“But, good Heaven! this purpose cannot be carried out in a Christian and civilized country. I do not think that at this day of the world any two Englishmen would ever think of such a barbarism as fighting a duel, and you may depend that no two foreigners are going to be allowed to do it. Duel indeed! Chivalry is dead, and law reigns in its stead. Dick, you and I must go before some magistrate and give the information. We must go at once. I’ll put on my boots; you call a cab,” said the General, excitedly. “Sir, I went immediately and laid the information before the Chief of Police at Scotland Yard. He promised to take prompt steps to arrest the challenger and prevent the hostile meeting. An hour ago I went again to the office, and learned that two detectives had been sent in pursuit of the parties. They had not yet returned to report at the office.” “And that is all you know?” “Yes, sir.” “Then we must go all the same. I cannot rest quietly here while my dead brother’s son is in peril, even if he is a fool and a madman!—Jake!” he called to his passing servant, “bring my boots to my room, and then run and call a cab. And, my dear Anna,” he said, turning to his granddaughter, “put a guard upon your face as well as upon your lips, in Drusilla’s presence. She must not know what has occurred.” “I fear she already suspects something wrong,” answered Anna. “Oh, she probably thinks as you did, Anna—that I have got into a scrape. I saw how pitifully she regarded me as she left the room. She thinks I have fallen among thieves again. Well, let her continue to think so; better that than she should suspect the truth,” suggested Dick. “Indeed she shall not harbor a doubt of you, Dick, darling, even to save her from the pain of knowing the truth. But never fear; trust to me to spare her feelings without compromising your character.” In a very few minutes the General came in booted and gloved for his drive. Dick was quite ready and the cab was announced to be waiting. And so with a few last words of warning and encouragement to Anna, they left her to go upon their anxious errand. When they arrived at the office of the chief they received information that the two detectives who had been sent in pursuit of the would-be duellists had returned and reported. And this was the substance of their report: That Prince Ernest of Hohenlinden, with two gentlemen of his _suite_—being his physician in ordinary and his second; and that Lord Killcrichtoun, with two attendants, his second, and his servant, had left London by the eight o’clock train for Southampton. “And what the mischief have they done that for?” inquired General Lyon, in perplexity. “Their intention seems clear enough, I think. They mean to cross over to some one of the Channel Islands, where they think they may blow each other’s brains out comfortably without interruption,” answered the chief.