“That sir was with no intent of evil. ’Twas but a natural consequence of the series of disasters which fell on the enterprise which had so crowned my happiness. When I turned to come home so that … so that the lady might be in time to meet her parents who were expected to arrive at--at her destination, I forgot, in my eagerness to meet her wishes, the regulations as to speed; and I was arrested for furious driving. In my anxiety to save her from any form of exposal to publicity, and in my perplexity as to how to manage it, I advised her returning by herself in my motor, I remaining at Dalry. When she had gone, and I had arranged for attending the summons served on me, I wired over to this hotel to keep me rooms. I thought it better that as J … that as the lady had gone to England I should remain in Scotland. I started to walk here; but I was overtaken by a fog and delayed for hours behind my time. The house was locked up--every one asleep. The night porter who let me in told me that as I had not arrived, as by my telegram, the bedroom I had ordered was let to some one else who had arrived in a plight similar to my own. ‘Another party’ were his words; I had no clue to whom or what the other visitor was. The only place left in the house unoccupied--for there were many unexpected guests through the fog--was that sofa. There I slept. Only a few minutes ago I was waked by some one coming into the room. When I saw that it was … when I saw who it was--the woman whom I loved and whom I intended to marry--I naturally took her in my arms without thinking.” Then without pausing, for he saw the anger in the Colonel’s face and felt that to prolong this part of the narration was dangerous, he went on quickly: “I trust that you understand, Colonel Ogilvie, that this explanation in no way infringes your right of punishing me as you suggest. Please understand--and this is my answer to your suggestion as to my appealing to law--that I accept your wish to go through the form of a duel!” He was hotly interrupted by the Colonel: “Form of a duel! Is this another insult? When I say fight I mean fight--understand that. I fight _à l’outrance_; and that way only.” Athlyne’s composure did not seem even ruffled: “Exactly! I took no other meaning. But surely I am entitled to take it that even a real duel has the form of a duel!” “Then what do you mean sir by introducing the matter that way?” “Simply, Colonel Ogilvie, to protect myself from a later accusation on your part--either to me or of me--of a charge of poltroonery; or even a silent suspicion of it in your own mind!” “How do you mean?” “Sir, I only speak for myself. I have already said more than once that I hold my life at your disposal. From that I do not shrink; I accept the form of a duel for my execution.” “Your execution! Explain yourself, sir?” In a calm even voice came the answer.