. "Williams and Geordy will be our seconds," said Falmouth, imperiously. I gave a mechanical sign of assent,--I was annihilated. Williams came down into the cabin. "Where are we, Williams? What is the nearest land?" "The wind has been from the north all the morning, my lord, and we are well on our way to Malta. If it keeps on at this rate, we will get there to-morrow evening." "Try, then, my brave fellow, to get us there as soon as possible,--and give me your arm to help me back to my own cabin." I was alone. There is no need to say that I was plunged in despair. Revived by a burning fever, my wound began to give me terrible pain. Tossing every moment on the great waves that the north wind had raised up, and which were growing higher momentarily, the schooner leaped wildly forward. This ploughing the sea caused me such agony that I could scarcely help screaming aloud. The doctor came to see how I was getting on, and from childish obstinacy I hid my suffering. The man was paid for his services by Falmouth. I was determined to accept his services no longer. What hours I passed! Great God, it was horrible! The excitement that I had undergone, added to the fever, had raised my nervous sensibility to such a degree that, doubled up in bed, I hid my face in my hands, for the light was intolerable to me, and I wept bitterly. Usually tears were a relief to me, but these were bitter and scalding. Then, when my despair was at its height, I contrasted it, in my usual way, with my sensations of only a few hours before. I compared that which was with that which had been,--that which might have been,--had I not with my own hand crushed, blighted, deliberately destroyed so many new opportunities for happiness! Instead of hiding my shame in solitude and darkness, instead of these dreary and sad thoughts and this isolation which my own outrageous conduct had brought upon me, I should be tranquilly seated by my friend,--my heart filled with grateful affection. This man who now hated and despised me, who eagerly awaited the hour when he should wipe out with my blood the insult he had received, would be still there at my side, kind and solicitous for my comfort. These groans, wrung from me by physical suffering and which I tried so hard to stifle, would have been answered by the pitying voice of a brother in his attempt to comfort me.