“I have been reflecting, colonel,” he said gravely, “and, in these few minutes, have come to a somewhat singular determination.” “What is that, general?” “To tell you why _my_ son can never marry the daughter of Judge Conway!” XVIII. TWO MEN AND A WOMAN. General Davenant leaned his elbow on the desk, rested his forehead in his hand, and said in a deep, measured voice:-- “My story need not be a long one, colonel. Those who relate gay adventures and joyous experiences, indulge in endless details--memory is charming to them at such moments--they go back to the past, with a smile on the lips, recalling every little detail, every color of the bright picture. “My own narrative will be brief, because it is a gloomy one. It is far from pleasant to return to the scenes I propose to describe. I only do so to erase a stigma which seems to attach to my family and myself; to show you that, in spite of Judge Conway, I deserve your good opinion. Assuredly I do not propose any pleasure to myself in relating these events. Alas! one of the bitterest things to a proud man--and I am proud--is to even seem to defend his good name from imputed dishonor!” Knitting his brows as he spoke, the old soldier looked gloomily into the blaze before us. In a moment, he went on:-- “I was born in the county of Dinwiddie, colonel, where my family had lived from the time of the first settlement of Virginia. My father was a large landholder, and his most intimate friend was Mr. Conway, the father of the present judge. The family friendship was inherited by the young people of the two families--and my two most intimate friends were George and William Conway. One is dead, the other is Judge William Conway, member of Congress. We had played together as children, been companions at school. When our fathers died, and we in turn became the representatives of the two families, our friendship became even more close. I was half my time at ‘Five Forks’--they paid long visits to me at ‘The Pines’--we hunted together, went to entertainments together, drank wine together, and were inseparable.