"Is she dead?" he asked under his breath. "Have you killed her?" "Killed her, fool!" I cried. "Have you never seen a woman swoon?" "She looks like death," he muttered. "I thought----" "You thought!" I exclaimed. "You have too many thoughts. Begone, and call for help!" "Here is Angela," he said sullenly and without offering to move, as, light of foot, soft of voice, ox-eyed and docile, the black woman entered the room. When I saw her upon her knees beside the motionless figure, the head pillowed on her arm, her hand busy with the fastenings about throat and bosom, her dark face as womanly tender as any English mother's bending over her nursling; and when I saw my wife, with a little moan, creep further into the encircling arms, I was satisfied. "Come away!" I said, and, followed by Diccon, went out and shut the door. My Lord Carnal was never one to let the grass grow beneath his feet. An hour later came his cartel, borne by no less a personage than the Secretary of the colony. I took it from the point of that worthy's rapier. It ran thus: "Sir,--At what hour to-morrow and at what place do you prefer to die? And with what weapon shall I kill you?" "Captain Percy will give me credit for the profound reluctance with which I act in this affair against a gentleman and an officer so high in the esteem of the colony," said Master Pory, with his hand upon his heart. "When I tell him that I once fought at Paris in a duel of six on the same side with my late Lord Carnal, and that when I was last at court my Lord Warwick did me the honour to present me to the present lord, he will see that I could not well refuse when the latter requested my aid." "Master Pory's disinterestedness is perfectly well known," I said, without a smile. "If he ever chooses the stronger side, sure he has strong reasons for so doing. He will oblige me by telling his principal that I ever thought sunrise a pleasant hour for dying, and that there could be no fitter place than the field behind the church, convenient as it is to the graveyard. As for weapons, I have heard that he is a good swordsman, but I have some little reputation that way myself. If he prefers pistols or daggers, so be it." "I think we may assume the sword," said Master Pory. I bowed. "You'll bring a friend?" he asked. "I do not despair of finding one," I answered, "though my second, Master Secretary, will put himself in some jeopardy." "It is _combat à l'outrance_, I believe?" "I understand it so." "Then we'd better have Bohun. The survivor may need his services." "As you please," I replied, "though my man Diccon dresses my scratches well enough." He bit his lip, but could not hide the twinkle in his eye. "You are cocksure," he said. "Curiously enough, so is my lord. There are no further formalities to adjust, I believe? To-morrow at sunrise, behind the church, and with rapiers?" "Precisely."