"So I have discovered you, have I? Why did you fail to keep our appointment within?" He drew up sharply, with an oath, peering at me through the dark, bewildered by my speech. "The spy! Ye gods, what luck! Do you mean to insinuate I ran away, sir?" "How else could I interpret it?" I questioned coolly, determined to taunt him to action. "I waited where you told me till I was tired. Perhaps you will oblige me by explaining your purpose." He muttered something, but without comprehending its purport I went on threateningly: "And I think you made use of the word _spy_ just now. Did you mistake me for another?" "Mistake you? No; I'd know you in hell," he burst forth, anger making his voice tremble. "I called you a spy, and you are one, you sneaking night rat. You never waited for me in the parlor; if you had you'd now be under arrest." "Oh, so that was the plan?" "Yes, that was it, Mister Lieutenant Fortesque." "Well, Grant," I said sternly, "I've got just one answer to make you. You can call your guard, or you can fight it out with me here. Whichever you choose will depend upon whether you are a man, or a cur." I took a step nearer, watching him as best I could in the dark. "You are an unmitigated liar, sir," and with sudden sweep of the arm I struck him with open hand. "Probably you will realize what that means." For an instant he remained so still I doubted him, even held him cheap; then the breath surged through his clinched teeth in a mad oath. He surged toward me, but my sword was out, the steel blocking his advance. "You--you actually mean fight?" "Why not? Isn't that cause enough? If not I will furnish more." "I do not fight spies--" "Stop! That silly charge is merely an excuse. You do not believe it yourself. You wanted a quarrel yonder in the ball-room. The expression of your eyes was an insult. Don't evade now. I am here, wearing the uniform of the British army. I have every right of a gentleman, and you will cross swords, or I'll brand you coward wherever there is an English garrison." The fellow was certainly not afraid, yet he hesitated, not quite clear in his own mind what he had better do. I might be a spy, and I might not; he possessed no doubt a moment before, yet the very boldness of my words had already half convinced him there might be some mistake. Should he call to the men on the steps yonder, denounce me, and turn me over to the guard? That was the easiest way for him, the greater disgrace to me. Yet if, by any chance, I proved later innocent of the charge, then he would become the laughingstock of the army. I heard his teeth grate savagely as he realized his dilemma, and laughed outright. "You do not seem altogether pleased, my friend; what are you, a toy soldier?" "Hell's acre! I'll show you what I am." I saw the sudden flash of his drawn blade, and flung up my own in guard.