"Ebberstein came straight to me. It was rather decent of him. He knew, of course, that I was your friend, and the best person to tell you what had happened. It was obvious that you had to be told. You see—it was not only your brother-in-law. Your—wife’s name and—and honour were dragged in." Wolff’s lips tightened. "I know," he said. "Go on!" "Well, we talked it over, and I promised to come round to you directly I was free. When I got back this morning I found your letter waiting for me, and here I am!" He laid his hand with an affectionate movement on his comrade’s shoulder. "Whatever it is—I’m your man," he said. "I know, _alter Junge_. You have always stuck to me. You were the one man in all Berlin to whom I felt I could turn with real confidence. By the way, I suppose I may leave the arrangement of things in your hands?" "I shall be proud to act for you, Wolff. To all intents and purposes everything is settled. Ebberstein and I talked it over last night. In the almost certain event of your challenging, we decided that a Court of Honour should sit this evening in my house and that the meeting should take place at the latest to-morrow morning. It is impossible to know when we shall have marching-orders, so there must be no delay. If you wish it, I shall proceed at once to Bauer and find out whom he intends to appoint as seconds. The rest of the formalities you can safely entrust to me." "Thank you. When is the Court of Honour appointed to sit?" "If it can be managed, at six o’clock. The circumstances are simple enough, so that the conditions should be very quickly settled. You, of course, are the challenging party, and the matter will come under the head of ’_schwere Beleidigung_,’ so that ten paces will be about the outcome. Are you good at that distance?" "Pretty well." "Ebberstein says your man is a first-class shot. _Es heisst aufpassen_, Wolff!" Arnim made no answer and his companion took up his helmet. "I shall come round to you this evening as soon as the Court’s decision has been given," he said. Wolff looked up quickly. "If you don’t mind, I would prefer to come to you," he said. "And if I might, I will stay the night at your house. It would be better. I do not want my wife to know anything of what is to happen." "But—_Menschenkind_! She _must_ know!" "She suspects nothing. You forget—she is not one of us. She does not understand." Seleneck stared thoughtfully in front of him, pulling his moustache as though a prey to some painful uneasiness. "Of course I hope the very best for you, Wolff," he said, at last, "but you are a big man, and unlucky accidents happen. It would be pretty hard on your wife if she knew nothing and——" "It would be a shock," interrupted Wolff quietly. "I know that. Believe me, though, what I have arranged is for the best. She would not understand."