"You, Rej!" was the all-but echo of a response, and the cousins came together, Sir Richard passing on into the park. The gentleman tax-gatherer, still smarting under the rebuff given him, the smart shared by his servant, had ill-manneredly left the gate open behind them. It was months since the cousins had met; though each knew where the other was, or ought to be. Hence Reginald's surprise to see Eustace there, supposing him to be engaged in his duties at Court. He spoke it inquiringly, as they held out to shake hands; but, before the other could make answer, he saw that which gave him a start--blood upon the hand extended to him! The white buckskin glove was reddened with it all over up to the gauntlets. "God bless me, Eust! what's this? A wound! Have you been quarrelling?" "Oh! nothing much. Only a little prick in the wrist." "Prick in the wrist! But from what?" "The point of a rapier." "The deuce! Then you _have_ been quarrelling. With whom, pray?" "Speak a little lower, Rej. I'd rather _he_ didn't hear us." And Eustace nodded towards Sir Richard, who was not yet quite beyond earshot. "Surely you don't mean the affair was with him?" "I do--it was." "He got the better of you?" "Quick as you could count ten." "Zounds! that's strange--you such a swordsman! But still stranger what I see now, your being in his company. Not his prisoner, are you?" "Well, in a way I am." "In that case, cousin, my sword's at your service. So let _me_ try conclusions with him. Possibly, I may get you a _revanche_; at the same time release you from any _parole_ you may be under." Though, but the moment before, some little cowed, and declining a combat with serving men, Reginald Trevor was all courage now; and feared not to meet a gentleman in fair fight. For he saw that Trevor blood had been spilt, and, although he and his cousin Eustace had never been bosom friends, they were yet of the same family. The hot Cymric blood that ran in the veins of both boiled up in his to avenge whatever defeat his kinsman might have sustained, and without awaiting answer he asked impatiently,-- "Shall I follow, and flout him, Eust? I will if you but say the word." "No, Rej; nothing of the sort. Thank you all the same." "Well; if you're against it, I won't. But it edges a Trevor's teeth to see one of his kin--full cousin, too--worsted, conquered, dead--down as you seem to be. All, I suppose, from your antagonist being a bit bigger and older than you are. He's that as regards myself; for all I've no fear to face him." "I know you haven't, Rej. But don't be angry with me for saying, if you did, it would end as it has with me--maybe worse." The _ci-devant_ gentleman-usher spoke with some pique. Notwithstanding the generous offer of his cousin to espouse his quarrel, there was that in the proposal itself which seemed to reflect on his own capability--a suggestion, almost an assertion, of patronising superiority.