“‘_He_, madam?’ I said. ‘You refer to your respected _brother_--to Mr. Mortimer?’ “‘Yes! _he_ would make you repent your cowardly outrages and insults.’ “I looked at my watch, it was just eleven. “‘The hour is earlier than I thought, madam,’ I said, ‘but perhaps he has already arrived.’ “And advancing to the side of the lady, I took her arm, drew her toward the window, and said:-- “‘Why not give your friend the signal you have agreed on, madam?’ “At a bound she reached the window, and struck a rapid series of blows with her fingers upon the pane. “Five minutes afterward a heavy step was heard ascending the private staircase. I went to the door and unlocked it; the step approached--stopped at the door--the door opened, and Mortimer appeared. “‘Come in, my dear brother-in-law,’ I said, ‘we are waiting for you.’” XXIII. THE RESULT OF THE SIGNAL. “Mortimer recoiled as if a blow had been suddenly struck at him. His astonishment was so comic that I began to laugh. “‘Good! you start!’ I said. ‘You thought I was dead by this time?’ “‘Yes,’ he coolly replied. “As he spoke, his hand stole under the cloak in which he was wrapped, and I heard the click of a pistol as he cocked it. I drew my own weapon, cocked it in turn, and placing the muzzle upon Mortimer’s breast, said:-- “‘Draw your pistol and you are dead!’ “He looked at me with perfect coolness, mingled with a sort of curiosity. I saw that he was a man of unfaltering courage, and that the instincts of a gentleman had not entirely left him, soiled as he was with every crime. His eye was calm and unshrinking. He did not move an inch when I placed my pistol muzzle upon his breast. At the words which I uttered he withdrew his hand from his cloak--he had returned the weapon to its place--and with a penetrating glance, said:-- “‘What do you wish, sir; as you declare you await me?’ “‘Ask madam,’ I said, ‘or rather exert your own ingenuity.’ “‘My ingenuity?’ “‘In guessing.’ “‘Why not tell me?’ “‘So be it. The matter is perfectly simple, sir. I wish to kill you, or give you an opportunity to kill me--is that plain?’ “‘Quite so,’ replied Mortimer, without moving a muscle. “‘I can understand, without further words, that all explanations and discussions are wholly useless.’ “‘Wholly.’ “‘You wish to fight me,’ he said. “‘Yes.’ “‘To put an end to me, if possible?’ “‘Yes.’ “‘Well, I will give you that opportunity, sir, and, even return you my thanks for not killing me on the spot.’ “He paused a moment, and looked keenly at me.